OPEN Championship Bookings go to OmniTourism

Even though this years event has not even started and wont until July, planning for the 2005 Open Golf Championship has begun in earnest. First and foremost amongst the planners is the Kingdom Of Fife Tourist board within whose area the Old Course of St. Andrews lies. For the 27th time in Open history the 2005 Championship will take place on what many consider to be the true home of golf and without argument a world-class example of links golf. Accommodation booking enquiries for the event have already begun and in order to be able to offer the golf enthusiast the right service the Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board have chosen reservations experts OmniTourism (UK) to provide them with all of the tools required to offer a first class accommodation booking service. The course is located on the edge of the town, 55 miles from Edinburgh Airport via the M90 and A91. The Old Course has played host to the championship on a regular basis since 1873 when it first moved from its home at Prestwick. Tiger Woods won the last Open over the historic links in the millennium Championship of 2000 with a record breaking total of 269. A far cry form the 1873 open when played over two rounds local hero Tom Kidd won with rounds of 91 and 88. Sam Burton, Manager Financial Services with the Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board was delighted at the prospect of gaining access to tools that will ensure that the visitor to the area will be given a swift, efficient and friendly service. ‘OmniTourism have a reputation throughout the United Kingdom for providing service, software and support for companies such as ours. We need to ensure that we have the tools to incorporate the complete range of establishments from five star hotels to 1-bedroom bed & breakfasts. The choice of suppliers was in the end made easy for us by the quality on show. The links we have with the R&A will ensure that our services will be very easy to access and the service will of course be very easy to use.’ Using standard toolsets from the OmniTourism range the service will be launched in April 2004 and will be further exposed at the 2004 Open Championships at Royal Troon. OmniTourism director Graham McKenzie was delighted with the agreement. ‘To be linked with such a prestigious event and to such a fabulous part of the world is great news for us. In the past we have many links with the Scottish Tourism industry and we are delighted to extend this partnership in the best way possible – Golf’. McKenzie a low handicapper himself has no intention of entering the competition unless his putter has a change of fortune. Media contacts:- OmniTourism – Sue Johnson – +44 1403 865800 Kingdom of Fife – Sam Burton – +44 1592 750066