Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, has appointed Michael Loizou as Director, Operations of its Troon International division.
Loizou moves from his position as Director, Property Transitions for Troon in the US to support Executive Vice President of Troon International, DJ Flanders in overseeing the company’s international portfolio of 40-plus facilities in 20 countries and offices in Switzerland, UAE and Australia.
On the key appointment, Executive Vice President DJ Flanders said: “We are thrilled to have Michael join our Troon International team, his extensive experience with Troon, both internationally and at our Corporate office, marks a strategic move to fortify our presence in Europe and North Africa.
Positioning Michael in London will enhance our support to existing and prospective clients, leveraging his corporate insights to access Troon’s extensive resources and the expertise of over 500 associates. At Troon, we see beyond jobs to careers built for a lifetime, and Michael truly exemplifies this ethos.”
A renowned operator in the industry, Loizou joined Troon in 2010, beginning his career as Golf Sales Manager at Costa Navarino, in Greece, recently ranked at #7 in Golf World’s Top 100 Courses and Resorts list.
His time in Greece involved preparing the golf operations for opening, developing the golf rate structures, and establishing key tour operator relationships, opening the doors for keen golfers from around the world to experience the incredible new destination in the stunning Peloponnese region of Greece.
Loizou’s journey continued with a move to Abu Dhabi, UAE where he took up the role as Complex Sales Manager – Golf for Troon’s Abu Dhabi portfolio, which comprised Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, as well as the then Starwood managed The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa, and The St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.
Driving golf tourism to an awakening giant of a golf destination was the primary directive at the time, working hand in hand with the Department of Culture and Tourism to launch the ‘Golf in Abu Dhabi’ initiative and playing a key role in the promotion and execution of its flagship event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
In 2015, Loizou moved to the US and Troon’s Corporate Team as a Regional Director of Sales & Marketing supporting the revenue generation and marketing efforts of a cluster of Troon’s domestic daily fee, private and resort properties from Arizona to Puerto Rico.
Since 2018, Loizou has been in the role of Director, Property Transitions during which time he has overseen more than 250 property transitions into the Troon family domestically over the past five years including private clubs, daily fee facilities, residential communities and iconic properties such as PGA National in Florida, Tobacco Road Golf Club in North Carolina, and Bayonet and Black Horse in California.
Commenting on his new role with Troon International, Loizou said: “Returning to the Troon International team after a decade at our US headquarters fills me with immense excitement. This ten-year journey, filled with crucial client-facing roles, has allowed me to gain a holistic perspective on our relentless commitment to excellence for clients, associates, and partners alike. Collaborating with DJ Flanders and our world-class Troon International team is a fantastic opportunity, and I’m ready to dive in and make an instant impact for our clients.”
