The PGA of Australia and Sports and Entertainment Ltd today announced the official appointment of Harmony Thomas as the Event Manager of the Fiji International tournament, a position that will be located permanently in Fiji.
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2014, and commitment of the event over the five year partnership with the Fijian Government, the PGA of Australia have invested in the local resource to escalate plans for growth and development of the tournament.
Ms Thomas is the perfect candidate for the event having worked in Indonesia for the past 15 years in various golf tourism capacities and on Asian Tour events including the Indonesian Masters.
Ms Thomas will work alongside the PGA and SEL teams, including their sponsorship, marketing, media, golf and operations teams, and local Corporate Liaison Officer, Raman Dahia, to implement the event, marketing and tourism strategies.
“We are delighted to welcome Harmony to the dedicated team working on the Fiji International. With her strong background in golf tourism and major events, and her local Fijian heritage we are confident she will play a major role in taking this event to great heights” said Natalie Ritter, General Manager – Fiji International for the PGA of Australia.
“In 2014 our focus was to lay the foundation with our operations and awareness of the event both within Fiji and worldwide, and we now have a world class product to take to the golfing and tourism world.
Harmony’s involvement here in Fiji, coupled with her strong connections in the golf and tourism industry throughout Asia will be of great benefit in further engaging those markets.” added Ms Ritter.
The PGA of Australia and SEL teams will continue to make regular visits, with Ms Ritter currently completing a two week visit to meet with various suppliers, sponsors and golf associations, and Matt Porm from SEL set to return in two weeks.
“Over the coming weeks and months, the Fijian community will start to see the 2015 event come to life, and Harmony will be here in Fiji to oversee it all on a daily basis. We have recently met with many of the stakeholders who are involved with, and set to benefit from, the event. Now that we have a highly experienced new team member we are excited about the 2015 event and beyond” said Ms Ritter.
Ms Thomas is equally excited about the future, “I heard about the Fiji International while I was in Indonesia and decided the time was right for me to return to Fiji with the wealth of knowledge I had gained from working in the golf tourism and event industry there. I am extremely excited to be working with the PGA of Australia, SEL and stakeholders of the Fiji International. We all share the same vision of ensuring that Fiji secures itself as a great golf destination that attracts the ever-growing golf tourism market of the world.”