The Celtic Manor Resort has announced a record year for leisure visitor numbers as it prepares for an even bigger upturn in 2010 when it hosts Wales’ first Ryder Cup.

The five-star resort in Newport bucked the trend of economic recession by selling 20,000 more room nights to leisure visitors in 2009 than it did in 2008. It also saw revenues increase significantly across its golf, spa and restaurant outlets.

The massive upturn resulted from a combination of Celtic Manor’s increased international profile because of the Ryder Cup and a new leisure strategy to compensate for the global downturn in corporate and conference business.

Rounds on its flagship Twenty Ten Course by visiting golfers were almost doubled on the year before and 81 per cent of all the available visitor tee times were booked out.

Golf and leisure bookings already look strong again for 2010 and corporate and individual memberships for the Twenty Ten Club have grown as people join to receive Ryder Cup season tickets.

Celtic Manor vice-president of operations Ian Edwards said: “The strategy has included offering a number of different packages to attract a range of markets including groups of golfers and families. This has brought our overall room occupancy up to record levels, while the golf courses, bars and restaurants have never been busier.”

Plans for 2010 include the improvement of bedrooms and many public areas in the Resort Hotel in readiness for The Ryder Cup. Flat screen TVs will be installed in every bedroom and the Olive Tree restaurant and Rooftop Garden barbecue terrace will both be expanded.

“We expect to welcome even more visitors in 2010 as the Ryder Cup draws ever closer,” added Mr Edwards.

“This is a very exciting time for the resort and it’s great to be going into this landmark year with the momentum of so much success in 2009 behind us.”

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