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AGL's golf reservation service, 'TIGER BOOKING,' is experiencing remarkable growth. With the ability to make real-time golf reservations through Google, golfers from over 200 countries are using the platform, resulting in a 50-fold increase in Tiger Booking users. It has established itself as a global golf reservation platform.

AGL, led by CEO Jim Hwang, announced on the 29th that its platform 'TIGER BOOKING' has significantly improved global golfers' access to golf courses, leading to a 50-fold increase in users and a 300-fold surge in overseas traffic.

TIGER BOOKING is a global golf reservation service that utilizes TIGER GDS, a system developed by AGL that combines the Global Distribution System (GDS) used for flight and hotel bookings with golf tee time reservations. AGL successfully became the world's first company to develop a golf booking system.

According to AGL, the company currently offers over 1,000 golf courses and golf tour packages from more than 30 countries. Golf courses use TIGER GDS to distribute tee times through various channels, allowing them to promote their names to golfers worldwide via TIGER BOOKING and Google without additional marketing costs. As a result, the number of partner golf courses is expected to increase.

An AGL representative stated, "Since the launch of the Google golf reservation service in July, the number of golfers using the TIGER BOOKING app or website has increased by approximately 5,000% (50 times)." They also mentioned that access has been confirmed from 204 countries. "Previously, the share of global golfers was less than half, but after the opening of Google golf reservations, the number of global golfers increased by 300 times," they added. "Foreign golfers now account for 85% of the total users."

The high access rates from golfers in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, as well as the United States, Australia, the UK, and Spain, were particularly notable. Some golfers even made bookings for their local courses through TIGER BOOKING, while others, including golfers from the U.S. and Canada, have been increasingly booking rounds at golf courses in Jeju Island, South Korea, located on the other side of the world.

The company attributes the significant increase in TIGER BOOKING usage to its convenient reservation system. When golfers search for "golf course," "golf course + location," or a specific golf course name on Google or Google Maps, an "online reservation" button appears. By clicking it, golfers can easily search for available tee times, make reservations, and complete payment all in one step. This seamless process has been highly praised.

Golfers who have used TIGER BOOKING highlighted the platform's appeal in offering a wide range of options, from budget-friendly golf courses to high-end prestigious courses in Scotland and Northern Ireland, often referred to as the "holy land" of golf.

TIGER BOOKING provides reservation services for golf courses ranging from budget-friendly options in Southeast Asia, like Thailand and Vietnam, with green fees starting at around 100,000 KRW per round, to "bucket list" golf courses with fees ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 KRW—places golfers dream of playing before they die.

In addition to FIT packages that only include golf course tee times, TIGER BOOKING also offers golf tour packages that combine flights + golf or golf + accommodation. The platform has partnered with domestic airlines like Asiana Airlines and Jeju Air, as well as international carriers such as Airtrip and Lufthansa. Furthermore, it has formed partnerships with domestic travel agencies like Hana Tour and Modu Tour, as well as numerous global OTAs, to offer a wide range of golf tour packages. Through collaborations with domestic financial partners like Mastercard, Shinhan Bank, Shinhan Card, Hana Card, and Lotte Card, golfers can also enjoy discount benefits, reducing their expenses.

Building on the synergy effect from Google reservations, TIGER BOOKING is preparing for further growth. AGL announced that starting next year, it plans to expand its business across Asia, with plans to extend its partnerships with golf courses in Europe, North America, and Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand.

In line with the growing number of golf courses and golf tour packages, AGL will continue to introduce high-end golf tour offerings, such as VIP golf tours combining world-class courses like those in Scotland and Northern Ireland with luxury hotel stays, starting at around 5-6 million KRW. Additionally, the company plans to offer unique experiences like wine tours and cultural activities, as well as the "AGL World Golf Series 2025," which includes exclusive VIP viewing packages for events like The Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

In particular, AGL plans to widely promote TIGER BOOKING and the AGL World Golf Series by collaborating with Im Jin-han, a professional golfer with over 500,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel "Im Jin-han Class." Through this collaboration, events will be introduced that offer subscribers the chance to play at the world’s top 100 courses, further establishing Tiger Booking as a global golf reservation platform.

Jim Hwang, CEO of AGL, stated, "From the beginning, our goal was not just to send Korean golfers to overseas golf courses but to have golfers from around the world use our platform to embark on golf travel. With the launch of Reserve with Google through TIGER BOOKING, we aim to create a new global standard for golf travel and continue striving to become the No.1 golf platform."

Source : MK Health (https://www.mkhealth.co.kr/)

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