• 
• Print
• Email
• Order a PDF

The Travelers Championship professional golf tournament in Cromwell anticipates its 200,000 attendees will create $28 million in economic impact.

Not only do the PGA Tour event visitors use hotels, restaurants and rental cars, but the companies servicing the course such as tent vendors, bleacher builders, the television crews provide their own increase in Connecticut business, said Nathan Grube, tournament director.

The attendance at the event from June 18-24 depends on the weather and the quality of the players, but the number of visitors should land between 180,000 to 210,000.

"We are tracking to have one of the strongest fields we've had," Grube said.

Bubba Watson, reigning Masters Tournament champion, committed to Travelers, as did Hunter Mahan. Both are ranked among the world's Top 10 players and are past Travelers champions. Reigning Players Champion Matt Kuchar, the No. 5 player in the world, also committed to Travelers, giving the tournament three of the tour's top 10 players.

Grube said he is working on commitments from one or two more players in the Top 10. If they sign on, it will be perhaps the Travelers strongest field in recent history.

To attract attendees, the tournament is keeping with its recent practice of adding ancillary events such as concerts. This year's performers are Javier Colon on June 20 and KC & The Sunshine Band on June 23.

"The concerts were a big hit last year," Grube said.

The Travelers Championship expanded its Women's Day event, including adding a baby shower for expectant military wives. The week-long championship also features two pro-am golf tournaments and the fan zone area.

RIVERFRONT RECAPTURE TABS ASCOT CATERING

Riverfront Recapture announced Wethersfield's Ascot Catering is its provider of hospitality services at the Riverfront Boathouse in Hartford's Riverfront Park. For information, visit www.riverfront.org/boathouse.

• • •

OPSAIL 2012 CONNECTICUT ADDS SPONSORS

OpSail2012 Connecticut announced Electric Boat of New London, WTNH-TV (News 8) of New Haven, and Milone & MacBroom of Cheshire have stepped forward to support the arrival of the domestic and international tall ships in New London Harbor July 6-9.

• • •

F.W. WEBB INKS NASCAR NATIONWIDE RACE SPONSORSHIP

F.W. Webb, an industrial supplies distributor with Connecticut locations, signed on as the official title sponsor for the July 14 NASCAR Nationwide Series race — the F.W. Webb 200 — at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

To submit an item for Tourism Time, first tweet us @TourismHBJ.

Tourism on Twitter

Twitter is playing an increasing role in the tourism and news industries. Tourism Time will provide some of the CT tourism Twitter handles worth knowing:

@CTTrolley Connecticut Trolley Museum

@NBMAA New Britain Museum of American Art

@dinosaurplace The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art

@mysticaquarium Mystic Aquarium

@quassyamusement Quassy Amusement Park

• 
• Print
• Email
• Order a PDF