The Challenge Tour and HotelPlanner have announced a multi-year partnership, with the travel technology company becoming the Tour’s title partner from the start of the 2025 season.
HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology company that combines proprietary artificial intelligence agents and a 24-hour global gig-based reservations and customer service network, becomes the Challenge Tour’s first title partner since its first official season in 1989. The partnership will help grow the Tour through increased prize funds on the Road to Mallorca schedule.
The 2025 HotelPlanner Tour schedule begins in South Africa next week, with the SDC Open taking place at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa from January 23-26. In total, players will compete for a record total prize fund of over €9m on the HotelPlanner Tour this season, with each European event having a minimum prize fund of €300,000, meaning prize fund increases for 16 events in total in 2025.
The schedule will consist of 29 tournaments staged across three continents in 18 different countries, culminating in the Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A in Mallorca.
In addition to their title partnership, HotelPlanner will provide additional investment into six events on the 2025 HotelPlanner Tour schedule, and a total of 40 tournaments throughout the multi-year partnership.
A leading travel technology company, HotelPlanner combines proprietary AI and machine learning capabilities with a 24-hour global customer service network to seamlessly serve all traveller hotel needs from a single platform. They will use their assets, connectivity and people to help grow the Tour and open doors for the game of golf across the world through global travel.
Jamie Hodges, HotelPlanner Tour Director, said: “Today’s announcement is undoubtedly a momentous one in the proud history of our Tour. Our Tour will be strengthened because of this hugely significant deal, and that was essential to us and to HotelPlanner.
“This new partnership will increase prize funds for our membership and elevate the standard of our events. The global reach of HotelPlanner is also aligned with the diversity of our membership and the places and cultures we visit.”
Tim Hentschel, HotelPlanner Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to become the title partner of the Challenge Tour. This partnership provides an excellent platform to engage with customers, prospects, and stakeholders, and build our brand.
“We share the same vision and values as the Tour, and as a leading travel technology company we will use our people, assets, and connectivity to help grow the game of golf globally and the Tour further. The Challenge Tour has been the foundation of so many great golfing names and we are excited to see the HotelPlanner Tour continue to open doors for the next generation of superstars.”