Feb 6, 2013

HMSHost and PGA Tour Announce First PGA Tour Grill Location

San Diego International Airport will house the first of many U.S. locations

BETHESDA, MD and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – Global restaurateur HMSHost and the PGA TOUR are excited to announce that the first PGA TOUR Grill, a joint venture between the two companies, will be located at San Diego International Airport. The restaurant is slated to open in December 2013 and will be located in Terminal 2 West. The new restaurant will highlight the San Diego region’s rich history with the PGA TOUR and the game of golf itself, and will bring travelers at San Diego International Airport a healthy menu fit for active lifestyles.

“We are very excited to be the site for the first PGA TOUR Grill location,” said Thella F. Bowens, President/CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, operator of San Diego International Airport. “We are looking forward to working with HMSHost and the PGA TOUR to create a restaurant that will showcase the area’s vibrant golf scene and bring travelers a great place to grab a healthy meal on their way through San Diego International Airport.”

San Diego is home to some of the country’s most beautiful golf courses including Torrey Pines, a world-renowned municipal golf course and annual host site of the PGA TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open. San Diego has been a yearly stop on the PGA TOUR since 1952, dating back to the tournament’s debut as the San Diego Open as well as the Tournament of Champions being held in nearby Carlsbad for a number of years. Additionally, the 2008 U.S. Open, one of golf’s four major championships, was hosted by Torrey Pines and brought significant attention to San
Diego’s golf culture. The new PGA TOUR Grill at San Diego International Airport will pay homage to this local golf history and the San Diego region’s continued association with the PGA TOUR.

“Considering the rich history the PGA TOUR has with the San Diego area, this is an ideal location to open our first PGA TOUR Grill and celebrate that history,” said Tim Hawes, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President of Retail Licensing. “We’re very excited to open the first restaurant and look forward to bringing this concept to many more airports throughout the U.S.”

“San Diego International Airport is a natural fit for the first PGA TOUR Grill location,” said Anthony Alessi, Vice President of Business Development at HMSHost. “With such a great history of the game and the PGA TOUR, we couldn’t think of a better location to open the first of many PGA TOUR Grill locations throughout the U.S.”

PGA TOUR Grill is a PGA TOUR-themed restaurant with a focus on tournaments, players and initiatives. Its design is a compelling blend of classic and modern, with technology at guests’ fingertips. Interactive iPads feature golf tips and menus highlighting information on the healthy content of the food and tasting and varietal information on the wines. High definition flat screens will feature live tournament action, highlights of the previous week’s PGA TOUR tournament, and programming on the Golf Channel.

More restaurant than bar, PGA TOUR Grill is a healthy lifestyle destination; one where guests will discover wellness, health and quality in a dining and lounge experience unlike anything found in airports today. The PGA TOUR Grill menu incorporates a wide variety of healthy ingredients that will please everyone. Through its focus on health and nutrition and the timeless art and practice of golf, the PGA TOUR Grill will keep travelers coming back for more and bring new life to San Diego International Airport.