Toledo, Ohio – Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates has buttressed its operations in Europe and the Middle East with the hire of Olivier Daelemans to direct all business activities relating to current and future projects in both regions.
Daelemans serves as director of corporate real estate services in the Brussels office of Knight Frank, where he has consummated high-profile real estate deals on behalf of large corporate clients and institutional investors. In assuming the title of director, European and Middle East operations for Hills/Forrest, the Belgian-born Daelemans will continue in his role at Knight Frank.
“Business development in the golf industry requires the marriage of development expertise, real estate savvy and access to targeted financial resources,” says Quentin Lutz, partner and vice president of global business development at Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates. “In Olivier Daelemans we’ve identified and hired a person with a proven track record in all three areas.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Europe and the Middle East to date,” he adds. “No design firm working today has more quality projects in the ground, or more in planning and construction than Hills/Forrest. But we see great potential in both regions and Olivier is going to help our company realize that potential.”
Daelemans has formed a Hills/Forrest office in Brussels. He can be reached at (32) 497-432 769, or odaelemans@arthurhills.com.
Hills/Forrest & Associates is responsible for more than 180 original course designs worldwide, not to mention more than 120 renovations. In Sweden, Hills Golf Club opened for member play this fall.
Oitavos Golfe at Quinta da Marinha played host to the European PGA Tour’s 2005 Estoril Open de Portugal. Shortly after it opened in 2001, Oitavos was named a Certified Gold Audubon Signature Sanctuary, the highest designation awarded by Audubon International’s Signature Sanctuary Program. Oitavos is the first and only course in Europe to boast Gold Signature status; there are only eight worldwide.
Hills/Forrest was recently commissioned to design its first course in Bahrain, and has signed development agreements in Turkey, Hungary, Croatia, Portugal and Sweden. The firm also has projects under construction in Mexico and China, in addition to more than 40 active projects in the United States.
“European golf and real estate insiders already recognize the quality and brand strength associated with the designs of Arthur Hills and Steve Forrest,” says Daelemans. “They are among the top two or three course architecture firms in the world. My job is to bring that understanding to a wider audience. There are dozens very attractive regional golf markets across Europe and the Middle East that can profit from golf, resort and real estate components of the highest quality. With its experience and expertise in land planning and course design, Hills/Forrest should be the first choice in these markets.”
For more information on these and other Hills/Forrest projects, call the new European office at (32) 497-432 769; the United States office at 419-841-8553; or visit www.arthurhills.com.
Hills/Forrest name Euro director
Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates hired Olivier Daelemans to direct all business activities in Europe and the Middle East.
