Travel and luxury resorts are some of the fastest-growing industries within the sporting world and consumers are constantly faced with the challenge of deciding where to visit. Club Águilas, a new organization founded by Cage 91 Founder Ben Nichols and his soon-to-be-announced Co-Founder, are on a mission to create an exclusive list of locations that, just like has been seen in the world of amateur golf in recent years, are fast becoming bucket list items for padel fanatics.
Nichols, who alongside his role with Cage 91, also founded the world’s first padel-dedicated Communications Company, Padel 22, explained how Club Águilas was born from a combined passion for padel and tourism, saying “there’s a growing market for people who have the income and time to travel for this high-addictive sport.”
His Co-Founder , expected to be named soon, has ties to global fashion brands both inside and outside of the sporting world. Both he and Nichols have enjoyed international careers and longstanding interests in travel and sport, which ultimately forged the path for Club Águilas.
What makes Club Águilas so unique is their creation of a highly elite collection of clubs and resorts that the company’s committee deems Águilas-worthy , and for which locations are granted their “Eagles Wings”. Nichols attributed this similarly to the “Michelin Star” system that is present within the hospitality industry, giving the incentive to other clubs and resorts around the world to strive to receive this designation next.
“There are a lot of interesting padel clubs, courts, and resorts landing across all corners of the world” explained Nichols.
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“What makes these clubs and resorts worthy of their ‘wings’ will be not who’s created the most expensive destination, but ultimately that intangible feel that you get when you visit a top club or resort. Places that are completely different, one-offs and memorable, these are the types of venues that Águilas’ committee will be chewing over when deciding who to grant their wings to,” he added.
“There wasn’t one place housing these elite clubs and resorts under one roof, so my Co-Founder and I thought it was time that there should a place to digitally experience these clubs We believe it [Club Águilas] will be a place for clubs and resorts to aspire to become part of, and for individuals to dream about, to aspire to visit. This is about aspiration, which is what so many of us yearn for.
To coincide with its launch, Club Águilas ‘dropped’ 16 initial locations, with resorts as ranging from the bohemian hideaway of Brisas in The Hamptons, The Bamford Club in England’s idyllic Cotswolds region, The Maldives’ Velaa Private Island and Padel Solta off the Adriatic coast in Croatia.
Speaking with Nichols last week, he confirmed that there is more to come, with the entire selection process revolving around a behind-the-scenes committee that reviews different locations and eventually comes to a collective decision over who is to be featured.