(Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America)
Surpassing show organizer projections, more than 7,000 qualified buyers attended the Golf Industry Show, Feb. 10-11 in San Diego.In all, 7,029 industry professionals who are involved in purchasing decisions walked the San Diego Convention Center aisles, eclipsing the 7,012 mark in New Orleans last year. Overall attendance was 16,156, down from 17,151 last year. The decrease was primarily attributable to more than 1,000 fewer exhibitor staff registrations. A total of 665 exhibiting companies accounted for 204,300 square feet of exhibition space.
“We are ecstatic with the show from a qualitative and quantitative perspective,” show officials said. “We always project lower attendance at west coast venues, so to surpass the qualified buyer mark of last year says something about the event. The feedback we are receiving from attendees and exhibitors is extremely positive.”
The Golf Industry Show is an innovative trade show designed for the owners/operators of golf facilities and the professional members of the golf course and club management industries. The event combines education, networking and solutions for golf course superintendents, owners, operators, club managers, chief operating officers, architects and builders to form one of the largest trade shows in North America.
The 2010 Golf Industry Show was presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), along with participating partners the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), the National Golf Foundation (NGF) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).
Running concurrently with the Golf Industry Show were the annual education conferences for the Golf Industry Show presenting partners. Numerous educational sessions and seminars focused on solutions to operating in challenging times, environmental management, financial benchmarks, leadership and communications. A myriad of networking opportunities were available throughout the show for attendees to share and discuss solutions. And exhibitors were able to conduct business with entire leadership teams from golf facilities as golf course superintendents, owners and club managers were able to attend the show together as teams to build and implement their business plans utilizing education and discussions with suppliers.
Based on past feedback from attendees and exhibitors, the Golf Industry Show enhanced its format in 2010, modifying the schedule to place almost all events (education conferences and trade show) on weekdays and the trade show portion of the event on Wednesday and Thursday with virtually no competing events.
A general session teed up each day of the trade show, as Brian Little, Ph.D., captured the attention of attendees Feb. 10 and Chris Gardner inspired everyone Feb. 11. The participating partner CEOs, along with PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka, also introduced the joint We Are Golf government relations campaign. The Golf Industry Show Silent Auction remains open online until Feb. 23.
The 2011 Golf Industry Show is Feb. 9-10 in Orlando.