Organisers and exhibitors at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate are breathing a collective sigh of relief as Harrogate Week ends, with many saying that the event had well exceeded their expectations.
BIGGA chief executive John Pemberton said that, in advance, there had been ‘apprehension and concern’ about the impact that the present economic climate would have. In the end, the training and education programme had been better attended and more successful than ever while exhibition attendance figures, although down on last year, would still be around 6,000 for the week.
The exhibition had got off to a relatively slow start on the Tuesday morning. This may have been caused by many visitors electing to travel to Harrogate on the first morning of the event, thus saving on accommodation costs. By midday, however, the exhibition halls (reduced from five to four this year because of the biennial absence of some of the major machinery suppliers) were as crowded as ever and on Tuesday and Wednesday nights the town’s hotels achieved much higher occupancy rates
The seminar programme this year included several that were free of charge and at many of these there was standing room only. Newly elected chairman of BIGGA, Peter Todd from The London Golf Club, said that this year he had sent more of his staff to attend the education programme than he had in 2008. “In this climate,” he said, “it’s even more important to up your game to meet the challenges ahead.”
Once again the superb conference and exhibition facilities that are provided by Harrogate gave visitors ample opportunities for networking.
BIGGA’s replacement of their dinner on the Thursday with a ‘social evening’ at The Majestic Hotel on the Tuesday was a great success, attended by well over 400 people. The Wednesday evening reception hosted by the British Association of Golf Course Contractors attracted golf course architects, contractors, key suppliers and members of the media and provided further evidence that morale in the industry remains high.
A full report will appear on GBN next week.
BIGGA www.bigga.org.uk