Orlando, Fla., is many things to many people. To the Golf Industry Show, it's the next-best thing to heaven.
Traditionally the most popular stop in GCSAA conference and show annals, Orlando outdid itself this time around, with the key preliminary attendance figures already setting all-time highs not only in the short tenure of the GIS, but also GCSAA's 80 years of show history.
Saturday's early figures, with Club Managers Association of America attendees still registering for their meetings that run through Tuesday, included total attendance at 25,782 and counting. That'll surpass the previous high of 23,099 at Anaheim last year. Qualified Buyers will be a new mark, too, with a preliminary mark of more than 11,500 and GCSAA education surpassed 8,000 in seminar seats for the first time ever.
As for the trade show, the story was the same, with 965 exhibitors commanding an all-time high of 300,900 square feet.
The numbers reflect not only Orlando's appeal, but also to the continuing success of the alliance between the show's presenting partners -- GCSAA, CMAA and the National Golf Course Owners Association.
"I think the collaboration between the three organizations definitely moved up a notch," Mike Hughes, CEO of NGCOA in noting his association's positive reaction to the 2008 GIS during Saturday's news conference with the leaders of the presenting organizations.
James Singerling, CEO of the club managers, also was happy with the results, but also warned against a "can-we-top-this mentality" and instead concentrate more on the quality of the show.
"I think we should be cautious about focusing on numbers and look better at what the overall reaction is from the people who are here," he said.
Steve Mona, CAE, GCSAA's CEO, viewed this year's event from the standpoint of both his association's members and its industry partners and vendors.
Mona said the members' unprecedented participation in 2008 embodies GCSAA's key concept these days, focusing on the success of the facility. "Our members are taking a more global view of the show than in the past," he said.
The reaction from the trade show floor, he said, was positive, especially in what exhibitors termed the quality of attendees this year. "In my view, the exhibitors are very pleased with what they experienced this week," he said.
All three executives were notably happy with the big increase in the all-important Qualified Buyers category, attributing much of the boost to a change in definition that has broadened the category and also to a considerable influx of foreign attendees, especially among CMAA participants.
Hughes said this year's results and the maturation of the presenting partners interaction breeds optimism for 2009 in New Orleans. "Each year we just get a little bit better at integrating all three organizations and get better at doing the show," he said.
Mona added that it was fitting that the record-setting numbers came on the heels of the show's presenting partners and supporters (American Society of Golf Course Architects, Golf Course Builders Association of America and the National Golf Foundation) announcing that they had agreed to extend the GIS through 2014.
"This show is no longer an experiment; it's here to stay," he said.
This was also Mona's last GIS as GCSAA CEO. After 14 years he is leaving GCSAA next month to become the CEO of the World Golf Foundation. His exit was not overlooked by the other executives who have long considered Mona the glue that has bonded the partnership.
"The vision and the leadership Steve provided to this partnering effort and will continue to provide to the industry needs to be recognized and applauded," Singerling said. "... He truly has added leadership as well as friendship to an industry that relies on that for its existence."
Wow...It was an amazing show! Was it just me or were there too many golf simulators?
http://www.dealadaygolf.com
Posted by: Kevin | February 05, 2008 at 06:03 PM