Industry shows for 2021 - you had your say!
During last week, we ran a social media poll to determine how you, as an industry, feel about trade shows for 2021. We wanted to find out if you are jubilant and eager to return to face to face interaction, or whether you are nervous - and the results are in.
The RTM show in 2019
Over a variety of platforms: Twitter, Facebook Groundsmen and Facebook Greenkeeping (official) pages and our own Forum, we received over 1500 votes which showed a majority 54% of you are keen to attend a show this year. A staggering 69% wanted an outdoor event. However, 76% of voters were in favour of a winter show - which could be pretty grim and chilly outdoors - so the jury is out on that one!
Interestingly, 35% of voters would travel anywhere in the country, whilst BIGGA and GMA Saltex won the votes for events you are most likely to attend. Here are the results:
BIGGA recently rescheduled the Festival of Turf event to 21st and 22nd July, so that it is now outside of the Government's social distancing restrictions. With so many of you wanting an outdoor event, we have to keep our fingers crossed that the roadmap sees everything lifted by the proposed new date.
Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO said: "The Roadmap out of lockdown provided incredibly welcome news for the country and the association's members, not least because it provided a date for the reopening of golf courses in England and a potential return to normality for us all."
"We entered into negotiations with the Warwickshire Event Centre and were delighted to come to an arrangement with regards to new dates for the Festival. On this date, England is anticipated to be at Step 4 of the COVID-19 roadmap, which will see legal limits on social contact removed. Although the published roadmap only serves as a guideline and the timings are subject to change, everyone at BIGGA is excited about the opportunity to provide an improved exhibition experience for our attendees."
In addition, Saltex declared that they're 'ready to go', with the 75th anniversary scheduled for 3rd and 4th November at the NEC. Geoff Webb of the GMA recently quoted: "We are an industry which loathes to stand still, and I think the restrictions have shown that we are missing meeting people; that businesses are keen to see their customers in person again and that they are missing that trade and general conversation. Ultimately, it has amplified the power and the benefits of live events."
"There could be more twists and turns to come and we will remain diligent and prepared. The safety of everyone attending is our main priority, so we will continue to follow the guidance and implement the necessary procedures, if needed in November."
Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part in the daily polls.