Citing Houston’s inability to deliver previously agreed upon services, officials of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) have announced that the Golf Industry Show and their respective education conferences will be conducted in Atlanta in February 2006.
The conferences and trade show were originally scheduled to be in New Orleans; however, due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, officials announced Sept. 7 that the events would relocate to Houston. Atlanta, which was one of a handful of cities examined for the original relocation, last hosted the GCSAA International Golf Course Conference and Show in 2003 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
The dates for the 2006 conferences and show will remain the same as were originally planned: the GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 6-11), the NGCOA Solutions Summit (Feb. 7-10) and the Golf Industry Show (Feb. 9-11).
“We are disappointed to be making this announcement,” GCSAA CEO Steve Mona said. “Officials from Houston had said they could meet our needs, but as discussions progressed, it became obvious that significant hurdles needed to be cleared. In the end, we determined the proposed arrangement would not create an experience that would meet the expectations of attendees, exhibitors, GCSAA and our show partners.”
Mona and NGCOA CEO Mike Hughes said they are confident Atlanta will provide a successful venue. “The meeting and exhibit space, the hotel rooms and the supporting infrastructure Atlanta provides makes us confident that the Golf Industry Show will not be compromised in any way by this moves,” Hughes said.
“Our experience in Atlanta in 2003 was beyond expectations,” Mona added. “The city was revitalized with the 1996 Summer Olympics, something noticed by attendees who had not been there in quite some time. The convention centre and hotels will be convenient locations for education, networking and exposition activities. Unlike Houston, there are no other events that will conflict with our ability to conduct the conferences and trade show.”
Despite relocating the events for a second time, November 1 will remain as the opening for conference and show registration.
GCSAA had conducted its conference and show, known as the International Golf Course Conference and Show, in Atlanta on three previous occasions: 1979, 1983 and 2003. For more, visit www.golfindustryshow.com.
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