Revealing the latest changes to BTME
With a little over five months to go until BTME 2019, BIGGA is excited to reveal that we have lived up to our promise to expand and evolve the turf management exhibition with more opportunities than ever to interact with exhibitors and an enhanced Continue to Learn experience.
So what's happening? Here are the latest details...
As in previous years, Continue to Learn will kick off the week. Already the most extensive programme of turf maintenance education in Europe, the offering has been expanded even further, with an all‑new Deputy's Conference intended for those looking to make the step up to management of a course.
The new Links Forum will have education tailored specifically for those working on or wishing to learn more about links courses, while the Ecology & Environment Forum will focus upon sustainability and the environment. The Young Greenkeepers' and Turf Managers' conferences will return, in addition to hundreds of hours of educational experiences delivered by world‑class speakers.
BIGGA Head of Member Development Sami Strutt said: "I'm very excited to reveal the Continue to Learn at BTME 2019 education programme. Alongside the Members' Choice initiative, I have been working with course managers who have helped to guide and create the content for the Links and Ecology & Environment Forums.
"There will be more than 70 speakers and 80 education offerings, so there should be something for everyone!"
When we say BTME is going to be larger than ever, we mean it. Exhibitors have embraced the changes we have made to the exhibition's layout, with more than 120 companies from across the turf industry already booking a spot within the exhibition. A total of 140 exhibitors attended BTME 2018 and we are on course to substantially exceed this number.
The Young Greenkeepers' Committee will be hosting a conference at BTME 2019
Campey Turf Care Systems was one of the first to recognise the massive potential of the new plan and the machinery distributor has more than doubled the size of its stand for BTME, booking a whopping 200m2.
Richard Campey said: "The planned changes for BTME have given Campey Turf Care the opportunity to have an even greater presence in 2019. We can take advantage of the extra space to showcase an even greater range of innovative turf maintenance machinery.
"BTME has always been a major event in the Campey calendar, attracting our overseas as well as UK dealers. We anticipate BTME 2019 being our most successful yet."
So far, returning exhibitors have purchased an average of 10.5% extra space compared to BTME 2018, itself one of the largest events we had ever hosted.
BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: "The support we have received from our partners and exhibitors has vindicated the decision we made to restructure the BTME experience.
Our exhibitors were eager to expand and really showcase their wares and I'm delighted we have been able to offer this opportunity and that they have supported our decision so emphatically."
New interactive offerings at BTME will include the introduction of Golf Course Construction Live, in which various aspects of golf course construction will take place before the vistor's eyes, a New Products area, a golf simulator and a theatre for short seminars on the show floor.