The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Lawrence, Kan. (Oct. 16, 2018) – Members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association (GCSAA) can now register and make hotel reservations for the annual Golf Industry Show, Feb. 2-7 in San Diego. Nonmember registration will open Oct. 30. As a presenting partner, GCSAA will offer a dynamic, progressive week of unparalleled networking opportunities and hands-on access to golf course and facility management solutions for golf industry professionals. GCSAA will also recognize its annual award winners, including the Powell family, this year’s recipient of the Old Tom Morris Award.
The 2019 Golf Industry Show (GIS) will be held at the San Diego Convention Center and continue the theme established in 2018, “Connect. Discover. Elevate.”
The GIS kicks off each year with the GCSAA Golf Championships, followed by four days of innovative education and a trade show designed for golf facility owners and managers, including the association’s 18,000 members, as well as for the industries that market to those facilities.
“San Diego is consistently a favorite among attendees and exhibitors as it offers a beautiful backdrop to the unequaled educational and networking opportunities the Golf Industry Show is known for,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO.
More than 530 exhibitors are expected to fill the trade show floor of the convention center. A new feature for 2019 will be “Inside the Shop,” a full, interactive replica of a maintenance facility that showcases an efficient, cost-effective and safe work environment. For the first time, several of the education seminars will take place on the trade show floor. In all, the GCSAA Education Conference will offer more than 420 hours of education, including 89 seminars and 21 free education sessions.
Those new to GIS can take part in program just for them, including a first-time attendee luncheon. GIS veterans will see some schedule changes, including a Big Game Watch Party Sunday night, the Opening Session moving to Wednesday mornings and the new Trade Show Finale Thursday afternoon.
GIS coming to Las Vegas in 2021
As part of the evolution of GIS, the 2021 Golf Industry Show will be held in Las Vegas, which is a change from previously announced plans for the 2021 event to take place in San Antonio. The event was last held in Las Vegas in 2012.
The Golf Industry Show currently follows a three-year rotation of an East Coast, West Coast and non-coastal location. A 2018 survey of GCSAA members showed they wanted the rotation and coastal sites to continue, but they wanted to see the non-coastal site to be held in a variety of locations.
“Orlando and San Diego consistently remain popular coastal anchors for the show’s three-year rotation,” Evans said. “When the opportunity arose for us to return to Las Vegas, we listened to our members’ wishes to offer more varied non-coastal locales. Although the large size of our show limits us somewhat, we have great non-coastal city options to consider for the future, including New Orleans, Phoenix and San Antonio.”
The upcoming rotation of shows will be San Diego in 2019, Orlando in 2020 and Las Vegas in 2021.
Note: Registration is available on the newly redesigned GIS website, www.golfindustryshow.com.
