Three days of exhibitions, across four halls at the Harrogate Convention Centre, and more than 3,000 individual education experiences during Continue to Learn, combined to make BTME 2018 a huge success.
From the opening of the education programme on Sunday, right through until the show’s closing on Thursday, BTME was filled with non-stop action and events.
From innovative new seminars and workshops right through to the latest product launches from exhibitors, the Harrogate Convention Centre was once again transformed as BTME reaffirmed its position as the premier turf management exhibition in Europe.
BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “We’ve had a great few days with record numbers in the education. It’s been really buzzing in the seminars and workshops. Out in the halls the last few days have been absolutely packed, too full in fact, and there has probably not been quite enough room for everyone, but there’s been great feedback so far.”
And it wasn’t just visitors from the UK who visited BTME, but delegates from all over the world. Among those were the TurfNet delegation, with a record 16 American course superintendents joining the trip, and world-class speakers such as Micah Woods, of the Asian Turfgrass Center.
Adam Butler of Baroness UK commented on the international flavour to the entire event. He said: “We’ve had a great few days at BTME 2018. It’s great to see so many people from the UK visit us, but also our international customers. We’ve had people from Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, so it’s really good to see them and we’re looking forward to next year already.”
Other highlights of the week included the BTME Breakfast Club: Cutting Edge Turf Management, the first-ever Young Greenkeepers Conference, and the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, which continues to grow in popularity and saw the crowning of the BIGGA Awards winners.
Alistair said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won, I certainly never expected this! I’m from a small village of around 300 people, we rely mainly on tourists, and I do have a good relationship with my club. As a small community you get to know everyone at the club, as they’re all friends, family, neighbours, and I’m delighted to have been able to represent them on such a massive scale.”
All eyes now turn to BTME 2019, which will see the exhibition evolve into a new form, with new halls being utilised that will allow the exhibition to expand further than ever before.
Jim added: “For next year I’m really looking forward to the fact that we are going to improve the visitor experience. It’s going to be more pleasant, people are going to stay longer around the halls, take a break, get some food and drink, see some innovations and have a look at some of the things we offer our members as well.”
You can read more about all the announcements, awards winners and other fantastic events that took place at BTME 2018 in the February edition of Greenkeeper International.
Press release from BIGGA.