Source: The Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
The recent Golf Industry Show at the Orange County Convention Center exceeded expectations with 22,723 attendees, according to final figures from the trade show's organizers.
It was the show's inaugural event, combining previously separate events by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the National Golf Course Owners Association. Last fall, organizers had been projecting about 21,000 people to show up for the early February event in Orlando.
Organizers said the quality of the attendees also was high, with 8,149 "qualified buyers" -- people who can influence purchase decisions -- on the attendance list. That was higher than the 6,200 qualified buyers who attended last year's Golf Course Superintendents' Show in San Diego.
The Orlando event also drew 826 exhibitors, breaking the previous record of 759 exhibitors during the 2001 Golf Course Superintendents' Show in Dallas.
In terms of square footage for exhibit sales, the Orlando event was the third largest for any Golf Course Superintendents' Show, at 270,760 square feet.