FROM NATIONAL
BY SHANE CONROY AND GCSAA STAFF
2021 Golf Industry Show to be presented virtually
Your space. Your pace. All in one place.
Shan e Conroy
time away from work. It is a unique situation where we have the ability to connect more industry professionals from all corners of the world than ever before.” You can view John’s announcement of the 2021 Golf Industry Show here. Registration for the 2021 Golf Industry Show will open Oct. 13 on the Golf Industry Show website. ____________________________________________
GIS 2021: The 2021 Golf Industry Show is going virtual.
Q&A with GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans
GCM sat down with GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans to discuss the Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, GCSAA announced today that move to a virtual GIS, the reasons behind it, what attendees the annual education conference and trade show will be presented in a can expect, and what the future might hold for other virtual format instead of the previously planned in-person event in Las upcoming conferences and trade shows. Vegas. Q: At the time of this interview in early August, we’re The decision was made in conjunction with GCSAA’s presenting GIS six months out from the scheduled dates for an partners, the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) in-person GIS 2021. Why did GCSAA decide now was and the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA). The the right time to make this decision? organizations say the virtual event will offer an experience that A: The short answer is that it was simply the right thing continues the Golf Industry Show’s long tradition of connecting to do — for our members, our exhibitors, our GIS attendees, exhibitors and industry experts through a week of presenting partners, and our staff who work so hard to unparalleled educational opportunities and access to golf facility plan and execute the Golf Industry Show each year. solutions for industry professionals. As any organization that conducts an event as In addition to the education, trade show and special events that will substantial as GIS would do, we have been carefully take place live on the virtual platform the first week of February, monitoring the situation, tracking its effect on the attendees will also have the option to view or review all content from event and trade show industry, and gathering feedback the show for an extended period after the event concludes. from GCSAA members and longtime GIS exhibitors. In addition to planning for an in-person event in Las Vegas, The theme of GIS 2021 — “Your space. Your pace. All in one place.” — we were working concurrently on several contingency not only reflects the ability of participants to attend the show from the plans, all with the safety, health and comfort of all GIS safety of their homes or offices and consume the content when they attendees at the forefront of our thinking. want to, but also speaks to the convergence of industry experts that is a hallmark of GIS and will remain so in the virtual format. As we entered the month of August, circumstances “As we monitored the national landscape and sought input from our members and exhibitors, it was clear that a virtual event would offer the safest and best way to provide a quality GIS experience,” said GCSAA President John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS. “We are confident our attendees will embrace this interactive, cutting-edge virtual platform. In addition, we believe the virtual event will offer opportunities for those who may have not been able to attend in-person shows due to travel costs or
made it clear that now was the time and that an all-virtual event was our best course of action. The pandemic remained a source of great concern for all of our constituents, and it was clear that concern would likely continue into the new year. Additionally, several other prominent events we had been watching closely — most notably, the 2021 Consumer Electronics CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
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Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association
| www.migcsa.org
