NEWS
BTME looks for outdoor venue for 2021
The turf industry's premier annual gathering, the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), will not take place in January 2021 in Harrogate as anticipated, with an alternative ‘festival of turf’ planned for Summer 2021. The event’s organisers, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, has cancelled the popular trade exhibition due to the ongoing uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was taken following consultation with members of the association and regular dialogue with representatives of the Harrogate Convention Centre and other major stakeholders. The announcement of an alternative event in summer 2021 will enable BIGGA to explore options for hosting the event outdoors, which current understanding of the infectious disease indicates will make for a safe event and will allow improved social distancing measures to be implemented. However, BIGGA’s world-leading education programme, Continue to Learn, usually held alongside BTME each year will still take place during January 2021 as an online event. It is anticipated that BTME will return to the Harrogate Convention Centre in January 2022. Of this recent announcement BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton says: “The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves across our industry and BIGGA members have worked admirably in difficult circumstances to enable the continuing success of the facilities they maintain.
“With member health and wellbeing being BIGGA’s absolute priority, it was immediately clear that to invite thousands of turf professionals from across the globe to attend an exhibition during a season when there is anticipated to be an increased risk of disease transmission would be negligent and expose attendees to undue risk. “BIGGA considers it important to host an annual event and BTME plays a vital role in the calendar year for the turf industry. BTME is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements of the previous year, while building new contacts and looking forward to the future. We feel it is important to retain this community spirit where possible, especially considering the hardships we have all faced, and so we are exploring the possibility of hosting a safe and accessible alternative event in summer 2021.” Responsible for organising the Continue to Learn platform, BIGGA Head of Member Development Sami Strutt adds: “Although the association will have no physical presence in Harrogate during January, we will be hosting Continue to Learn as a digital event and I’m certain the spirit of Harrogate week will be as strong as ever before. “We have engaged with BIGGA members through our annual Members’ Choice survey and are in the process of building an incredible series of online learning that will enable BIGGA members to continue their professional development, wherever in the world they may be.”
The Landscaper | Issue 248 | September 2020
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