Positive atmosphere at GOLF EUROPE 2008 despite difficult market situation
The 16th GOLF EUROPE, the leading European golf trade show, was held on 5th-7th October 2008 at the New Munich Trade Fair. On three event days GOLF EUROPE 2008 welcomed a total of 4,636 trade visitors (2007: 5,427) and was forced to deal with a 14% decline in visitors compared to the very positive statistics from 2007. However, this year’s high quality of visitors was one of the features which generally pleased the exhibitors.
Industry professionals from a total of 52 countries traveled to Munich to get the latest information on the innovations and trends for the next golf season. In addition to Germany, the largest contingent of visitors came, like last year, from Austria (381 visitors) and Switzerland (300), followed by Italy and the Czech Republic. GOLF EUROPE registered a 25% increase in trade visitors from Slovenia and Slovakia. Visitors continue to profess how pleased they are with the event. A total of 71% of polled visitors commented that they would definitely return to the next GOLF EUROPE, and 69% said they would recommend the event to others.
285 exhibitors from 26 countries presented their collections to the visiting industry professionals; this was similar to the statistics from 2007 (288 exhibitors). However, visitors criticized the fact that a number of larger brands were not present. To ensure that all leading companies will return to GOLF EUROPE, thus providing a truly comprehensive overview of the entire market, it was decided to move the GOLF EUROPE 2009 back to the Munich Order Center M,O,C,.The M,O,C, in Munich-Freimann as an event platform and order center is the perfect staging ground for GOLF EUROPE.
Many of the large brands keep year-round show rooms at the order center, and can easily be reintegrated into the event without extensive booth set-up. Of course, generously sized brand presentations are also possible thanks to the available exhibition hall space. Furthermore, the dates for GOLF EUROPE 2009 will be moved up by one week to an earlier start date. This is the reaction of Messe München GmbH, the event organizer, to the emerging trend of increasingly earlier product launches even by hardware suppliers. In addition, the earlier dates are of benefit to textile manufacturers, as they have to deal with long procurement cycles. The schedule change also improves conditions for exhibitors and visitors, as the event no longer overlaps with EXPO REAL, resulting in benefits such as availability of a higher number of hotel rooms at economic rates.
There will be no changes to the character of GOLF EUROPE as a leading European trade show for the golf industry. GOLF EUROPE, held at the M,O,C, will focus closely on just one topic, namely golf. Thus the event will take on an exclusive salon appeal, and considerably improve the working atmosphere. This year’s side event program as well as the complimentary seminar program, offered in cooperation with the PGA of Europe, received very positive feedback. A special highlight was the Q&A session with German shooting star Martin Kaymer, presented by Titleist.
John Jacobs, the first Director General of the PGA European Tour, received this year’s GOLF EUROPE Legend Award. GOLF EUROPE was pleased to honor a living legend and the leading architect of golf as we know it today. John Jacobs was the driving force behind the uniting of nations on the European continent with Great Britain in the world of golf. The GOLF EUROPE Product Awards once again honoured the most innovative products for the 2009 golf season. The jury selected the winners from a total of 110 products entered by about 60 companies in the categories Clubs, Apparel, Footwear, Accessories, as well as Caddies and Training Equipment.
The next GOLF EUROPE will be held from September 27th to 29th, 2009 at the M,O,C, in Munich-Freimann.