OPEI to take full ownership of GIE+EXPO for 2022 show

On the heels of the largest GIE+EXPO ever, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has announced that in 2022 it will move into 100 percent ownership of the tradeshow, the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition.

Since 2007, GIE+EXPO has been owned by three partners: OPEI (the majority and managing partner), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS). PGMS will remain a partner and will continue to offer education programming during the tradeshow at the Kentucky Expo Center. NALP, meanwhile, has announced that beginning in 2022, it will separate its annual meeting, LANDSCAPES, from GIE+EXPO and will host its own stand-alone conference.

GIE+EXPO coming off record year

“GIE+EXPO has had an extraordinarily strong run since 2010 — posting records in attendance and booth space. Last year’s show was the biggest ever, setting record attendance levels,” says Kris Kiser, president of OPEI and managing director of GIE+EXPO. “With this change in ownership structure of the show, OPEI will own the show in its entirety. We’ll continue to work with our landscape industry partners to provide attendees with training and other programmatic elements at the Kentucky Exposition Center. We look forward to the continued evolution and dynamic growth of GIE+EXPO in Louisville in the future.”

The year 2019 was the sixth record-breaking year in a row for GIE+EXPO. The industry’s largest show hosted more than 1,000 exhibitors and more than 20 acres of outdoor demonstration area for attendees to ride, drive, dig, and cut with the industry’s latest equipment. More than 26,500 contractors, dealers, and exhibitors attended from all 50 states and more than 40 countries.

New features at the 2019 GIE+EXPO included in-tree training from the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop, whose team of climbers demonstrated arbor safety and climbing skills in a 60-foot sugar maple erected in Freedom Hall for the purpose, as well as the second-annual Lucky’s Mutt Madness rescue dog adoption event held in partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society.

GIE+EXPO will continue to offer education, training, and certification in all segments of the OPE industry, including landscape, hardscape, lighting, snow and ice management, tree care, and irrigation for landscapers, hardscapers, dealers, distributors, and contractors.

GIE+EXPO 2020 is set for Oct. 21-23. Attendees can expect hands-on drone training, expanded tree care demonstrations, a UTV test track, as well as continued co-location with Hardscape North America.

“OPEI has signed an extension agreement for the show from 2022-2024 with the Kentucky Exposition Center and area hotels in Louisville for the future. GIE+EXPO has always been the industry’s family reunion, and the place to be if you’re in this business,” Kiser says. “We’re looking forward to continuing to work with our partners to provide the best training, education, and hands-on learning for the entire industry.”

OPEI is an international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces.

NALP to host stand-alone conference

NALP announced that beginning in 2022, it will separate its annual meeting, LANDSCAPES, from GIE+EXPO and will host its own stand-alone conference.

Advertisement


For more than a decade, NALP has held its annual meeting in Louisville in conjunction with GIE+EXPO. Before that, the association hosted an annual meeting and exposition (the Green Industry Expo), which traveled to different cities.

“We’ve enjoyed a strong partnership with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, and we continue to work together on government relations and other important industry issues,” said Britt Wood, NALP CEO, “but the time has come to provide members with a new annual meeting experience, so beginning in 2022, our conference will move to different cities.”

NALP has assembled a planning task force, including industry suppliers and manufacturers, lawn care, maintenance, and design-build professionals, to provide guidance and input into the design of the new conference.  Member input is also being gathered to ensure that the conference provides the best education and networking opportunities while incorporating local facility tours and the latest innovations.

“We look forward to opening up new opportunities for attendees as we create the future NALP Annual Meeting experience, beginning in 2022,” said Wood. “In the meantime, we are focused on providing innovative and exceptional LANDSCAPES conferences for the next two years in Louisville.”

The National Association of Landscape Professionals represents an industry of approximately 1 million landscape, lawn care, irrigation, and tree care professionals. Through national advocacy campaigns, the association is growing the industry and its workforce. NALP offers its members professional development through education, networking, and training, certification and accreditation programs.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *