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14
Jan
Harrogate Convention Centre lands three-year deal with golf green group
Europe's largest membership organisation for golf greenkeepers has signed a three-year deal to hold its annual exhibition at Harrogate Convention Centre.
The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) has been held in Harrogate for 36 years, and now its organiser, the British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association (BIGGA), has committed to holding it at the venue until 2028.
'Spiritual home'
Jim Croxton, BIGGA chief executive, said:
Ever since the inaugural European Turf Management Exhibition in 1989, Harrogate has been the spiritual home of the UK greenkeeping industry.
Following a hugely successful instalment of the trade show and education conference in January 2025, we’re delighted to renew our partnership with the Harrogate Convention Centre, ensuring BIGGA members and the thousands of other attendees to BTME can look forward to many more fruitful and inspiring days in Harrogate until 2028 and beyond.
BTME 2026 will be held next week, from January 20 to 22, and its Continue to Learn education programme will take place from Sunday (January 18) to Wednesday (January 21).
£3m economic impact
The last event, BTME 2025, featured more than 150 exhibitors and attracted over 4,200 delegates, bringing an estimated economic impact of more than £3 million to Harrogate and the wider district.
Paula Lorimer, director at Harrogate Convention Centre, said:
I am delighted to continue our long-term relationship with BIGGA. One of the largest long-running trade events at our venue, BTME is a flagship event for the greenkeeping industry and brings significant footfall for hotels, restaurants and bars in Harrogate in a traditionally quiet time of the year.
I look forward to welcoming the greenkeeping community back next week and for many years to come.
Fallow period
Taking place in the fallow period between Christmas and the start of the new golfing season, BTME is now considered one of the most important events in the golf industry due to the development opportunities and access to the latest technology and innovations it provides.
The exhibition features the latest products and innovations in sports turf, and Continue to Learn provides more than 250 hours of education sessions and an awards ceremony.
Simon Cotton, managing director of Harrogate-based HRH Group, which owns the White Hart and Yorkshire hotels, as well as the Fat Badger and Pickled Sprout, all in the town centre, said:
This is great news for Harrogate’s hospitality businesses. The BIGGA exhibition and event is critical to bringing in thousands of visitors into the town in what is a traditionally quiet time for hospitality.
Like many events at HCC, BTME fills many of the town’s hotels, but these visitors also really enjoy the whole hospitality scene Harrogate offers and fill many of the bars and restaurants during the show, delivering a significant economic impact.
I, along with my colleagues in the Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Association, are delighted with the news.
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