Golf Business News – SALTEX 2024 Welcomes Most International and Diverse Spectators Now

SALTEX 2024 reached new levels of international engagement, attracting a diverse audience from around the world including attendees from China, Cyprus, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

This year’s exhibition provided high-quality interaction between industry leaders, creating connections that could bring about greater partnerships and cross-border collaborations. With over 7,300 visitors, SALTEX reaffirmed its position as the must-attend exhibition for the entire facilities management industry.

The ever-popular Learning LIVE program, attended by over 1,000 visitors, discussed current and future trends in the industry, covering topics ranging from sustainability trends to technological advances – providing visitors with information that will drive progress in the industry.

With the latest reason management technologies on display in the form of 30+ new product launches, exhibitors were able to showcase their state-of-the-art equipment and solutions designed to improve the sector.

SALTEX has a wide appeal in many fields and sports including golf. The program saw visitors from prestigious golf clubs such as 2025 Open Championship venue Royal Portrush, as well as top 50 UK golf courses such as Woodhall Spa Golf Club, and JCB Golf and Country Club.

The presence of more than 130 educational institutions (including universities, colleges and private schools) and almost 100 local authorities further emphasized the importance of SALTEX as an important communication platform for the entire field of grounds management.

SALTEX has seen an increase in young visitors, with more than 20% under the age of 30.

The expanded Community Sports Zone has created more opportunities to get involved. The larger venue welcomed a strong number of volunteers and County FA representatives, all keen to improve their facilities.

Income earned at SALTEX is reinvested directly into the grounds management industry, helping to drive growth and drive industry standards forward. As a non-profit organization, GMA seeks this income to fund membership and training, while providing valuable services such as independent advice and information.

In addition to training and membership, SALTEX’s revenue supports several impactful GMA programs. The annual Industry Awards celebrate excellence in landscape care, recognizing professionals and volunteers across the sector. The annual #Groundsweek campaign, reaching over 18 million online by 2024, promotes the contributions of ground workers and encourages new talent to join the industry.

In addition, SALTEX funds support various initiatives such as the ‘Women on the Ground’ event at the Emirates Stadium, which highlights the role of women in stadium management and reaches an audience of 188 million.

Rhys Adams, National Sales Manager at Milwaukee Tools said: “SALTEX has been a huge help, and has been busy as always. For us it’s a good middle ground for us to meet customers and there are a lot of new products coming out so it’s a great opportunity to see that. We find that there are many end users here and it’s great to see them using our products. For users who haven’t used our products, it’s a great opportunity to put the product in their hands and talk to other great councils and new vendors. “

Geoff Webb, CEO at the Grounds Management Association, said: “The success of SALTEX 2024 confirms its role as an important meeting place for the global grounds management community. This year, SALTEX continued to attract a large audience from around the world, demonstrating the international importance of the exhibition as an industry hub for knowledge sharing and innovation. It was also clear to see significant investment from exhibitors in their booths and programs, with a large number of exhibitors choosing SALTEX as a venue to present their brand new products.

“Our Learning LIVE program continues to be one of the standout features providing visitors with the latest information on topics such as sustainability and technological progress, further ensuring they have the tools to meet today’s challenges and anticipate tomorrow’s needs.

“We are committed to ensuring that SALTEX is not only the go-to event for the UK but also an important international event, with an organization and program designed to meet the changing needs of the grounds management industry.”

Looking ahead, SALTEX 2025 will return to its traditional November venue next year, which will be held on 12-13 November. The event will also be relocated to Halls 17, 18 and 19 at the NEC, presenting a renovated structure designed to enhance the experience of both visitors and exhibitors.