Green Industry Expo to Return In-Person This Fall

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has announced its annual GIE+EXPO will be held in-person at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. this October.  This announcement marks a return to normalcy for the event after last year’s GIE+EXPO was hosted online because of COVID-19 concerns.

“Despite the pandemic, business never stopped for those who design, install, and maintain living landscapes,” said Kris Kiser, president of the OPEI and managing partner of GIE+EXPO.

Registration for the landscaping industry event is open now and costs $20 per person through September 9. As of April 20, 675 exhibitors had signed up to showcase their wares. More than 70 are new to the event.

“GIE+EXPO has always been a good way to check up on the competition, to see what’s new and talk to the manufacturers of the products we sell,” said Sam Walter, president of Sam Walter & Son, Inc. in Fairbury, Ill. “We can’t wait to get back to the show in 2021.”

GIE+EXPO organizers say they expect this year’s event to be well-attended despite any lingering COVID-19 safety concerns. A recent survey of past attendees shows 91 percent of the landscape professionals and 84 percent of the equipment dealers who have gone to previous shows are planning to attend this year’s Expo.

Organizers are planning several hands-on attractions that will take advantage of the in-person setting. Attendees will be able to fly drones, take UTVs for a spin on a test track, and watch demos of cutting-edge products and solutions from across the industry.

“While this year’s show will look different, we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Louisville,” said Kriser. “We understand how important GIE+EXPO is to our industry, and we are committed to providing the education, resources, and networking businesses need to thrive.”