PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The PGA of America and PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions will launch an all-new PGA Fashion & Demo Experience (formerly the PGA Expo), August 18-20, 2014, exclusively for golf industry professionals and golf lifestyle apparel retailers at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas and Cascata Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada.
The new upscale fashion merchandising, product testing and professional education event will build upon the former event’s most successful programming and offer new and improved business and retail connections.
“The new PGA Fashion & Demo Experience offers a modern, sophisticated marketplace where PGA Professionals and industry executives will have valuable access to the newest golf innovations, fashions and expert instruction,” said PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua. “Additionally, Cascata Golf Club will be a spectacular host facility for the day-long schedule of new golf programs during the PGA Demo Experience.”
“The new PGA Fashion & Demo Experience has been created to offer a unique and impactful three-day industry experience,” said PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions Senior Vice President Ed Several. “An all-new upscale environment offers a premier setting for uncovering the newest trends and innovations for golf apparel and equipment. The new schedule of events builds on popular programming, plus adds new opportunities to build business, and foster industry connections.”
The new format is organized into a three-day event beginning on Monday, Aug. 18, with the PGA Demo Experience at the renowned Cascata Golf Club. At 9 a.m., the inaugural PGA Demo Experience Invitational Pro-Pro Tournament, featuring a purse of $25,000, will be offered for influential PGA business professionals. The tournament will be followed at 3:00 p.m. by the new PGA Demo Experience which will offer a full range of new equipment testing, a golf vendor village, an indoor golf product display in the Cascata Ballroom, two outdoor short-game instruction workshops, celebrity appearances, contests and prizes, and a networking reception throughout the facility and grounds through 9:00 p.m. Complimentary transportation to and from The Venetian will be provided to all event attendees during the day and evening.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 19-20, the hottest fashion trends and newest collections will be showcased during the new PGA Fashion Experience, exclusively displaying golf fashion and accessories merchandise for attending PGA Professionals and buyers. The PGA Fashion Experience, co-located with multiple fashion trade shows at The Venetian during Las Vegas Fashion Week, is moving to a new ballroom with a fresh, contemporary show floor tailored to the golf lifestyle apparel and accessories market. Vendors will have access to move-in ready, elegant and stylish displays that will surround a central networking lounge.
The PGA Fashion Experience will open each day at 8:30 a.m. On Tuesday evening, Aug. 19, at 5:00 p.m., the networking lounge will be transformed for a special evening affair as industry guests are invited to the “Runway to Fairway Fashion Show,” a special presentation of the latest golf lifestyle collections by the industry’s top designers, immediately followed by the event’s popular Industry Networking Reception. The Industry Networking Reception is open to all registered event attendees and will feature complimentary beverages and appetizers in a social, lively atmosphere on the show floor.
A full day of appointments, product discovery and special events also will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 20, with the PGA Fashion Experience concluding at 4:00 p.m.
The PGA Education Conference for advancements in merchandising, business strategies and golf instruction will be offered Aug. 18-20 in classroom environments of The Venetian and presented by sought-after, subject-matter experts. Certification programs, instruction workshops and seminars will provide PGA Professionals with access to more than 20 MSR education credits. Education conference speakers, course descriptions, schedules and registration will be available shortly. In addition to the paid conference, complimentary merchandising panel presentations will be offered each day on the show floor.
While the PGA Fashion Experience show floor is an exclusive showcase for apparel and accessories, a limited number of golf equipment and technology companies will follow their PGA Demo Experience interaction by hosting PGA Professionals and buyers in private Venetian meeting space.
Additional event details will continue to be released. Companies interested in participating in the PGA Fashion & Demo Experience should contact Steve LaRoche for additional information by phone at (203) 840-5343 or by email at slaroche@reedexpo.com. Visit www.pgalasvegas.com for more information.
Contact:
PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions: Sherry Major, (716) 662-3855, smajor@reedexpo.com
PGA of America: Jamie Carbone, (561) 624-8446, jcarbone@pgahq.com
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