News and Highlights from Orlando

Record attendance reported in Orlando

While official numbers won’t be available until March, early figures reported total attendance at 25,737 and counting. That officially surpasses the previous high of 23,099 at the 2007 Golf Industry Show in Anaheim. Qualified Buyers were a new mark, too, with a preliminary count of more than 11,500.

As for the trade show, the story was the same, with 965 exhibitors commanding an all-time high of 300,900 square feet.

These numbers reflect not only Orlando's appeal, but also to the continuing success of the alliance between the show's presenting partners -- GCSAA, NGCOA and CMAA.

Golf Industry Show partnership extends through 2014

The General Session kicked off with an exciting announcement made by Steve Mona, GCSAA's CEO, that the Golf Industry Show's partner organizations have agreed to extend the show for five years. Along with the leaders of NGCOA, CMAA, ASGCA, GCBAA and the National Golf Foundation, Mona signed the official extension agreement taking the Golf Industry Show into the year 2014.

Doug Keeley’s “Mark of a Leader” delivers inspiration

Doug Keeley, founder and former CEO of Integrated Communications and Entertainment, delivered a dynamic keynote address at the Golf Industry Show General Session. Keeley challenged the audience to think about the three types of leaders that he believes exist in this world: those with hierarchal power, those in control and those who simply go first. All three are valuable – as well as dependent upon each other.  Keeley illustrated his point with the historic 1954 video of three runners working together to accomplish what was at the time thought impossible -- a 4-minute mile. While only one runner accomplished the goal, each runner played an integral part in achieving the impossible.

Another strong visual included the infamous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass -- a green surrounded by water.  Keeley pointed out that golfers often dread this hole because they focus on the distraction of what could go wrong.  However, leaders and winners in golf, as well as in life, focus instead on where they're going, not what could prevent them from getting there.

Doug Keeley inspired his audience to look at the concept of team, and the perceptual barriers that hold us back.  Ultimately, the challenge is to look at your own story and the mark you are making on your organization and the world around you.