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Ireland Hosts International Garden Centre Congress in 2014
- 08 November 2011
The Irish gardening industry has agreed to organise & run an international garden centre congress on its shores in 2014. The objective of the event is to showcase the very best in Irish culture & especially horticulture to hundreds of overseas delegates.
A small committee is already working behind the scenes to prepare for the event. In order for it to be a success, we’ll need your help. This could be by giving of your time, your ideas, offering a tour of your business or by taking part in one of the many social events planned. If you’d like to offer your assistance at this early stage please do, we’ll certainly keep you updated on progress. In the meantime have a look at Rachel Doyle’s article on this year’s congress in Italy, and get a sneak preview of next year’s Germany congress below;
The 53rd International Garden Centre Congress
This year, the 53rd International Garden centre congress was held in South Tyrol of Italy. Four delegates from Ireland along with 200 delegates from 16 other countries attended. Visitors experienced a feast of garden centres from small boutique type centres to large multi million euro businesses.
The friendships, networking and exchange of information amongst delegates is incredible and is almost immeasurable. The study tour bus, a new element of Congress, theoretically at least for under 40’s, was packed full with vibrant and energetic young people, the next generation of garden centre owners and managers sharing all sorts of information, from marketing to how to get their parents to retire!!! The focus of the study tour was very clear, these young people were there to learn. Owner/managers from the businesses they were to visit that day were on the bus and delegates are presented with outline & statistical information on each business to study in advance. Study tour participants pay a reduced fee of €790, which is fully tax deductible Delegates visited 12 garden centres across SudTirol. All were very different and well worth a look.
Next Congress will be held in Germany on 26th August to 1st September 2012 Flying into Bonn-Cologne and staying in the Kameha Grand Hotel in Bonn, this tour dovetails with Spoga and delivers a variety of experiences including visits to a Garden Centre Castle Café, Gothic Koln Cathedral, Sion Brewing House, Muller & Dingers Garden Centre, Maria Laach Cloisters & Garden Centre, the renowned UNESCO
World Heritage Upper Middle Rhein Valley and a visit to one of the best known tree nurseries in Germany, along with a myriad of other garden centre and green businesses For anyone wishing to stay on for Spoga, the fair organisers will pay 50% of the additional overnight cost (01/09/2012 In the Kameha Grand Hotel or the Hotel Europa (study tour hotel)
Congress cost per person €2048.00, Study Tour €790.00, 100 delegates are already booked onto the Germany tour.
