Thursday, May 5, 2016
The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports more than 4100 were in attendance at its 69th Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo in Nashville, Tenn. April 8-10. The tally broke a previous record set in 2006 and resulted in the ninth consecutive increase for the annual event, held this year at Music City Center. Attendance by propane marketers grew by more than 35%, while supplier participation was up by 22%. Further, the size of the exhibit hall expanded by 11% to 71,100 square feet. NPGA attributes the growth in participation to the overall health of the propane fuels market, combined with the convention taking place in a new host city and an increased focus on marketing within the industry.
The expo attracted participants from 49 states, along with the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and 37 foreign countries and territories. The program featured a keynote presentation by Charles Esten, star of the ABC television show “Nashville,” as well as more than 40 educational sessions, various networking events, and a new Leadership Forum presented by the Women in Propane Council.
The exhibit hall included more than 240 exhibiting organizations, among them over 50 vehicle/transporter displays. An Autogas Pavilion highlighted the expo, which focused on manufactured products, processes, educational tools, and services specific to the rapidly growing autogas market. There was also a New Products Showcase, presented in partnership with the Propane Education & Research Council, featuring emerging trends and new products and technologies. Next year, NPGA’s Southeastern Convention will return to Nashville April 21-23. The event will move back to its previous location, Atlanta, Ga., in 2018 and 2019.
“We attended with the goal of educating ourselves on a few products,” said Adam Bluhm of Bluhm’s Gas Sales in Wyalusing, Pa. “We left the show with the knowledge of many more products and businesses, which we never knew existed, and networked with many wonderful people.” “The 2016 NPGA conference in Nashville exceeded our expectations in every way,” added exhibitor Alexandra Hale, director of marketing for BASE Engineering in Saint John, New Brunswick. “As a long-time exhibitor, we can safely say this was one of our best years at the show.”
The expo attracted participants from 49 states, along with the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and 37 foreign countries and territories. The program featured a keynote presentation by Charles Esten, star of the ABC television show “Nashville,” as well as more than 40 educational sessions, various networking events, and a new Leadership Forum presented by the Women in Propane Council.
The exhibit hall included more than 240 exhibiting organizations, among them over 50 vehicle/transporter displays. An Autogas Pavilion highlighted the expo, which focused on manufactured products, processes, educational tools, and services specific to the rapidly growing autogas market. There was also a New Products Showcase, presented in partnership with the Propane Education & Research Council, featuring emerging trends and new products and technologies. Next year, NPGA’s Southeastern Convention will return to Nashville April 21-23. The event will move back to its previous location, Atlanta, Ga., in 2018 and 2019.
“We attended with the goal of educating ourselves on a few products,” said Adam Bluhm of Bluhm’s Gas Sales in Wyalusing, Pa. “We left the show with the knowledge of many more products and businesses, which we never knew existed, and networked with many wonderful people.” “The 2016 NPGA conference in Nashville exceeded our expectations in every way,” added exhibitor Alexandra Hale, director of marketing for BASE Engineering in Saint John, New Brunswick. “As a long-time exhibitor, we can safely say this was one of our best years at the show.”
