As a strictly invite-only event, tensions are mounting as the selection process for the Summit gets underway. Will you receive a golden ticket when the coveted invitations are sent out? 

A total of 50 leading professionals will be invited to attend this year’s Summit from across the turfcare industry, covering:  football, rugby, golf, cricket, tennis, the amenity sector as well as representatives from organisations and education. As the list of invitees is carefully compiled, a select few can expect to receive an invitation over the summer. If you are fortunate enough to receive one, there will be plenty of opportunity to engage in some heathy on-topic debates when you’re there.

Martin Smart, Publisher of Turf Business, is keen to find out which individuals will receive an illustrious invite, as he says: “the main aim of the Summit is to bring together some of the most influential individuals from across the turfcare sector to one great event. Once together, they can work to identify some of the major issues that are facing the industry today. They can then try to find ways to address these concerns. We are not expecting to solve anything, but we would like to open up the debate and foster a discussion with the people who really care.”

The Summit will create a working platform to facilitate talking points that focus on the issues that affect professionals, as Martin continues: “Turf Business is extremely excited about what the Summit can do to help the industry in the forthcoming years. It is up to the influential individuals, who have been hand-picked to attend the Summit, to decide where the focus needs to be for change, improvement and good practise. Our Summit has been organised to invite talented professionals to engage in debates, to help take them beyond talking and to turn their words into meaningful actions.”

Paul Burgess, Director of Grounds and Environment at Real Madrid, has partnered Martin to initiate and plan the Summit from the start. A well-known industry figure himself, Paul has been instrumental in constructing the Summit’s agenda and creating a suitable framework that he also hopes will encourage invitees to talk openly to one another, as he adds: “the format we’ve put together is perfect because it will be about talking to people and debating in small groups. I hope this set-up will encourage people to debate topics with each other on the same level by being frank from the outset.”

Paul concludes: “I hope people feel relaxed enough to give their stark honest views on issues in good company. People will see some amazing facilities and I expect people to embrace the programme as it won’t be your bog-standard conference. People will say it how it is, drop their guard and discuss the issues that matter.”

From the start, inviting the delegates was intentional but it was also important to organise a Summit that was representative of the cross-disciplines within groundscare; this was considered a priority and just another reason the Summit will be unique.

Reflecting the warmth of the laidback, friendly Spanish city where it is staged, is also important to encourage attendees to turf with peers about issues that really matter. The Summit’s venue has the right ‘feel’ and will be the optimum place to share worthwhile and lengthy debates in a relaxed environment. This will be a gathering of industry-minded professionals and peers, so watch this space and look out for that elusive invite!

The Turf Business Summit takes place at the inspiring Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and the Ciudad Real Madrid Training Ground, in the vibrant Spanish capital Madrid, from the 14th to the 16th October this year.