At lunchtime today I'll be making the journey up from the south west to north Yorkshire to attend BIGGA's BTME exhibition.

Always an interesting start to the year, the International Centre regularly features a host of new products and services as well as a comprehensive education programme, which always makes a visit, whatever the weather, well worthwhile.

And with the weather giving such a depressing start to the year for many clubs and facilities across that part of the country, hopefully an event such as this can bring the industry together for a couple of days, to share ideas and knowledge and to celebrate what a cracking job is carried out by greens and grounds staff across the country, all year round, often under quite trying conditions.

This year to increase the temptation of a visit, one of BIGGA’s Partners Kubota are even offering complimentary bacon sandwiches and tea or coffee on the first two mornings of the exhibition. Visitors to stand Q22 will be able to claim a refreshments voucher to be redeemed at the various catering points – but it’s on a strictly first come first served basis!

Also new this year, adding value to the event, is the GolfBIC experience. Presented by the UK Golf Course Owners Association (UKGCOA) and the Organisation of Golf and Range Operators (OGRO), GolfBIC features industry leaders debating key issues and will be hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter and golf fan Naga Munchetty.

As well as the two-day conference, which starts Wednesday at 9.30am and concludes at 1pm on Thursday, GolfBIC also includes a drinks reception and charity dinner on behalf of the Golf Foundation in the Royal Hall on Wednesday evening.

So there's plenty going on in Harrogate this week to justify or day or so away from work. It'll be a particularly interesting week seeing as it's the first one following the revamped SALTEX. Now both shows are more similar than they ever have been, combined with the fact that the IOG's show only took place a couple of months ago, will BIGGA feel any effects of show-overload? Early indications are that they wont what with them adding an extra hall this year, but it'll be interesting to see the visitor numbers post-event.

Of course, what BTME has going for it is Harrogate itself. If visitors are prepared to spend a night or two in the town, the show's value is added to immensely by the social and networking opportunities afforded by it's location.

A problem which does present itself though, for both visitors and exhibitors, is conflicting timing with other events. This week in Peterborough the LAMMA agricultural machinery exhibition takes place, which will include some smaller kit and exhibitors which greenkeepers and groundsmen would find value in viewing (compact tractors and the like). And internationally there is the SportsTurf Managers Association's conference taking place in San Diego and ESSMA'a major pitch summit taking place in Bilboa.

No finger pointing at any one exhibition for bad timing, but one would think it would benefit all parties - visitors, exhibitors and organisers - if some sort of collusion took place to try to avoid these clashes?