NPGA Propane Expo draws 3,300 attendees in return to Atlanta

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) reports its 71st Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo had nearly 3,300 participants.

According to the NPGA, that attendance figure marks a 6 percent increase compared to 2015 numbers when the show was last held in Atlanta. The industry’s largest trade show was held for the last two years in Nashville, Tennessee, where it drew record numbers of more than 4,000 total attendees.

The three-day event attracted participants from 48 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and 31 foreign countries and territories. In addition, the nearly sold-out 180,000-sq.-ft. exhibition hall included more than 240 exhibiting organizations, the association adds.

“Feedback from membership on our return to Atlanta has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Rick Roldan, NPGA’s president and CEO. “Not only did marketers gain useful information from a great mix of educational sessions, but exhibitors were pleased with the quality of visitors to the show floor.”

Program highlights included a keynote presentation by Greg Gumbel of CBS Sports; a PERC Update presented by Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC); and a Women in Propane Roundtable: Management Matters.

There were also 28 breakout sessions, seven fast-track sessions, propane technical workshops and a Women in Propane Leadership Forum. In addition, NPGA added a pre-conference
propane cargo-tank test and inspection workshop to this year’s agenda.

Networking events included a Propane Expo welcome reception, Women in Propane reception, Young Gassers reception and a prayer breakfast with the Reverend William Fullilove.

The exhibit hall included the United Propane AutoGas Solutions (UPAS) Group’s Autogas Pavilion – focused on manufacturing products, processes, educational tools and services specific to the growing autogas market – as well as a New Products Showcase, presented in partnership with PERC.

NPGA’s Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo will return to Atlanta on April 13-15, 2019. The event will move back to Nashville in 2020.