How the 2021 LP Gas Growth Summit unfolds

Here’s a timeline showing how the 2021 LP Gas Growth Summit unfolded over three days at Reunion Resort, outside Orlando, Florida.

PREPARATION DAY

The day before the Summit begins: LP Gas team members arrive at Reunion Resort, outside Orlando, Florida, to make on-site preparations for the Cleveland-based publication’s annual event.

The LP Gas Growth Summit is held at Reunion Resort, outside Orlando, Florida. Photo by LP Gas staff

GROWTH SUMMIT – DAY 1

Arrivals and registration: Propane marketers and partners arrive from across the country to register and check in at the resort. This year’s event draws about 20 retail propane marketers and 14 partner companies, totaling more than 60 attendees.

Boardroom presentations take place at the LP Gas Growth Summit. Photo by LP Gas staff

Boardroom presentations: With propane marketers gathered in a ballroom, partners enter one by one to give 10-minute overviews of their offerings and solutions for the industry. For the marketers, this provides helpful introductions to the partners before both sides sit down for one-on-one meetings over the next two days.

Welcome reception: It’s time to relax, meet and mingle over cocktails and dinner with those attending the Growth Summit. This year’s reception takes place at the Eleven rooftop restaurant.

GROWTH SUMMIT – DAY 2

Breakfast and featured speaker: Over a hot buffet breakfast, attendees prepare for the day’s events. First, they hear from a guest speaker. Steve Whaley, director of autogas business development for the Propane Education & Research Council, addresses the group this year.

Propane marketers and partners meet in partner suites during the LP Gas Growth Summit. Photo by LP Gas staff

One-on-one meetings: The foundation of the Growth Summit, the one-on-one meetings allow propane marketers and partners to sit down in the partner suites for 20-minute business meetings. Can partners help marketers expand into new markets? Can they share new ways for marketers to add efficiencies to their businesses? These meetings are opportunities for marketers and partners to discuss partnerships. Marketers and partners follow an LP Gas-created schedule that has marketers rotating between partner suites.

LP Gas Growth Summit attendees tee it up on one of three Reunion Resort golf courses. The 2021 outing was held on the Palmer course. Photo by LP Gas staff

Golf outing: Marketers and partners can continue their discussions on the golf course. Reunion Resort features three layouts designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, respectively. This year’s scramble takes place on the Palmer course.

Barbecue dinner: The full group convenes in another social setting, for another networking opportunity and a chance for golfers to recap their rounds with one another. LP Gas recognizes the winning team and runner-up, as well as the longest drive and closest shot to the pin. After dinner, conversations continue over cocktails – and games of cornhole – as attendees enjoy live music.

GROWTH SUMMIT – DAY 3

Propane marketers participate in a panel discussion at the LP Gas Growth Summit. Photo by LP Gas staff

Breakfast and panel discussion: During another hot buffet breakfast, a propane marketer panel discussion – moderated by LP Gas editors – provides perspectives “from the front lines” of the industry. This year’s topics include COVID-19 impacts on operations, staffing challenges and growth opportunities.

One-on-one meetings: Marketers and partners conclude the Summit by holding their second day of meetings with those companies they haven’t seen on the previous day.