PATS Telford is to be become a three-day exhibition in Autumn 2024, while the Spring event at Sandown Park is to be discontinued and merged into the Telford trade show.
PATS Telford 2024 is to take place over three days at the Telford International Centre on Sunday September 29 to Tuesday October 1, 2024, and the merged event is projected to be the largest-ever pet industry event staged in the UK, accommodating over 400 stands. The 2024 exhibition will take over the entire Telford International Centre, and the organisers will also promote PATS Telford as an international exhibition with overseas suppliers and buyers being more likely to be attracted by the three-day format.
Show director Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions & Events said: “We’ve carried out extensive research amongst visitors and exhibitors and the response for one all-encompassing three-day exhibition has been overwhelming. By making it a three-day show, exhibitors will have more time and flexibility to spend with new and existing customers, taking them through their latest product ranges during face-to-face meetings.
“By taking over the entire International Centre we have the chance to host over 400 exhibitors, compared to this year’s record number of 256, so for visitors there will be lots more to see. We expect retailers and buyers will want to stay at the show for longer, and more will consider an overnight stay at one of the many nearby hotels.”
PATS has also secured the use of the four onsite hotels with a total of 400 rooms, in addition to the further 1,000 bedrooms within a 10-minute drive and 3,000 within a 20-minute drive of the venue.
The survey of show visitors highlighted the size and reputation of the event, the ability to meet a large number of suppliers, the late September/early October timing and the central location of Telford as key reasons for attending.
Thomas added: “The Telford site offers so much in terms of access and hospitality and that’s why we’ll be working with PetQuip to encourage increasing numbers of international buyers to next year’s show.”
The announcement comes as exhibitors and buyers are preparing for this year’s packed PATS Telford show, taking place on Sunday October 1 and Monday October 2.
