West Palm Beach Ready to Host USEF Meeting | Sports Destination Management

West Palm Beach Ready to Host USEF Meeting

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Jan 09, 2019

US Equestrian, the national governing body of 29 equestrian breeds and disciplines in the United States, is set to hold their membership’s Annual Meeting in the heart of the equestrian industry, January 9 – 12 at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Fla.

“2019 will be the first year in many years that we chose to relocate our annual membership meeting from Lexington, Ky., where our offices are based, to another location,” explained US Equestrian President, Murray Kessler. “West Palm Beach was an obvious choice for us. The sunshine, cultural attractions, dining and shopping are a bonus for those who will be attending from out of town. In addition, a large number of our members and competitors are already here in the Wellington and Palm Beach area. Our goal was to increase their access and availability to this meeting. We are very excited to be hosting it here.”    

Historically, over 300 US Equestrian members gather to conduct business, participate in workshops and celebrate year-end awards. The event draws large industry sponsors, such as Adequan®, AON, the World Equestrian Center, and the Virginia Horse Center, while cultivating the growth of equestrian sport in the United States. 

This year’s US Equestrian Annual Meeting will focus on important topics within the equestrian industry, major rule changes within the sport, and workshops designed to help with growth at the introductory level of the sport. Horses and Equestrians of Honor will be presented year-end awards in recognition of their successes and service at the prestigious AON Pegasus Awards and Horse of the Year Awards ceremonies.

Wellington and the Palm Beaches are known throughout the international equestrian community as the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World.

“Equestrian sports represent the largest sporting discipline in terms of economic impact and tourism impact in the Palm Beaches, and equestrian sports represent many different disciplines,” stated George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Annually, more than 200,000 people attend or participate in the equestrian events during the 12-week period, generating over 120,000 overnight stays at local hotels and short-term vacation rentals, and generating more than $110 million in visitor spending for the local economy. Linley added, “We are thrilled the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) selected Palm Beach County to host its annual meeting. Wellington and the Palm Beaches are known throughout the international equestrian community as the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World, so conjoining the winter equestrian season with the annual meeting makes perfect sense.”  

To find out more about US Equestrian’s Annual meeting, purchase tickets to the 2019 AON Pegasus Awards or Horse of the Year Awards ceremonies, or to download a full schedule visit usef.org/annual-meeting. Advanced registration for US Equestrian members ends January 4, 2019, but for an additional cost on-site registration is available. 

Members of media and the press should contact Kathleen Landwehr at klandwehr@usef.org for information on applying for a press credential. 

About US Equestrian: The United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) is the national governing body for equestrian sport and its mission is to provide access to, and participation in equestrian sports at all levels by ensuring fairness, safety, and enjoyment. Since its inception in 1917, US Equestrian has been bringing the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. US Equestrian trains, selects, and funds the United States Equestrian Team, which consistently wins medals at the highest level of international competition, including the Olympic Games.

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