National Floriculture Forum 2016 set for the Netherlands

The National Floriculture Forum (NFF) is an annual educational meeting for greenhouse growers, industry leaders, university faculty, graduate students, and government scientists from academic institutions, governmental agencies, and the greenhouse industry. This group of floriculturists have been meeting since 1999. The NFF brings together diverse floricultural communities with the objectives to 1) address issues of importance to the floriculture industry, 2) form collaborative relationships, and 3) improve communication within the American floriculture industry to share and disseminate information. This meeting is one-of-a-kind and continues to bring members of the floriculture community together each year.

 

The theme for the 2016 NFF program is “International Floriculture”, and the venue will be totally different from recent years. This horticultural trip will be an intense five days (plus two days of travel); the NFF will spend the first three days in the Netherlands visiting greenhouse operations, the flower auction, and other horticultural sites. The exact locations that will be visited in Holland have not all been confirmed yet, but Dr. Bill Miller of Cornell University and Dr. Will Healy of Ball Horticulture are working on the itinerary. 

 

After three days in the Netherlands, the group will travel down to Essen, Germany to spend two days at the International Trade Fair for Plants (IPM). The IPM is a unique combination of exhibition areas, plant displays, innovative technology, and trendy floristry that offers a comprehensive overview of the green industry and floristry. With 1,600 exhibitors from 49 countries and 62,000 trade visitors every year from all over the world, the IPM Essen is the world's largest event of its kind. Participants will return to the U.S. after an intense and educational five days.

 

The NFF group will begin its touring of the Netherlands in the afternoon of Jan. 24 after checking into the NH Barbizon Palace (www.nh-hotels.com/NH-BarbizonPalace). Tours of greenhouse operations and growers in the Netherlands will continue on January 25 and 26. On the morning of Jan. 27, a coach bus will take all participants down to Essen, Germany; this bus trip takes about 2 ½ hours. Once in Essen, everyone will be on their own for the remainder of January 27 and all of January 28 to visit the IPM Trade Show. On the morning of January 29, participants will check out of the Sheraton Essen Hotel (www.sheratonessen.com/en), load onto the bus, and travel back to Amsterdam for the return flight to the U.S.

 

This trip will have two options of travel: participants may join a group flight leaving from New York City’s JFK airport on January 23 and return to JFK on January 29 on KLM Airlines; this option saves about $1,000 on the price of the airplane ticket if purchased on the open market. We have room for 30 people on this option out of JFK. The second option is to make your own flight arrangements; this is called the “Land Only Rate.” This option is best suited for participants who want to extend their stay in Europe and for those who find it inconvenient to travel to New York City. There is room for 15 people on this option.

 

The prices are as follows.The Group Flight leaving from New York City on January 23 (KLM Airlines) and returning on January 29, is $1,860 per person if staying in a double room (we will help to find you a roommate if you are traveling alone and want a double room) or $2,420 per room if staying alone in a single room. The Land-Only Rate (individuals are responsible for their own flights) will cost $1,025 per person if staying in a double room or $1,585 per person if staying alone in a single room. These rates are based on 45 participants and will be adjusted slightly if minimum capacity is not met. The trip is subject to change and may be cancelled if minimum capacity is not met. 

 

The price of this trip includes: (1) roundtrip airfare from New York City's JFK airport to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam (for those on the group flight), (2) three nights at Hotel NH Amsterdam Barbizon Palace (January 24-26, 2016) and two nights at Sheraton Essen Hotel (January 27-28) -both hotels include internet, breakfast, and tax, (3) coach bus transportation to event locations and from Essen, Germany to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on January 29 (for those on the group flight), (4) experienced horticultural guides, and (5) tentatively 2 lunches. Participants who are on the Group Flight need to arrange their own transportation into and out of New York City, and cover their own meals for dinner and other meals that are not supplied. Those choosing the Land Only Option will need to arrange flights to Amsterdam and shuttle service to and from the airports. Travel Concepts is available to assist with these reservations (see the website listed below).

 

There are 45 spots available on this trip and they will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The last day to register is Sept. 25. For online reservation, go to: https://concepts.us.com/registration-essen2016.asp

 

Be sure to go to the site labeled: National Floriculture Forum 2016. Payment can be made by check or credit card. If you have registration questions, call Denise at 203-262-6260 or 1-800-274-5801. If you have questions about details of the trip, contact the coordinator, Dr. Mark Bridgen at mpb27@cornell.edu or at 631-727-3595.