Society spokesperson Jim Lapides attributed the boost in attendance to several factors, one being the location, which changes every year. “Washington is a popular place for people to travel to not only for what the conference offers but for sightseeing and tours,” Lapides said. "The city also offers some amazing examples of great landscape architecture, and part of this meeting is going out to explore and learn about what other people are creating."
Another draw for attendees was that, for the first time, the conference included programs that qualified for credit with the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED Accredited Professionals. The society also increased the number of programs that qualified for credit with the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Institute of Architects.
Beyond these factors, Lapides highlighted the group’s increased marketing efforts in attracting attendees. “We wanted to ensure that the economy didn't dampen our attendance, so we marketed a little more heavily than in the past,” he said. "We set up advertising barters with allied organizations and publications to ensure they reached the widest audience possible."
One partner, Garden Design magazine, transformed a 1,200-square-foot raw space on the expo floor into “The Ultimate Outdoor Home.” Designed by award-winning landscape designers Mario Nievera of Mario Nievera Design and Mary Ellen Cowan of ESA, the installation included 11 partner companies, took 36 hours to install, and used more than 45,000 pounds of Belgard pavers and stones, 12,000 pound of plants, and 7,920 pounds of sand. It was a huge draw throughout the expo.