McLEAN, Va. – The American Truck Dealers (ATD) announced today that it is moving its 2013 Convention and Expo to Orlando, Fla., in February, in response to survey results of attendees from the past convention. The 2013 ATD convention was originally scheduled for Tampa next April.
Orlando is the site of the 2013 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo, which is considered “the industry event of year.” The two events will run simultaneously at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from Feb. 8-11. The Peabody Hotel will serve as the meeting headquarters for both conventions.
“I’m very excited that the ATD and NADA conventions will take place once again in the same city and at the same time,” said ATD Chairman Dick Witcher, president of Minuteman Trucks in Walpole, Mass. “This is a value added experience for the ATD membership, who can also participate in all of the NADA programs and activities.”
The move was made following the recommendation by the ATD leadership.
According to the survey, nearly 77 percent of respondents who attended the ATD convention in Las Vegas this past February indicated that they favored holding future ATD conventions in conjunction with NADA. Earlier this year, both conventions were held together for the first time.
“The overwhelming assessment by respondents of the survey was that the 2012 ATD convention was very successful and the way to move forward,” Witcher added. “The ability to hold two conventions at the same time, while maintaining a distinct flavor for ATD members in our traditional format, turned out to be hugely positive.”
Witcher points out that there are several advantages of holding the NADA and ATD conventions at the same time.
“Commercial truck dealers can attend a broader array of workshops and meet with vendors who typically would not exhibit at the ATD convention,” he said. “There are so many common interests of car and truck dealers. We can both benefit from understanding each other’s public policy issues, dealership operations and business philosophies in a better way.”
All ATD activities, such as the general sessions, workshops, dealer franchise meetings and shopping the expo floor will be held at the convention center.
For more information, visit www.nadaconventionandexpo.org.
About ATD
The American Truck Dealers represents about 2,000 medium- and heavy-duty truck dealers. ATD members share in NADA’s programs, services and benefits. ATD hosts an annual convention and expo for dealers and dealership managers. For more information, visit www.atd.org.
The NADA Story
The NADA story began in 1917 when 30 auto dealers traveled to the nation’s capital to convince Congress not to impose a luxury tax on the automobile. They successfully argued that the automobile is a necessity of American life, not a luxury. From that experience was born the National Automobile Dealers Association. Today, NADA represents nearly 16,000 new-car and -truck dealerships with 32,500 franchises, both domestic and international. For more information, visit www.nada.org.
Trucking Industry News
American Truck Dealers (ATD) Move 2013 Convention and Expo to Orlando, Fla.
2012-04-19 16:16:25
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