By now, you’ve probably heard that the NADA Show 2021 is going virtual and will not be held in New Orleans, as initially planned this coming January. Instead, the Auto Industry Event of the Year is coming to YOU (wherever that may be) Feb. 9-11, 2021, making it easier than ever to access all the education, networking and Expo connections you’ve come to expect from NADA.

Without the usual cost of travel and hotel accommodations, as well as a reduced registration cost for dealers and managers, more dealership employees than ever can now attend the show virtually. All attendees will have access to NADA’s industry-leading education on current topics and much more, including:

• 60+ workshops and education sessions (live and on-demand);
• Franchise meetings with OEM partners;
• Keynote sessions from industry leaders and experts;
• Thousands of the latest dealer products and solutions at NADA Expo;
• Key automotive industry news and updates; and
• Exclusive networking opportunities attendees have come to expect at the NADA Show.

Dealers and dealership managers from all departments will find relevant tools and information to boost their bottom line. The Virtual Expo will showcase hundreds of companies offering thousands of products, solution and services in one place. Attendees and exhibitors will be able to connect through one-on-one appointments with live-chat functionality. They can also take advantage of show specials and Expo-Only Hours.

This NADA Show will be like no other but, as NADA chairman Rhett Ricart said, “This year’s event is more important than ever given the mass disruption brought to our businesses by the coronavirus. Never before have dealers faced business hardship and complexity concurrently with a health pandemic.”

But dealers are both resilient and optimistic, which has been proven time and again this year. We’ve all learned a great deal about operating in a fast-changing environment and the NADA Show is the right place for us to share best practices while refining the changes we’ve made to our businesses.

The NADA Show 2021 experience will feel different, but I believe the virtual format will be unbelievably successful. If you haven’t already done so, register NOW to attend the 2021 NADA Show at https://show.nada.org/2021/virtual/registration/.