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NEWS FROM NIADA

NIADA Sets Convention Attendance Record

BY AUTO REMARKETING STAFF

For the second year in a row, the NIADA
Convention and Expo was the largest ever.
The National Independent Automobile
Dealers Association highlighted that the fi-
nal count is in, and it shows this year’s con-
vention, held June 12-15 at The Mirage in
Las Vegas, edged the 2016 total for most at-
tendees in the 71-year history of the event.

Overall attendance was up for the fifth con-
secutive year, and the number of dealers
was also up from last year. And just as in
2016, nearly 20 percent of those attending
the 2017 convention did so for the first
time.

Among attendees who responded to NIA-
DA's post-convention survey, the associa-
tion reported:
• 98 percent said they were satisfied with
the event
• 88 percent said the convention met got their money’s worth — 84 percent of re- Just as it surpassed its record-setting prede-
spondents to the exhibitor survey rated the cessor in attendance, the 2017 convention
their objectives
• 94 percent said the information pre- value of their NIADA Convention experi- topped the 2016 event with more sessions
ence “excellent” or “good.”
sented was very useful on more topics than any previous NIADA
• 98 percent said the speakers and panel- Alvlis Tabaks of Elva DMS said his compa- Convention. That included for the first
time a dedicated area of focus on certified
ists were very prepared and more than ny exhibited at NIADA’s event for the first pre-owned, as well as sessions addressing
three-fourths gave the sessions “good” time and “the experience we got there was retail, compliance and an even more exten-
or “excellent” ratings.
beyond our expectations. sive buy-here, pay-here component.
In addition, the survey also showed: “The event structure was perfect and gave In addition to keynote speaker Captain
• 95 percent said they are likely to attend the right balance between the sessions and Richard Phillips — inspiration for the hit
future NIADA events
• 96 percent said they are likely to rec- the expo,” Tabaks continued. “So we man- movie Captain Phillips — the featured
aged to get useful information from indus-
ommend NIADA events to others speakers included many of the top names
• 99 percent said they plan to engage try experts and had enough time to interact in the used vehicle industry, beginning with
with attendees at our booth.”
with NIADA in the future NIADA's own Chuck Bonanno and Shaun
Petersen.
The exhibitors gave the convention a 90
“An awesome investment in my business," percent overall satisfaction rating, while Others included leadership trainer Dave
wrote Larry Schmidt of Countryside Auto 95 percent approved of the level of deci-
Anderson, TrueCar CEO Chip Perry, Cox
and Cycle in Fond du Lac, Wis. “Four days sion-makers among the attendees and 90 Automotive's Janet Barnard, attorney Tom
of industry-specific training along with percent said they are likely to be back to Hudson, KAR Auction Services chief econ-
trade vendors to improve my business — exhibit at the 2018 Convention and Expo – omist Tom Kontos, FBI Special Agent Ed-
that’s an investment every dealer should be which will be held June 18-21 at the Rosen ward Parmalee, AutoZone’s Ray Curry and
making. I'll be back next year."
Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Fla., as NABD president Ken Shilson, among many
NIADA highlighted the 170-plus vendors NIADA's biggest event leaves Las Vegas for others. n
the first time since 2009.
and industry partners that exhibited in the
60,000-square foot Expo Hall also felt they

GIADA Independent Auto Dealer AUGUST 2017 | 65