NEW ORLEANS – The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Expo, the world’s largest international gathering of franchised new-vehicle dealers, and American Truck Dealers (ATD) are returning to New Orleans for its 100th anniversary Thursday, Jan. 26 – Sunday, Jan. 29, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (MCCNO), The Great Hall, Halls B-H.
The four-day event will attract more than 23,000 attendees, which includes 1,500 international attendees from 35 countries. There are nearly 600 companies exhibiting at the Expo, which occupies 700,000 square feet of floor space at the Convention Center. Attendees will attend keynote speaker sessions, dealer franchise meetings, workshops and numerous networking opportunities as well as shop the expo floor.
This event will kick off with its very own NADA100 Carnival at Mardi Gras World on Thursday, Jan. 26; which includes performances by Foreigner, Cowboy Mouth and local New Orleans Jazz favorites, and the city’s top cuisine. An all-star line-up of speakers includes: Ford Motor Company President and CEO Mark Fields; Three-time Indianapolis 500 Winner Helio Castroneves; Robert Penske, chairman of Penske Corp; NADA chairmen Jeff Carlson and Mark Scarpelli; inspirational speaker Amy Purdy; and Jim Gaffigan, a Grammy-nominated comedian and New York Times best-selling author.
NADA, founded in 1917, represents more than 16,500 new car and truck dealerships, with both domestic and international franchises. NADA provides counsel and advocacy on industry, legal, legislative and regulatory matters, represents dealers on Capitol Hill, develops research data on the automobile industry and operates training and service programs to improve dealership business operations, sales and service practices.
The NADA convention last met in New Orleans in 2014 and this year’s convention marks the 12th time the city has hosted the convention since 1973. The economic impact of the 2017 NADA Convention & Expo is expected to be nearly $28 million.
MAJOR EVENTS
• Friday, Jan. 27 (2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) Formal opening featuring Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, in a fireside chat with NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson and New York Times best-selling author and comedian Jim Gaffigan. MCCNO Great Hall
• Saturday, Jan. 28 (3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) General Session featuring motorsports legends Roger Penske, Chairman of Penske Corp., and three-time Indianapolis 500 Winner Helio Castroneves for Penske Racing in an interview with Keith Crain, editor-in-chief of Automotive News. MCCNO Great Hall
• Sunday, Jan. 29 (9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.) Inspirational speaker Amy Purdy, a world-class adaptive snowboarder and New York Times best-selling author. MCCNO Great Hall
