Las Vegas, Nevada — AAPEX 2020, initially scheduled for November 3-5, 2020 at the Sands Expo and Caesars Forum Conference Center in Las Vegas, will not be held as an in-person trade show event this year due to the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government restrictions on gatherings, businesses, and travel.
Instead, AAPEX will provide a digital experience with many of the show’s same elements presented online. The virtual event will be held the week of Nov. 3, the same week as the originally planned event, and additional details will be available Aug. 19.
Given that Nevada’s recently announced a long-term mitigation strategy for the COVID-19 pandemic—which indefinitely prohibited events with more than 50 participants, as well as the severe limitations on international and domestic travel—the traditional in-person event cannot proceed, says the show’s organizers.
“This was a difficult decision but circumstances on the ground made it impossible to have the show that we planned for our exhibitors and attendees,” said Paul McCarthy, president of AASA. “AAPEX and your industry associations have, and will continue, to support industry growth, pursue industry advocacy, ensure members’ safety, and do what is right for our industry.”
AAPEX will refocus its efforts on the virtual 2020 event to bring together the automotive aftermarket community and enable exhibitors to introduce new products to their customers and additional domestic and international target buyers.
“AAPEX attendees and exhibitors are essential to keeping the motoring public on the road, even during times of crisis. We work in a dynamic industry and change has always been embraced by our predecessors and the 4.7 million men and women who now currently work to keep our industry at the forefront of the economy. AAPEX didn’t become the extraordinary event it is today by thinking small and not evolving to changing times and circumstances,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association. “While we had hoped to meet in person, we are excited to use technology to bring together the supply chain of essential services to conduct business.”
AAPEX 2021 will return to the Sands Expo and Caesars Forum Conference Center in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Nov. 2 through Thursday, Nov. 4. All inquiries should be directed to W.T. Glasgow Inc., (708) 226-1300, billjr@aapexshow.com.
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