The Auto Channel--Aftermarket Business Magazine

Mammoth AAIW show to attract about 80,000

Its seventh trade show held in Las Vegas

IT ISN'T JUST another version of a giant trade show. This time Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) is bigger and better. And showgoers will be wise to use their time accordingly to take advantage of what this show offers.

Seminars, workshops, golf tournaments, buying, gaming and negotiating are all part of a week's activities for most showgoers. All these events and more will be held in two main locations - the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and the Sands Expo Center (SEC).

The LVCC will house the exhibits for the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Automotive Parts & Accesories Association (APAA) and the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA).

The SEC will house the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and the International Tire Expo.

There are subsections within all of these shows, such as the Paint, Body & Equipment section in the SEC, the Machine Shop section in the SEC, the Heavy Duty parts and Accessories section in the SEC and the On-Board Technology Section in the LVCC.

The International Tire Expo, which made its inaugural showing last year as the former National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NDTDRA), will now be housed in the new wing of the LVCC. The NTDRA has transformed itself into the Tire Association of North America (TANA). TANA is now an affiliate sponsor of AAIW, along with the Automotive International Association, the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association and The Commercial Association.

The attendance last year was about 72,000 people and this year more are expected. Of last year's numbers, about 18 percent were from foreign countries. This is expected to increase this year.

"It is only appropriate in this era of market globalization and the increased importance of international trade, that we are making AAIW events as pleasant and helpful as possible for our international registrants," said William D. Grote, III, head of the show's Joint Operations Committee and president of Grote Industries.

To obtain an updated schedule of events for AAIW, show attendees can call ShowFax®, a 24-hour, automated toll free phone and fax-response service from DCi. The phone number is 1-(800) ShowFax (1-800-474-6932), Callers will be asked to dial the AAIW access code (98125) and their return fax number.

Good luck at the show.

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Editor-in-Chief@theautochannel.com