Automotive Service Association (ASA) board members Roy Schnepper and Bob Wills, along with Ray Fisher, ASA-Michigan chapter president, attended the 2014 North American International Auto Show Charity Preview Black Tie Gala on behalf of ASA.
Attendance of the gala was courtesy of Marriott at the Renaissance Center, COBO Center, and the Detroit Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (CVB). The event, which took place Jan. 17 prior to the annual auto show opening to the public the following day, was a formal gathering of automotive industry executives and celebrities. ASA was invited due to NACE/CARS 2014 taking place at COBO Center in July and the Marriott at the Renaissance Center serving as the headquarter hotel. ASA’s attendance at this event provided senior management of the two businesses and the CVB an opportunity to display firsthand how well the city, the hotel, the convention center, transportation and related services are able to handle the impact of such a large event, proving that they can provide excellent service for NACE/CARS attendees and exhibitors.
“We were impressed at how smoothly everything operated and how organized things were at the hotel and the convention center, despite the crowd,” said Schnepper. “It was a fun event, but more importantly, we were able to see how things would flow during a busy time.”
Wills said, “Although some of us on the ASA board visited the convention center late last year, it was helpful to see the facility filled with people and exhibits. This function provided great insight on how we can better manage NACE/CARS 2014.”
Fisher added, “It’s exciting to see the international automotive industry have such a successful event in Detroit. Both the industry and the city have come a long way since the economic downturn of 2008-2009. Those who attend NACE/CARS 2014 will be very impressed.”
Interest in this year’s event is extremely high with many large companies already booking significant exhibit space. Hotel and convention center plans, training and conference sessions, offsite tours and receptions, and the co-location of numerous industry meetings are all coming together to make this year’s NACE/CARS conference and exhibition the largest in many years.
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