The strong rebound continues! Chauffeur Driven (CD) and the National Limousine Association (NLA) are bringing our international show back to Las Vegas at the MGM Grand from March 5-8 for what we expect to be our biggest ever, if the off-the-charts enthusiasm is any gauge. Around 2,000 attendees joined us in Vegas in February 2020—our largest show to date—and based on feedback we’re getting from our industry partners and friends, this promises to be an even grander experience. Special thanks to Title Sponsors Ford Pro and Volvo for their part in making this all possible. We appreciate their unwavering support of the industry as well as the CD/NLA Show!
To attract a varied assembly of the most ambitious and brightest operators in the world, the appeal of the CD/NLA Show can largely be boiled down to three tenets: education, networking, and fun. This March, you’ll be exposed to a global network of operators who want to share business and great ideas with you, not to mention dozens of vendors, OEMs, technology companies, and suppliers that are offering the latest and greatest for our industry needs on our packed show floor.
On the education front, our CD/NLA Education Committee has been hard at work putting together an excellent slate of seminars and roundtables that are going to have an immense impact on your business in 2023 and beyond with some extra focus on “back to basics.” Look for topics such as how to set up your company for profitability (corporate structure, paying employees, workers’ comp, managing assets, and more); sales and marketing with an emphasis on refining your elevator pitch, securing local business and developing good sales tactics; and an “Ask the Expert” 101 that will cover chauffeur training, phone etiquette, and everything else you’ve been too afraid or embarrassed to ask.
Also, we’ll have a financial session focusing on standard accounting practices and how do you make yourself more lendable; service failure roundtable where participants will play out various scenarios and share ideas, focusing on empowering and training your staff to handle these missteps; pricing vehicles properly for better ROI; and a company culture roundtable.
“The CD/NLA Show is a dynamic opportunity to build my private car company through learning about better ways of doing things, networking, and finding vendors to help me improve the efficiency and effectiveness of my daily operations,” says David Whittle of Utah Private Car.
2023 Keynote Speaker John Dijulius
Education isn’t just what happens in the classroom. Fresh for 2023, we’re thrilled to present renowned customer service expert John DiJulius as our esteemed Keynote Speaker. DiJulius didn’t read the books on customer service, he wrote them. One of the most captivating and charismatic speakers today, DiJulius’s keynotes and workshops are used by leading service companies across the country to provide unforgettable and topnotch customer service every day.
You can expect a high-energy presentation as he discusses his 10 commandments of customer service and explains how to improve the service aptitude of employees at all levels.
While the heart of the CD/NLA Show is education, we also understand that networking opportunities are invaluable to our attendees at all levels of their careers. Whether it’s a dedicated event like our Affiliate Central Global Partner Forum (sponsored by Volvo) or informal meet-and-greets over breakfast and lunch, operators love to mingle and develop new partnerships and friendships—and there are plenty of opportunities on our schedule to get to know your colleagues and catch up with lifelong friends.
Seasoned CD/NLA Show attendees know that the Affiliate Central Global Partner Forum is a perennial hit, and one of the most popular and well-received events at our fall show. Operators from around the globe literally line up to be the first to have valuable one-on-one time with owners, affiliate managers, and key decision-makers from all major markets, both in the US and internationally. Affiliate Central is right now on track to be our largest ever with upwards of 80 (or more!) global companies displaying—that’s like attending two shows for the price of one!
“As a small operator this show is a MUST! I went into this with minimal knowledge about the affiliate world and how much you can benefit from the network that software and relationships in the industry have to offer. After leaving this show, I felt confident in my business and in the industry I have decided to make my career,” says Ian Thomas Brooks of Western Valet.
The CD/NLA Show is truly a global affair, attracting operators from every continent short of Antarctica. And with Vegas a wildly popular destination for visitors from and outside of the US, many of our friends from around the world are excited about our lineup of events tailored specifically for global operators. First up is our International Meet & Greet, which remains one of the best-attended events on our docket. The casual yet semi-structured setting is the perfect way to mingle with like-minded operators from across the pond—whatever pond that may be. What’s more, while we’re putting the finishing touches on our list of panelists, we’re proud to include more international topics among our educational programming.
Will Vegas be your first show? We’re all intimately familiar with the excitement, anxiety, and overwhelming feelings that envelope you when you’re a newbie, so we’re here to help with our First-Timers’ Event. We’ll start with a brief orientation on Sunday, March 5, where you and your fellow first-timers will be paired with an industry professional who can make recommendations for the best sessions to attend, people to meet, and any other confusion you have about the show. Lifelong friendships and business relationships often start at our shows, so you’ll know at least a few people who can lend a hand after attending our orientation.
“As a first-time participant, I was enthusiastic by the family unity of this diverse group of people and feel proud to now be included. I also appreciated the program content and specifically being able to see and experience many vehicles,” says Micael Jeffries of Chumash Casino Resort.
There’s no doubt about it: This is one of the hardest-working industries on the planet. Even if you can sneak away for some R&R, your business can’t stop for snow days or holidays or sick days. That’s why our evening events are the salve you need to unplug for a while, and who better to hang with than your industry friends? Hey, this is Vegas, baby!
After a long first day of education and networking, you will want to join us for our Sunday Night Opening Night Reception on the show floor for tons of delicious appetizers, plenty of adult beverages, music, entertainment, and an advance look at all the vendors, services, and products offered. On Monday night, join sponsors ANB Trans, Centennial Worldwide Transportation, and Crown Worldwide Transportation, for an evening theme party you won’t forget. Details are under wraps for now, but keep an eye out on e-news for upcoming information.
If you’re looking forward to the return of our Keynote, then you’ll be excited to learn that our Driven by Excellence Awards are back too! The event honors those who stand out among their peers in conjunction with our Awards Gala & Charity Dinner. Nominate yourself, your company, or your colleague in the follow categories: Association of the Year, Spirit of Giving, Chauffeur of the Year, and, new for 2023, Operator of the Year, which will be presented in Small, Midsize, and Large tiers. The deadline for nominations is closing in quickly—so head on over to CDNLAVegas.com soon to complete your online nomination form now. There’s no better way to be celebrated by your industry and share the honor with your customers as an award-winning company.
Of course, let us thank our steadily growing list of generous sponsors who make all this possible, especially our Title Sponsors Ford Pro and Volvo. As it stands now, our show floor is about 70 percent sold out, so expect to see all the industry’s leading vendors, tech providers, suppliers, and, of course, manufacturers. You can see the full list of exhibitors on our website (CDNLAVegas.com). Or, better yet, search your favorite app store for our official show app, sponsored by North Point Global Transportation Services—updates are coming very soon!
Talks of recession and doom-and-gloom might be lingering in the news, but this year is shaping up to be bigger, bolder, and stronger than ever for our industry! Ready to join us in Vegas? What are you waiting for? Our early-bird rate is only $495—$395 for NLA members—so sign up today and save a little extra dough. And don’t forget to secure your room at MGM Grand for the incredible low rate of only $135 per night. When the room block is gone, it’s gone for good. We’ll see you in Vegas! [CD0123]