Can you still feel the energy? With more than 2,000 industry professionals representing 40+ countries, the 2026 CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas was positively off the charts. A big thank you to our attendees, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors for making our return to the MGM Grand on March 1-3 an experience that won’t been soon forgotten.
Every aspect of a CD/NLA event is carefully crafted for the best ROI for our attendees, and it all begins with our educational sessions, sponsored by Hoffmann Transportation. From our dynamic kickoff on Sunday with AI-related content from Bill Gallagher of ScalingCoach.com to Tuesday’s closing session on increasing bookings, it was evident that the industry was ready to learn—and thanks to the CD/NLA Show Education Committee, we had a stellar lineup of seminars geared toward all segments of operators. Our speakers and experts covered everything from autonomous vehicles, bleisure travel, affiliate relations, insurance, and so much more. And of course, we offer a hat tip to Coffee Sponsor Buffalo Limousine and A/V Sponsor Elite Coach Transportation for keeping our attendees sharp and on point.
“It was an incredible experience participating in the CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas! As always, the event was full of learning, innovation, and inspiring people from across the industry. Every conversation sparked new ideas and opened doors to exciting opportunities ahead. Feeling inspired, motivated, and grateful for the connections made. Looking forward to what’s next!” says Noelia Luaces of Relier.
Attendees were similarly enthusiastic about our Keynote Speaker Jason Dorsey, who energized the standing-room-only crowd with his presentation, Crossing the Generational Divide Influencing the Industry Landscape. The generational expert had our attendees in stitches with his dynamic ways to better understand, connect with, and build trust with all peer groups, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z. Rave reviews from the industry could be heard throughout the lunch, sponsored by Titus Leasing, following this one-of-a-kind Keynote.
Networking was nonstop at the MGM Grand. Handshakes, business cards, and best practices were exchanged over breakfast, lunch, and even in the hallways and elevators between sessions—proof that some of the best connections happen when you least expect them. That doesn’t even account for incredible dedicated networking activities like our First-Timers’ Event, where newbies were paired with experienced industry professionals, or the jam-packed International Meet & Greet (sponsored by the Cardel Group, Global Alliance, Mimo Limousine, and Van Delden Limousine). Also attracting an enthusiastic crowd was our Women in the Industry luncheon, sponsored by ABC Companies, where the ladies of luxury ground transportation got together to network and honor the legacy of Barbara Chirico, a trailblazer and mentor who helped shape the industry.
But when it comes to networking, nothing beat the endless activity at our record-breaking Affiliate Central Global Partner Forum (sponsored by GNet and Godandi & Sons) held on Tuesday. With more than 110 operator tables on display, well over 1,000 attendees were looking to expand their business network by holding productive conversations and getting valuable facetime as they flowed through the hall.
“For luxury chauffeur transportation there is no event more important than the CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas. To connect with new and existing operators in the industry allows you to create meaningful partnerships and more importantly learn from each other to provide a true chauffeur experience,” says Stuart MacMillan of Little's Chauffeur Drive.
That electricity, however, extended way past our session rooms; the massive show floor was consistently bustling, starting with Sunday’s Opening Night Vintage Vegas Party (sponsored by Ultimate Toys) until the final hours on Tuesday afternoon. Operators were actively engaging vendors and buying vehicles, technology, and services as they got a taste of the latest products from the dozens of exhibitors that were present. As business owners looked to replenish or upgrade their fleet, the show floor presented the perfect opportunity with bus, motorcoach, and OEM exhibitors on hand to supply the newest models geared for our industry.
And it was on the show floor where CD was proud to introduce CD Café to our guests. With free gourmet coffee drinks and cool, comfy seating, we brought the vibes of your favorite neighborhood java spot to our bustling show floor.
“The CD/NLA Show was very well organized and brought together a great group of professionals from across the industry. It was a valuable opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from other operators. I truly appreciated the effort that went into making the event both informative and welcoming,” says Antonio Castro of Shofer Corp.
Before our Closing Night Party, we ended our afternoon programming with a truly special event, the debut of CD Presents: Legends & Origin Stories. In this inaugural session, Dawson Rutter—founder and CEO of Commonwealth Worldwide, industry pioneer, and Chauffeur Driven Hall of Fame inductee—shared the personal stories behind his extraordinary career with CD President Chris Weiss and even special guests like Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine and Rutter’s wife and business partner, Tami. Equal parts hilarious and moving, their conversation spanned Rutter’s career as a wayward cab driver to his founding of one of the country’s largest luxury ground transportation empires. This frank, no-holds-barred dialogue is one that will go down in the history books.
Did we mention that our Tuesday night Closing Night Party at Hakkasan was a showstopper? Courtesy of sponsors Black Swan Executive Chauffeurs and Reseau Chauffeured Service, our attendees flocked to the one of Vegas’ hippest nightclubs (conveniently located inside the MGM Grand), where they mingled over drinks with fellow attendees and danced the night away.
“Our industry is full of challenges, but the hustle and grit from these operators is incredible—everyone here keeps pushing forward and raising the bar,” says Danielle Brown of Premiere Transportation.
We look forward to seeing our friends and colleagues at the future events we have planned for 2026. First is the CD/NLA Executive Retreat in Miami on June 14-17 at the Fontainebleau Miami. Limited to 200 operators, our retreats offer a blend of high-level educational content, unique networking, local food and flavor, tours, and team-building events to create an amazing, relaxing, and revitalizing experience from beginning to end. Then, October 25-27, we return to the Gaylord National just outside of D.C. for our fall CD/NLA Show. Will we see you there?
Visit cdnlavegas.com for more information.
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