Dealers won’t recognise this year’s AADA National Dealer Convention, which is set to raise the bar for all future events.

The 2015 AADA National Dealer Convention will be the largest automotive event in the Southern Hemisphere when the doors officially open on August 11 with some Pre-Convention activity commencing August 10.

Long regarded as the ultimate annual resource for Australian Dealers, past Conventions have brought outstanding speakers and products to Dealer fingertips, whilst always providing exceptional entertainment and networking opportunities.
Whilst the Convention will deliver on the same high standard of quality this year, 2015 is set to be a landmark year in Convention history and much is set to change. With an all new program, Dealer-only events, better pricing and a series of esteemed international speakers – it’s going to be big.

Here’s a taste of what you can expect from this year’s Convention:

Stronger Together

United, open and resilient – this is AADA’s vision for our industry – and it’s also the theme of the 2015 Convention. As such, there will be a strong presence from other associations important to the operation of dealerships, including the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), Australian Finance Conference (AFC) and Australian Motor Dealer Council (AMDC).

Convention setting

For the first time ever, the AADA’s prestigious event will be set at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne’s CBD. A world-class venue, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will provide a contemporary backdrop worthy of the reinvented event, not to mention more space to accommodate greater numbers.

Dealer Focus

Never before has a Convention program been more focused on Dealers.
Amongst the exciting planned schedule will be a Dealer symposium (open exclusively to dealership personnel), where the Association will outline the top ten threats facing the Dealer community over the next three years as well as the AADA’s plan to overcome them.

The Symposium will also outline the Association’s policy objectives, including how strong policy will deliver positive results for the entire Dealer community. Dealers will be able to participate in a closed and confidential environment and be free to voice their thoughts, concerns, frustrations, ideas and experiences.

The Convention will also facilitate National Dealer Franchise Meetings, with just about every brand in Australia being invited and allocated time to conduct brand-specific meetings between franchise owners.

Other important meetings to take place will include discussions between the newly formed Australian Motor Dealer Council as well as the International Dealer Association Working Group, both of which will address the real challenges facing the retail automotive industry and the best ways to combat them.

Also in 2015, the AADA will use the Convention to unveil the results of the National Dealer Attitude Survey. The survey, which will be open to AADA members for participation, asks important questions about the value Dealers see in their franchises, both now and into the future. The survey will record and convey important metrics surrounding Dealer-manufacturer relations – data which is currently unavailable in Australia.

Exceptional Speakers

Dealers have come to expect outstanding speakers at the AADA National Dealer Convention, and 2015 will not disappoint.
Current National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Chairman, Bill Fox will deliver a key note address. Fox, a former practicing attorney, has an enviable resume and an incredible knowledge on the workings of the retail auto industry and so this will be an unmissable address.

The 2015 Convention has invited The Hon. Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s current State Premier. Amongst other items, Andrews has been encouraged to speak about how the state’s automotive scene will look after local manufacturing ends.

Other special Convention invited participants include President & CEO at Ford Motor Company of Australia, Bob Graziano and Robert Kurnick Jr – current President of Penske Automotive Group, the world’s second largest automotive dealership group with more than 320 retail automotive franchises.

On the motivational front, AADA will be proud to present Richard De Crespigny, the hero pilot of Qantas Flight 32 – the fateful flight which suffered an uncontained engine failure on 4 November 2010. De Crespigny successfully made an emergency landing at Singapore Changi Airport, in some of the harshest circumstances any commercial pilot has had to face.

As you’d expect, the Convention will also feature plenty of fantastic entertainment and networking opportunities. This year, we’re especially excited to announce that Australian comedian and radio/TV presenter, David Hughes will bring a welcome touch of hilarity to the schedule on the last day.

Expanded Trade Expo

A solid Convention favourite, the exhibit at this year’s Convention will showcase more than 60 exhibits, offering a wide range of resources for automotive dealers. Dealers will have at their fingertips the latest in after-market, insurance, finance, car-care, marketing, software and customer-retention products designed to ease operations and boost bottom line.

International Attention

Over the past 12 months, the AADA has worked tirelessly to put Australia’s retail automotive industry on the global map, in a bid to uncover fantastic opportunities as well as support from our overseas contemporaries. The results of this drive will be seen at the 2015 Convention, with more international involvement expected this year than in any other time in history. Aside from the expected participation of various board members from Dealer Associations in America, Brazil, India, China and more, AADA is also anticipating a number of overseas study tours to visit this year.

Australia’s Dealers will have the opportunity to network, share with and learn from international colleagues like never before
in 2015.

More Affordable

AADA members will enjoy admission prices up to 50% less expensive than in previous years. Considering the added value in the Convention program for 2015, the fact that entry prices are now lower makes attendance an even easier decision.

Record Participation

Record participation is anticipated this year. Indeed, there are so many reasons for Dealers to attend the Convention, least of all because it is the only one of its kind in Australia.

From concerns about compliance, to new strategies to take business to the next level – the AADA National Dealer Convention has always given Dealers access to valuable resources.

***

As Australia, its consumers and the automotive industry continue to change, adopting a ‘Stronger Together’ attitude is now more important than ever. Bringing together Dealers, industry leaders and international personnel together in one dynamic setting is an important step in realising this goal.

So, if you do one thing for yourself and your business this year, attend the AADA National Dealer Convention in August.