After a four-year absence, the popular Western Canadian Dealer Summit is returning to Las Vegas in style. Taking place at the famed Wynn Las Vegas Resort on September 22-24, this year’s event is intended to bring the Western Canadian auto dealer community back together with an exciting array of professional and social events. Put on jointly by the Motor Dealer’s Association of Alberta, the Saskatchewan Auto Dealers Association and the New Car Dealers Association of BC, the schedule of engagements and speakers is meant to engage, inspire and push the industry forward into the future.
“Last year’s summit in Banff was stressful to pull off, but when it was over, we couldn’t be happier with the result,” said Gerald Wood, President of the Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta in an interview with Canadian auto dealer. “The speaker line-up was excellent and we had great feedback from delegates. This year in Las Vegas is going to be even better.”
This year’s speakers include a series of presentations from Al-Karim Awadia, Google Canada’s Head of Industry and his team. They’ll be exploring topics such as the rise of ridesharing, to electric vehicles and autonomous cars, as well as the new digital retail landscape and how dealers can use this platform to their advantage. Jeremy Reisler, who oversees Automotive and Financial Services for TikTok Canada will also be speaking about the opportunities TikTok and related platforms can help “ignite growth and exceed business goals.”
Other speakers will provide food for thought about franchise law, digital marketing, arbitration and effective leadership. “CADA will be there to talk about our industry from a government affairs and industry affairs perspective,” said Wood, “there’s lots of discussion around where OEMs are headed and how this will affect dealers.”
This year will have a more robust presence of speakers about fixed operations. “We’ve worked hard this year to bring in some fixed operations speakers,” Wood said, “They’ll be talking about things like digital sales in the parts area, and the ways things are changing in the service departments.”
The Welcome Reception, cocktail receptions and Gala Dinner will give attendees a much-needed chance to socialize, network and reconnect with colleagues from across Western Canada. Sponsor tables will be set up around the workshops and networking breaks, so attendees can see what suppliers are doing now, and what they have coming down the pipe.
Registrants who would like to take advantage of the Summit hotel block rates at the Wynn Las Vegas have until Friday August 26 to do so, but registrations will still be taken until the days up to the event. For more information, visit westerndealersummit.com, and for registration enquiries please contact Denise Kubin at dkubin@mdaalberta.com.
