AAPEX announced an improved floor plan for its exhibit halls, along with other changes coming to the show this November.
Central to the new layout is the AAPEX Forum, a building adjacent to The Venetian Convention Center that will be connected by a temporary footbridge during the show. The Forum builds on an exhibitor segmentation system first introduced last year.
Traditionally, exhibitor booths were grouped by one of about a dozen product or service categories, but some supplementary sections were needed to handle an overflow of exhibitors. The new layout, including the Forum, allows the show to keep all exhibitors in a given section together and eliminates the need for overflow areas.
The segmentation was implemented at the request of buyers who wanted to meet all possible suppliers in one location without crossing back and forth over the 500,000 square feet of show-floor space. Organizers said it also benefited exhibitors, who could more efficiently set up meetings with prospective buyers.
“The new layout was well-received among attendees; AAPEX earned the highest net promoter score (NPS), a standard measure of customer satisfaction, that it’s ever received following last year’s show,” said Liz Goad, vice president of events for MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. “AAPEX strives for continuous improvement, and we have worked with exhibitors and buyers alike to create a plan that’s easy to navigate and fosters a high-energy business atmosphere.”
The Forum offers easier access to mass transit, with a Las Vegas Monorail station and a bus stop nearby. Local hotel shuttles and the inter-venue shuttles coordinated with the SEMA show will pick up and drop off attendees at the building.
The Forum will host several of the show’s signature events, including the opening reception, general sessions and booths for show organizers, the Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.
AAPEX will again offer a daily free lunch for buyers and is adding a “Buyer’s Rest Stop,” which will provide massages, coffee, other beverages and a place for buyers to take a break between meetings. Exhibitor categories in the Forum will include accessories and lighting along with undercar products.
At The Venetian Expo, Joe’s Garage is moving to Level 2. The exhibit area features six fully operational vehicle service bays used for hands-on technician training and new product demonstrations. Podcast Row, which provides audio booths for media partners and content creators, will be located next to it.
The “Food Truck Pit Stop” returns this year and will be expanded and moved to Level 2, offering a range of cuisines without requiring attendees to leave the show.
Level 2 will also house a Media Hub featuring booths for the show’s media partners and a press conference area for exhibitors. Press conference scheduling is an option for exhibitors and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis with 30-minute time slots throughout the show.
Product categories on Level 2 will include business services, AI, e-commerce and technology; diagnostics, telematics and shop management systems; electric vehicles and alternative fuels; mobile heat transfer, HVAC and diesel emissions; oil, lube, waxes and chemicals; paint and body; remanufacturing; tire servicing; tools and equipment; and underhood products.
The international pavilions and international sourcing section will return to Level 1, where they have historically been located.
“AAPEX continuously looks for ways to bring more buyers and exhibitors to the show and enhance the experience for everyone who attends,” said Mark Bogdansky, vice president of trade shows and community engagement for the Auto Care Association. “The aftermarket is a people-oriented business and AAPEX provides an annual gathering where the global automotive aftermarket can meet face-to-face.”
Aftermarket Intel tracks the signals shaping the global automotive aftermarket — news, trends and executive-level insight. Visit https://aftermarketintel.com. To share news, data, or strategic perspectives, contact Editor Mark Phillips at mark@lpnewmedia.com or connect on LinkedIn here.
