The 30th Annual National Trailer Dealers Association Convention (NTDA), planned for Nov. 4–6, 2020 at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, CA, cannot be held as scheduled due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the area and current restrictions on non-essential activities, NTDA announced Aug. 17. Therefore, the NTDA Convention Committee voted to cancel the 2020 Convention and alternatively offer members a Virtual Convention.
The announcement noted that COVID-19 cases in Riverside County, CA. had climbed to 40,452 cases, 799 deaths and 21,121 recoveries out of 2.4 million residents as of the week of Aug. 10. In response, the Governor of California has ordered that only essential retail may remain. Shopping malls are closed. Indoor dining, all bars and pubs, wineries and tasting rooms are closed. Golf courses remain open.
However, all non-essential public gatherings of any size are prohibited, the NTDA announcement emphasized.
"As such, there is no option for the NTDA to go forward with an in-person Convention in 2020," NTDA said, also noting that many member companies have issued travel restrictions for their personnel. Likewise, the Canadian border was closed to non-essential travel through Aug. 20, and was expected to remain closed until a vaccine is widely distributed or until the number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. significantly decreases.
There will be no cost for 2020 NTDA Convention sponsors, exhibitors, or members to log onto the 2020 NTDA Virtual Convention. The online format will go live on Nov. 4 and will be available to members through September 2021. A link to access the site will be provided to members.
Sponsors and exhibitors have been contacted by the association regarding the 2020 Virtual Convention and regarding the 31st Annual NTDA Convention, Oct. 6–8, 2021, at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler in Whistler, BC, Canada. Sponsors or exhibitors are encouraged to contact NTDA President Gwendolyn Brown with questions at [email protected].
“While it feels like a disservice to our members to not be able to provide them with an in-person networking and educational event this year, the Board of Directors and I believe in our hearts that we are doing the right thing by protecting our members’ best interests, safety and health. I pray that God leads the hard-working doctors and scientists to find a vaccine as soon as possible,” said Brown.
Convention registrants who made a hotel reservation at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, CA through the Passkey link provided by the NTDA will automatically be canceled by Marriott. If the hotel collected a refundable deposit on your credit card, once the reservation is canceled, they will process refunds. This process can take up to five business days from the date of cancellation.For reservations booked outside the official block, any terms and conditions should be handled directly with the hotel or the booking channel, NTDA added.
Any paid registrations for the 30th Annual NTDA Convention will automatically be refunded by the association less any applicable cancellation fees the week of Aug. 17. Refunds will be via the same method in which the registration was paid. Registrants may contact Brown with any questions at 1-800-800-4552, or e-mail [email protected].