After extensive consideration, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) has cancelled the upcoming NATM Convention & Trade Show that was to take place Feb. 23-25, 2021 in Nashville, the organization reports.
The light- and medium-duty trailer industry relies heavily on face-to-face networking, which is why NATM’s Convention & Trade Show plays an integral role in bringing together suppliers and service providers with trailer manufacturers and dealers across the nation, NATM notes in announcing the cancellation.
For several months, NATM’s staff, board, and event hosts in Nashville have explored options to ensure that members can attend safely and receive the same high-quality event they have come to expect. However, the health precautions that are crucial for decreasing the risk of transmitting COVID-19, including social distancing, will impede NATM members’ ability to do business on the show floor and network with their industry peers, the association determined.
Further, attending NATM’s Convention is a significant financial investment for industry companies and NATM does not take that lightly. While the show was scheduled for several months from now and the future is uncertain, NATM does not wish to delay the decision at the risk of detrimentally impacting attendees as they wait to plan, ship, travel, and attend a large in-person, indoor event that will be unable to draw the same great attendance numbers as years past due to the current circumstances.
NATM will be working to create digital learning opportunities, additional information to come, for those who wished to attend the show and its educational workshops and technical forum. The next NATM webinar scheduled is the Workforce Development Summit on Nov. 17-19. Contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at [email protected] for more information or to register.
The association emphasizes plans are already underway for the 2022 convention in Tampa, FL, scheduled for Feb. 1-3, 2022.
For more information regarding the NATM Convention & Trade Show or NATM membership as a trailer manufacturer, supplier, service provider, or trailer dealer, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at [email protected], or visit www.NATM.com.