NTP-STAG, the leading distribution company for the recreational vehicle aftermarket, opened the new year with the 2021 Expo, both in person on Jan. 18-19 at the Marriott Orlando World Center in Orlando, Fla., followed by a weeklong virtual event Jan. 25-29.
“Supported by extensive customer surveys and supplier communications voicing a strong interest in our holding the live show, our events team worked closely with the Marriott Orlando World Center staff to establish parameters and protocols while integrating the technology and tools that allowed us to execute a safe and healthy event for all attendees,” said NTP-STAG President Bill Rogers. “Although meeting these needs required us to reduce the number of staff, exhibitors and customers, the result was a high-quality event allowing dealers valuable networking opportunities while partaking in the various educational seminars and of course, show-only sales and promotions. We are grateful to our customers who took time out of their busy schedules to join us in Orlando and participate in Expo.”
In conjunction with the live event, the virtual Expo, hosted through NTP-STAG’s online portal, viantp.com, provided attendees weeklong access to a similar slate of sales and promotions, Power Hours and buying opportunities along with the impressive roster of speakers and product seminars that appeared at the live event in Orlando. Hall of Fame speaker and well-respected economist Dr. Mary Kelly PhD returned for the second year as a PRO Speaker to share her business insights while bestselling author and nationally-recognized social media expert, Corey Perlman discussed best practices to maximize digital business opportunities including developing and publishing effective, high-quality social media content. Numerous RV University product presentations by some of the industry’s leading suppliers rounded out the agenda both in person, and virtually.
“While logistics, capacity limitations and the geographical travel restrictions of the current environment restricted live event capacity, the virtual show allowed us to engage with dealers while showcasing the leading manufacturers in a safe, online environment,” said Rogers. “The wider accessibility of the virtual show format also gave us an opportunity to expand our reach and communicate with a larger audience for an extended period of time. We foresee incorporating the virtual show elements into our event programming well into the future.”
For RV dealers, many of whom were attending their first live show in nearly a year, the 2021 NTP-STAG Expo was a welcomed return to the calendar.
Attendee, PPL Motor Homes President, Diana LeBlanc, summarized her sentiments at the conclusion of the show in Orlando. “We didn’t know what to expect coming this year, we just knew that NTP-STAG would take care of us. The feeling this year is completely different but it’s a good feeling and I think it’s going to be the future of the industry.”