NAHAD Charts Course for 2021 Convention Planning Amid Industry Resurgence

It’s been a tough year for conventions, tradeshows and industry meetings, but the first few glimmers of optimism are sprouting for 2021. I’ve been of the mindset that the latter half of next year will be better for in-person get togethers. But the hope for a vaccine (or two) being available around year’s end, as well as the feeling that meeting planners can figure out safe meeting practices, may be moving that timeline up.

It was heartening this past week to see that NAHAD, the Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution, is planning its Annual Meeting & Convention to take place in person April 10-13, 2021 at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego. President Sam Petillo and Executive Vice President Molly Alton Mullins explained in an email to members that while they know a lot can change between now and then, with so many positive developments related to COVID and other restrictions lifting, they believe the organization should move forward with planning an exceptional convention that brings everyone together again.

NAHAD explained that as the 2021 program is built out, the group’s board is keeping the health and safety of attendees at the forefront of their minds and will follow all protocols that are required by the state of California and San Diego County at the time of the event.

“We are working closely with the property to understand all the changes the hospitality industry is enacting to ensure the safety and comfort of each and every guest. We find what we have learned incredibly reassuring, and with more than seven months to go prior to the Convention, we are very confident that processes and procedures for travel will only continue to improve,” the email explained.

Registration for NAHAD 2021 will open November 17 and virtually all of the speakers from the cancelled 2020 Convention will be in San Diego. For more details, visit www.nahad.org/convention for more information as it becomes available.