The ARA Show will be here before we know it, and while the environment around us continues to evolve, preparations remain in full swing. The stage is set for a momentous event in Las Vegas this October.
Rental store attendee registrations continue to grow, and there are currently more than 600 exhibiting companies. A couple hundred of these exhibitors are offering Show-Only Specials that attendees will only find in Las Vegas. There will be various first-time exhibiting companies making their debut, as well as long-time companies who are launching new products and offering deals only available for show attendees.
New for 2021 will be outside exhibit space showcasing equipment in action. Also new this year will be the virtual 5K for the ARA Foundation. Make sure to sign up and wear your shirt on the show floor on Tuesday to show your support! The ARA’s Booth Chase, with gamification offered through the mobile app, is also new for 2021. Participants will be eligible for the chance to win $2,500.
The ARA will also have two booths in 2021, with a location on level one in the construction department, and the other on level two featuring the event segment. Both booths will feature ARA’s member benefits, like RentalU, HR and workforce resources, networking opportunities, state and local associations, Young Professionals Network, the Women in Rental group, risk management and safety, legal assistance, and more!
On top of the new attractions, attendees can expect the same quality of education, networking, and fun as year’s past. You don’t want to miss the full day of education sessions on Sunday, followed by the Keynote Session with Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, on Monday morning to kick off the opening of the show floor. Additional lively networking events include: the Young Professionals Network Reception on Sunday evening, Regional Receptions and the ARAPAC Reception on Monday evening, followed by the Women in Rental Breakfast on Tuesday morning, and ARA’s Oktoberfest… Las Vegas Style! on Tuesday evening.
October may not have been everyone’s initial first choice when it comes to the timing of the show, but with the demand for products, coupled with some of the current supply chain issues, it really is an ideal time to place orders and get future orders in the pipeline for 2022.
The show provides a great opportunity to comparison shop and explore different supplier options for the future. The next time the ARA Show will be held is in Orlando in February 2023, so it’s critical to meet with suppliers now! Where else can you be exposed to hundreds of vendors and thousands of current and prospective rental customers all in one place?!
The last 18 months have been unpredictable, and it’s understandable that some questions around protocols remain. The health and safety of our members is a top priority. The show will be abiding by all health practices required by Clark County and the State of Nevada, which currently require the wearing of face masks in all indoor, public spaces.
While this news may not be ideal, we feel it’s a minor inconvenience to be able to gather in-person as a rental community. The ARA will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with our partners to execute a Clean, Safe, and Essential show for the rental industry.
As we head to Las Vegas for the first time since 2013, I am very optimistic. The forecast for the rental industry is bright with revenue projected to grow nearly 10 percent in 2022, and the resilience of the rental community remains strong.
The ARA Show is the largest support group the rental industry has to offer, so you truly can’t afford to miss this opportunity to reconnect with your peers this October! We’ll see you in Vegas!
