Posts Tagged ‘WANADA’
Frankfurt is the place to be this week for “auto-ficial intelligence.”
BMW-i8
Frankfurt is the place to be this week for “auto-ficial intelligence.” The massive expo center looks like IKEA on steroids. The displays, some of which are two and three levels, include stages, turn-tables, multi-media signage and more.
Warren Brown, Washington Post; Barbara Pomerance, Pomerance & Associates; Kevin Reilly, 2014 Washington Auto Show chairman
Nothing compares to Frankfurt in terms of the volume of new models, debuts and concept vehicles. This important auto show is better than an iTunes playlist, as every trendsetting manufacturer is represented.
Ray Day of Ford with Hon. David Catania, DC city councilmember
Officials from The Washington Auto Show® were on hand to support their European counterpart and fellow OICA (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles, translated The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers) accredited show. In addition to numerous meetings with a myriad of manufacturers, the DC execs did find time to experience the great restaurants for dinner meetings and networking.
We were happy to entertain Peter Welch, the president of National Automobile Dealers Association, and the chairman, David Westcott and his wife Deb. We ran into the New York Auto Show delegation and had a beer with the Detroit Auto Dealers at their party in the Klosterhof.
Volvo Press Conference
Audi Fashion
The Washington Auto Show will be open to the public from Thursday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 2. The show is open from noon until 9:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, from noon until 10:00 p.m. on Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. The show will close at 6:00 p.m. on its final day, Feb. 2.
Bentley
For those of you who are planning on attending The Washington Auto Show, we do have one very important reminder … be sure to wear your most comfortable shoes, your feet will be glad you did.
WAS=WOW
That’s short for The Washington Auto Show® was amazing.
I know it’s been ages since we’ve blogged, but, duh, we were kinda busy. With the President. Yeah, that one.
The White House called Barbara during our Public Policy Preview Days to say that the President would like to visit the show. Arrangements were made. And on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 31, President Obama toured The Washington Auto Show’s “Advanced Technology SuperHighway,” our 65,000-square-foot exhibit of innovations in safety and sustainability. The display was enhanced a bit as we included some additional vehicles in the area for the President’s visit.
Barbara Pomerance, Washington Auto Show Director of Communications and Media Relations, and Gerard Murphy, WANADA President, review the "Advanced Technology SuperHighway" ahead of President Obama's visit.
Here is Mr. President, checking out a Chevy wrapped in Americana artwork. He’s talking with Ed Welburn, GM’s Vice President of Global Design, with WANADA President Gerard Murphy looking on.
It was the first time a current U.S. President ever visited our show. For some perspective, the 2012 show marked The Washington Auto Show’s 70th edition.
The President appeared to have a blast, climbing into car after car, revealing that megawatt grin.
Here he is in the Ford C-MAX Energi, which was named Green Car Journal’s 2012 Green Car Vision Award™ winner on Thursday, Jan. 27, the Washington Auto Show’s Public Policy Preview Day at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The President checks out the Ford C-MAX Energi, named Green Car Journal's 2012 Green Car Vision Award™ winner at the Washington Auto Show.
Of course, there were many other highlights, especially a “Welcome Home Troops!” tribute that took place that evening. Held in partnership with the USO of Metropolitan Washington, the program offered active-duty and retired military personnel free admission to the show and a private reception celebrating them and their families. Headlining the evening event was an appearance by J.R. Martinez, the wounded Iraq war veteran who won the last season of Dancing with the Stars. Martinez, who has become an inspirational speaker, told a rapt audience that veterans can continue to fulfill the call to serve America beyond the battlefield. For his part, his words are his weapons, Martinez said, and his scars are his uniform.
Adding to the star power was an appearance by former U.S. Marine and WWE® Legend Sgt. Slaughter™. Both men signed autographs at the show after the private reception.
And what’s a party without music? Nearly everyone was thumping a boot or shaking a hip to the tunes belted out by the world-class Downrange pop ensemble from the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”
Servicemen and women and their families were also treated to hundreds of mini-cupcakes, generously donated by the cult-favorite Georgetown Cupcake, which has supported our troops with shipments of deliciousness overseas.
Of course, these are just glimpses into the show’s bevy of special programming to strengthen and recognize the industry. A hallmark of that effort is our Public Policy Preview Days, which include our Capitol Hill Policy Summit, produced in partnership with National Journal, and many press conferences featuring luminaries from industry and government. This year’s speakers included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, keynoter Dave Zuchowski, Executive Vice President of Sales for Hyundai Motor America and GM President Mark Reuss. High-profile guests including Georgia’s own Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) continued to visit the show throughout its 10-day public run, where we launched new promotions like “Cram the (Nissan) Cube” among area universities and a “Battle of the Bands” contest along with our crowd favorite — “The Price is Right” giveaway of a Hyundai Sonata and a trip to attend the show’s live taping in Los Angeles.
For a fuller perspective, click below on links to the newsletters published during the show by its producer and our longtime client, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA).
http://wanada.org/files/Bulletin_04_2012.pdf
http://wanada.org/files/Bulletin_05_2012.pdf
And now that we’ve caught our breath, we’ll start planning for 2013.
Next month, Barbara and the senior leadership will head to Geneva to meet with industry executives and take in the 82nd International Motor Show as we continue to build a more creative, innovative and meaningful Washington Auto Show.
We’ll always have Paris
Things have been a lot busy around here — between gearing up for the GreenBusiness Works EXPO and establishing a Pomerance & Associates presence in D.C.
Still, Paris is Paris. And it’s not everyday we have our picture taken with Sarkozy. And this one’s brilliant:
Barbara shaking hands with le Président de la République française. And she is the lone shining woman in a sea of men. It is the auto biz, after all.
One of these things is not like the other... 🙂
I know it’s a bit blurry, but you get the idea.
Here’s one of Barbara at one of the show events looking Parisian.
Too bad you can’t see the French bread.
More pics from Paris to come….But here’s a teaser. The delegation from the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA), which produces The Washington Auto Show ® , met with the leaders of 15 manufacturers and suppliers.
So keep your eyes peeled — that’s for you, Dad — for Paris, Part Deux.
À tout à l’heure.
