By Adam Keane, NTEA President
Executive Vice-President, Allied Body Works Inc. (Seattle, Washington)
This article was published in the October 2017 edition of NTEA News.
From my perspective, The Work Truck Show has become “Work Truck Week.” The opportunity to attend functions during the week has expanded beyond simply visiting the growing exhibit hall. Some of the heightened activity involves attendees customizing their schedules to include educational sessions; dealers holding training courses; and manufacturers hosting meetings and press conferences.
As the Show has evolved into North America’s largest work truck event, attendees continue to ask, “Are we going to be in Indianapolis again next year?”
As we start gearing up for the 2018 event, I wanted to discuss why Indianapolis continues to be the right place for us. I can assure you, as a member of NTEA’s Board, the location and progression of The Work Truck Show is something we take very seriously, giving careful consideration on a regular basis. We’ve weighed all of the factors that go into making a decision like this, evaluating elements necessary for a successful event of this magnitude, and are convinced Indianapolis is the site that best aligns with our goals. (I feel this way even though I’ll be traveling all the way from Seattle, Washington.)
When reflecting on the Show, the first thing we think about is its size. Exhibit hall space continues to grow, and, each year, there’s still a waiting list of companies hoping for the chance to display products and services. Beyond the exhibit hall, educational sessions, meetings and press activities require significant space. In total, The Work Truck Show utilizes most of its current venue — the Indiana Convention Center. As with any large operation, I’m sure there are ways it can continue to become more efficient. Even still, the amount of space required makes the list of potential venues pretty short.
The concept of “Work Truck Week” means we’re spreading beyond the convention center into neighboring spaces. The Indianapolis layout provides a unique opportunity for this expansion. The number of hotels, restaurants and other meeting sites within close proximity to the Convention Center delivers unparalleled convenience to attendees and those wishing to host additional functions. In fact, the Indiana Convention Center is connected by skywalks to more hotel rooms than any other city in the nation. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King calls Indianapolis “the most walkable downtown in America.”
For attendees, the city’s layout makes it easy to get to and from events and the exhibit hall. For exhibitors, even more important than the walkability is the central location for transporting display goods. The work truck industry is vehicle-based; therefore, a number of the displays incorporate…vehicles. Having the Show in a central location means there’s an ease of shipping products that would be lost in other cities.
Now that I’ve outlined some reasons why we feel Indianapolis is the right anchor city for the Show, I’d like to share more about this location and offer tips for improving your “Work Truck Week.”
In the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to get more familiar with Indianapolis. I know the goal is to experience the Show; however, when there’s a break in your schedule, you can explore what the city has to offer outside the Convention Center. As you plan to attend or host events this coming March, consider the fact downtown Indianapolis has more than 200 restaurants. This year, I expanded from the standard options I’ve frequented for the last 10 years and was amazed at the culinary community growing within the city. One restaurant I really enjoyed had a hydroponic wall separating the kitchen that was visible from the lobby; this eatery embraced a farm-to-table approach — or in this case wall-to-table. We all eat, so I encourage you to start planning early and make the most of your client dinners. You can find a list of available options at visitindy.com.
We aren’t the only ones who love Indianapolis. NFL and NCAA have a strong presence in the city. In 2018, the NFL Combine will occur at Lucas Oil Stadium the week leading up to The Work Truck Show. At the same time, the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament will take place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. I imagine these two groups utilize Indianapolis for many of the same reasons as The Work Truck Show does. The number of available downtown attractions is impressive; there’s a plethora of museums, memorials, theatres, world-class sports arenas, and things to do.
Bottom line, Indianapolis has proven to be a great home for “Work Truck Week,” and we’re excited for the continued growth of this event. The locale is something NTEA’s Board reviews frequently to ensure we’re doing what’s best for the membership, the Show and the industry. Indianapolis has been a great partner, and we anticipate hosting the Show there for years to come. I’m already looking forward to the 2018 event and hope you are, too.
Registration and housing are open at worktruckshow.com, so make your plans today. If you’d like some suggestions for getting the most of your experience, I encourage you to contact the NTEA team at 800-441-6832 or info@ntea.com.