SEMA Member News - November/December 2009

Media Trade Conference Moves to a New Home

The 2010 MPMC Media Trade Conference moves to the Radisson Suites in Covina, California. The new venue promises an upgraded experience for exhibitors and media alike. In addition to three days of face-to-face meetings, the event also offers unmatched networking opportunities between exhibitors and attendees.

When the 13th annual Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference opens on January 19, 2010, it will be in a new home for the first time in six years. The popular event moves from El Segundo, California, near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), to a newly renovated Radisson Suites in Covina, California.

“Even though we’ve had very successful events at LAX for several years running, we are always looking at other properties,” said MPMC Chairman Bill Floyd of RideTech. “The LAX site worked well, mainly because the physical layout of the hotel allowed all 100 exhibitor suites to be located on only two floors. That is very important, because media only have one flight of stairs to contend with in between meetings if the elevators slow down or get crowded. Several other hotels in the greater Los Angeles and Orange Counties areas offered upgraded amenities, convenient night life and so forth. But none of them could accommodate the 100 exhibitor suites on two floors. While the amenities are nice, if media attendees cannot get to their 30-minute meetings with manufacturers because they are waiting on elevators, then the event fails. This Radisson property offers the proper layout, delivers upgraded amenities and offered us a much lower room price! The MPMC Select Committee is very anxious to experience the move.”

Located about 15 minutes from the Ontario Airport in Southern California, the new location features easy freeway access and is near many local attractions, including the L.A. County Fairgrounds and NHRA Museum. All rooms have been refurbished to include top amenities, such as complimentary wireless Internet access, microwaves, refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Media Trade Conference participants will also enjoy fine dining at the onsite restaurant, Hamilton Steakhouse.

“We’re looking forward to hosting a fantastic Media Trade Conference at the Radisson in Covina,” Floyd continued. “This annual event has become an essential activity for hundreds of media representatives and for our council members. The convenience of the hotel, along with the amenities and low rates, will ensure that the event continues to be a great success and will allow us to accomplish even more than ever before.”

The MPMC Media Trade Conference is a truly unique event that brings manufacturers and editorial staffs from national and international media together for three days of face-to-face, 30-minute meetings. Nowhere else can a manufacturer have the opportunity to meet with editorial staffs from so many publications and media. Likewise, nowhere else can editors and writers gather so much technical and new-product material in one place. Only MPMC-member manufacturers are eligible for one of the 100 exhibitor suites.

MPMC Hosts Motorsports Seminar at the SEMA Show

MPMC will host a seminar at the SEMA Show on Monday at 11:00 a.m. in meeting room N262–N264 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The seminar is titled “Motorsports Marketing; How to Measure Your Return.” The gist of the seminar is simple: Money is too precious to throw away on a hunch; learn how to measure the return on your investment in motorsports marketing by listening to a diverse panel of motorsports veterans, each providing a unique perspective on the subject of marketing in motorsports.

Moderated by Floyd, the panel will consist of representatives from sanctioning bodies, manufacturers, sponsors and race teams. Panelists confirmed at press time included:

• Bill Holland, Holland Communications—Holland has experience on all sides of the motorsports marketing table, as a competitor, an editor and a marketing agent for contingency sponsors.
• Karl Fredrickson, Speedway Illustrated—Fredrickson also has experience as a competitor and a publisher.
• Steve Wolcott, Pro Media Publishing—Wolcott can speak from both the publishing and sanctioning-body perspectives. Pro Media operates the popular NMRA and PRO Fastest Street Car drag racing series.

Other panelists are being confirmed as this article goes to print. Expect to see several more representatives from auto manufacturers, other sanctioning bodies and possibly a few more competitors. Consult your SEMA Show Directory or the MPMC website for updates.

I am very excited to moderate this panel discussion,” said Floyd. “This is another important piece to the whole ‘Motorsports Awareness’ initiative started by MPMC last year. We’re hoping to have some folks in the audience who have never invested marketing dollars in motorsports and show them the tremendous value and return it can bring. We don’t have to tell anyone about the economy and how tight marketing dollars have become. But we can tell them about motorsports, motorsports fans and the loyalty they traditionally have for sponsors’ products. Thanks to SEMA for giving us this opportunity. I hope we can do more in the future.

And remember: Take a Friend to a Race!”