DIAMOND BAR, CA (03.31.23) – The road to the 2023 SEMA Show begins with the annual Priority Selection Process—where companies choose a Show floor location based on exhibitor seniority. The process literally builds the SEMA Show section by section, booth by booth.

“It is like the order of a pro sports draft; we rank each exhibitor by seniority, determined by how many SEMA Shows an exhibitor has participated in and by Show section,” said Andy Tompkins, SEMA’s trade show director. “To do this, we call every single exhibitor; we speak to brands that are just starting out, all the way to established companies that have been part of the Show for years.”

Every approved exhibitor that submits their Exhibit Space Rental Application (ESRA) and deposit prior to the April 3 deadline has the opportunity to select their booth space. During the exhibitor’s time to pick, a SEMA Show account representative will call the primary SEMA Show contact and help locate and assign the exhibit space that best suits the company’s needs.

“This is a fair and equitable way for companies to select their best possible location—part of our commitment to providing the best exhibit experience possible,” Tompkins said. “We even have tie-breakers built into the system in case companies have the same seniority. The process is never the same, which is one of the ways we keep the SEMA Show so cool, exciting and new each year.”

One of the most important aspects for having a successful Show is pre-Show marketing and promotion. The Priority Selection Process allows exhibitors to understand their Show floor location and how large their exhibit is going to be so they can begin to envision their display design, product presentation, staffing and promote their presence at the Show.

“This process creates the Show floorplan that we publish each year, which buyers, media and other Show attendees preview, helping to promote participating brands to a world of buying power and getting thousands of people ready to attend and work the Show like a pro,” Tompkins said.

To date, nearly 1,500 companies have committed to exhibiting at the 2023 SEMA Show. Organizers expect the number to increase to more than 2,000 by Show time. See who is exhibiting.

There is still time to get involved in this process; submit your ESRA application by April 3! Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the world’s most iconic buying organizations, media, manufacturers and influencers.

The 2023 SEMA Show will  be held October 31–November 3 in Las Vegas. For more information about exhibiting, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor or check out the exhibitor brochure.

WASHINGTON, DC (03.24.23) – The bipartisan America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (AORA), S. 873, was reintroduced in the 118th Congress by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY). This SEMA-supported public lands and recreation legislation is the first comprehensive recreation package since 1963 that will improve and expand America’s outdoor recreation economy while delivering sustainable economic boosts to rural communities.

The bill requires federal land management agencies to increase opportunities for motorized and non-motorized access to public lands, and it includes provisions to streamline the process and expenses associated with obtaining special recreation permits. The bill also directs the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to make maps available to the public depicting where vehicles are allowed and where they are prohibited, as well as to update them periodically to ensure that the maps do not become outdated.

SEMA, along with our partners that comprise the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, urge swift approval of AORA so that many more Americans can enjoy outdoor spaces and their associated benefits to health and wellness. Studies have shown that enjoying time outside helps benefit a person’s mental and physical health. Additionally, outdoor recreation is a key driver of the U.S. economy with an $862 billion annual economic impact. It is also a major employer throughout the country providing 4.5 million American jobs.

For more information on the American Outdoor Recreation Act, please contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

Visit sema.org for more.