NADA 2025 in New Orleans: A Guide for First-Time Attendees

NADA is one of the biggest events of the automotive industry where franchise car dealers, OEM's and allied automotive partners meet for education, emerging trends and networking opportunities. This year the show will be in New Orleans from Thursday January 23, 2025 to Sunday, January 26th.

We caught up with Lindsay Gorman, our Director of Partnership Marketing, Tradeshows & Events, who is preparing for her second NADA event. We asked her to share some tips and advice for first-time attendees.

NADA! The big game! At this point, you've probably spent countless hours planning for this illustrious event - a gathering of the automotive industry that is unmatched. I was a newbie myself last year, and now that I have one under my belt, here are a few tips that I hope will help make things a little easier for you.

What would you recommend wearing to NADA?

If you take away nothing else from this Q&A make it this - wear. comfortable. shoes. And bring a few pairs to switch into as the day goes on. Many people are on their feet for 14+ hours per day, and are likely logging high step counts making your shoe choice for comfort critical.

Another recommendation I have as you're considering what to pack is layering clothing. A big chunk of NADA is spent inside a convention center that by nature will be hot - then cold - then freezing - then warm again. This is always a time where companies show off their logos on clothing so I suggest doing so in various ways - polos, zip ups, vests, etc. items that have you branded regardless of the temp that will not seem to make up its mind throughout the day. During the day, many people are dressed casual/business casual (depending on meetings) and don't dress too fancy until after party events later in the evening.
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I also suggest access to pockets. You'll be bringing and collecting multiple business cards, you'll need a portable phone charger, and I'd suggest an ability to take notes (on your phone or a notepad) throughout the day. Hand sanitizer will also be your best friend - so many handshakes.
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It's a safe assumption that you'll be attending a happy hour, dinner and after party every night you're there. I'd suggest the ability to mix and match nicer outfits throughout the week, and pay attention to the weather of where NADA is being held. Given that this is a late January event in New Orleans in 2025, the weather could be a wild card, and these post-expo events are some of the few times you'll leave the convention center.

Best hotels to stay in during NADA?

NADA has a great list ofpreferred hotels for attendees. For any trade show I attend, I see the benefits of staying as close to the convention center as possible, if not in the same building. Having a short walk for early morning expo set up, or late night hotel return can be really useful. That being said, NADA gives attendees the opportunity to explore great cities, and depending on how you like to spend your time, you may benefit from a morning walk, and prefer to be a mile or two away from the convention center to achieve that. That could be some of your only fresh air time, so staying slightly further away could be helpful.

Best way to get around town for the NADA expo and after parties?

NADA provides shuttle services that are very helpful for getting around in a city you may not be familiar with, when traffic patterns may not be normal due to the large event in town. Also you typically wait in a line to board the shuttle, and are able to use that time as casual pressure free networking with others also riding.

There will likely be a taxi line at the convention center that will be wise to utilize as needed. Taxi drivers are usually well aware of how to navigate the city as only a local can. Of course, Uber and Lyft are good options, too. I don't recommend a rental car as most events are within the convention center/hotel/close by streets.

If you could only stay in town for two days at NADA, what days would you recommend?

I would recommend being present on Friday and Saturday. Friday is by far the most busy expo day, and most after parties are Friday night. The week can start to feel long beyond those two days, and people are usually still sharp and decision making minded on Friday and Saturday.‍

Take a break from time to time.

To stay as sharp as possible, I would suggest fresh air, walks, coffee breaks, copious water breaks, and a few brief hotel room stops where you are likely to not have to talk to another human for a few minutes. This event is a huge drain on your social battery, so planning for breaks like these will help you stay sharp. I recommend a really good reusable water bottle or two always on hand. One of the biggest complaints is not a lot of access to water so anything you can do to keep hydrated will be helpful to you. A lot of people utilize the gym at the hotel as well - even if you're able to pop-in for 15 minutes, you'll likely clear your mind and be ready to jump back in.

How would you make the most of your time as a NADA attendee?

The NADA show app will be your best friend here. I suggest studying the expo floor plan, and identifying your must visit vendors while on-site. Everyone will be willing to adjust their timing to meet with you, so setting up pre-expo floor meetings may also be useful to make sure you're able to achieve all that is needed from the event. It can be fun to mindlessly walk the floor and check out what fun giveaways and gimmicks each vendor has - but you probably don't have time for that, so check the best entrance for the vendors you need to hit to accommodate the most business needs.

After party NADA advice?

The after parties are a fun way to connect with colleagues and peers. That being said, they're usually invite only, so start laying the foundation to get the invites you're hoping for. My tried and true rule for after parties include a water between each alcoholic beverage, dinner before an after party, and leaving about 30 minutes before you think you should so you can get back to your room, rested, and ready to do it again tomorrow.

We can't wait to see you at NADA 2025

Heading to NADA 2025 in New Orleans? Be sure to visit the ACV booth and explore our full range of solutions designed to support dealers like you. Whether you're focused on buying, selling, or generating quality leads, we've developed cutting-edge tools to help you drive profits and make smarter decisions.

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