RESTON, Va. (Jan. 20, 2003)—The Tire Industry Association (TIA) is offering attendees the chance to set up VIP buying hour appointments online to meet with exhibitors during the World Tire Expo.
Ross Kogel, executive vice president for TIA, said setting up the appointments ahead of time can help business owners navigate the show for more productivity. The World Tire Expo, being held in Louisville, Ky., March 26-29, is dedicated to the commercial tire, tire retreading/repairing, and tire and rubber recycling markets.
Mr. Kogel said about 85 exhibitors have signed up so far, 20 percent of which are new to the expo. TIA said it expects this year's show to have more first-time exhibitors than past shows. Mr. Kogel said many return-exhibitors have increased the size of their booths.
“Because we will have an unprecedented number of new exhibiting companies, it is critical for attendees to schedule exclusive time to learn about the new products and services,” said TIA President Tom Raben in a statement. “The online set-up for these appointments will create a smooth process that should allow everyone the access that they need to key industry suppliers.”
The expo will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.
Online registration is now available for expo events and housing, TIA said, and registering online offers up to a 50-percent discount on some special events. For details, click on www.worldtireexpo.org.