The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is already knee deep in planning for its annual CADA Summit, to be held on Feb.10, 2016 in Toronto, Ont.
“Everybody puts their best ideas forward to come up with a program that really will benefit automobile dealers,” said Bonnie Wasser, the CADA’s new Industry Relations Officer, who also chairs the event’s planning committee.
The annual CADA Summit, sponsored by TD Auto Finance, is a jam-packed day that brings in dealers from across Canada to hear world class speakers discuss thought provoking topics that are changing the auto industry.
The annual CADA Summit is a jam-packed day that brings in dealers from across Canada to hear world class speakers discuss thought provoking topics that are changing the auto industry.
WHAT’S NEW?
Being the fourth CADA Summit, there are high expectations for 2016.
One change that attendees can look forward to is a new venue: the Omni King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto. Wasser said that facility will be better suited to meet the needs of the growing event.
Dealers will also hear a special video message from Bill Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. The CADA Summit crew is headed to Detroit to record his thoughts for the Canadian dealer audience. “He’s addressing this particular group and talking about where he sees the auto industry going,” added Wasser.
DESIGNED FOR DEALERS
What will remain the same for 2016 is the overall design of the CADA Summit, said Wasser. “It’s been a successful design. We don’t want to change that,” she said.
Between sessions, there are plenty of networking breaks, as well as lunch and dinner, so that dealers can meet their peers, the speakers and OEM executives.
Unlike most industry events that tell dealers about specific tools to implement in their dealerships, Wasser said the event is more about showing dealers the big picture.
“It’s not a ‘how to’ kind of day, it’s really ‘what’s the environment and what’s changing,’” said Wasser. And it’s all relevant to dealers. “The speakers are people who are saying, ‘this is our area of expertise and this is how it applies to you as automobile dealers in Canada.’”
That’s what dealers have asked for — and that’s what the CADA Summit aims to deliver, said Wasser.
“The focus in the [planning] meeting is we’re always asking ourselves the question, ‘Is this somebody you can hear somewhere else or is this something that’s going to be new and different and bring value to dealers?’” said Wasser.
BIG PICTURE, BIG SPEAKERS
That’s why the planning committee has given a lot of thought into lining up some dynamic speakers for 2016.
Expect to hear about the changing customer experience, said Wasser. And from speakers that dealers typically haven’t heard from at other industry events, she added.
Douglas Stephens, one of the world’s foremost retail industry futurists known as the “Retail Prophet,” will share his forecast on “What’s in Store for Retail?” and how it’s changing consumer expectations.
Premium pollsters John Wright, Senior Vice-President of Ipsos Reid’s Strategic Public Affairs Research Division, and Darrell Bricker, Chief Executive Officer at Ipsos Public Affairs, will present real time data on automobile sales and Canadian demographics.
Another featured speaker is Ray Boisvert, the former assistant director of intelligence for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Boisvert will present on cyber risk, which has become a real threat now that connected cars have come into existence.
“All of these things change the experience for the customer,” said Wasser. “Ultimately the CADA Summit is helping the dealer members deal with that change.”
Wasser confirmed there will also be an economic panel, manufacturer’s panel, and the popular CADA Laureate panel.
As part of the day’s agenda, the CADA will also hand out its annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Survey awards, said Wasser.
REGISTER EARLY
The CADA Summit has sold out in the past, and this year should be no different, said Wasser.
“If you’re thinking of attending, register early because it will fill up,” she said.
Dealers who have not attended the Summit but would like to learn more about it can watch a video of the event’s highlights from 2015.
Registration opens in mid-October online at CADASummit.ca.
Look for more ongoing and exclusive CADA Summit coverage from Canadian auto dealer.
