2003 Washington Auto Show Makes Winnerês Circle Second Best Attended in a Decade; 4th Best in 21 years
The 2003 Washington Auto Show was as well attended as any but a handful in our 21-year history in the Washington Convention Center, said show chairman Chip Lindsay. Last year yielded our largest attendance, but this year closes out our run in this convention center in a grand way and puts us in scoring position with the new and expanded center next year, he said. Lindsay credited the success with careful planning that included a strong flight of cutting edge vehicles, coordinated with effective promotions and attractions.
Show Manager Bob Yoffe of Yoffe Exposition Services concurred with Lindsay noting that 2003 was second only to last year in being the best attended show in a decade and made the winnerês circle of all convention center shows since 1983.
Excellent media exposure and a wide range of family attractions drew people in large number to this yearês show for a variety of reasons and studies show that most attendees are shopping for a new car, said Yoffe.
The 2003 show truly surpassed our expectations and broke new ground in several important areas, said Barbara Pomerance, public relations and promotions director. Our early focus on adding key sponsors to the show resulted in new sponsorships from Fortune 500 companies like ExxonMobil and industry segment leaders like XM Satellite Radio. Our promotional and special event schedule, combined with the addition of a fourth car to the popular Hands On Contest, resulted in tremendous media coverage and certainly captured the publicês imagination.”
Pomerance also noted the show was a winner because of increased dealer involvement from Press Preview Day and continuing throughout the show.
This special issue of The WANADA Bulletin offers a photo tour of the cars, stars, contests, celebrities and family entertainment of the 2003 auto show.
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