DEMA Show 2013 provided many opportunities for attendees and exhibitors to do great business together by providing hundreds of exhibits, products, services, educational sessions and more. Opening day commenced on November 6 with more than 6,400 professionals on hand for the first day’s activities, including buyers, travel buyers, instructors and other dive professionals from all over the world. Verified attendance figures confirm that over 8,000 industry professionals entered the show during its four days – a 3% increase over the previous Orlando-based DEMA Show. Verified Attendees and Buyers showed an 8.1% increase over DEMA Show 2011 in Orlando and even a slight (.6%) increase over last year’s Las Vegas-based event.
“We are happy to see that the show continues to bring a strong professional audience together to do business, learn, discuss and brainstorm ideas and issues affecting our Industry,” said Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. “The DEMA Staff, along with the board, our members and all industry stakeholders will continue to find ways to strengthen the show, our community and our industry as a whole. We encourage all industry professionals to stay informed via DEMAIL and the DEMA website and social media pages. Your involvement in the industry’s trade association helps us all make positive progress.”
One of the positive additions to this year’s show was the return of the Deep Ambitions Aquatic Career Fair. A total of 130 high school students participated in a full day of experiential learning about the underwater world and the opportunities presented related to diving and careers. High school students were even given the opportunity to try diving in the Be A Diver Pool right on the Show floor. Industry influencers like Martin Stepanek, Rogest and Wyland joined staff from Infinite Scuba, REEF, and Reefmakers, who interacted with and educated the students about our underwater environment, inspired them to get involved to help our ocean planet, and gave them ideas about careers in which learning to dive can play a key role.
During the Annual Member Meeting, attendees learned about the activities of the Association during 2013 and the goals being set for 2014. Tom Ingram also revealed the preliminary results of DEMA’s new industry-wide research project, providing key demographic data on current entry-level divers, divers participating in continuing education, divers traveling to resorts and those purchasing hard goods such as regulators.
Exhibitors such as American Underwater Products, Aqua Lung, Bahama’s Diving Association and more hosted hundreds of attendees in their booths to showcase their latest products, programs and services.
DEMA Show will be returning to Las Vegas for 2014.
DEMA Show, www.DEMAShow.com