SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2022 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block.

Making hotel reservations in the Block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

Many SEMA Show hotels, such as The LINQ Hotel & Casino, offer reduced resort fees for Showgoers.

All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show Block come with a low-price guarantee. To help ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay, or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the the most affordable price available.

The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are more than 45 hotels available in the block. For more information on the hotels listed below, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

See below for the list of hotels offering discounted nightly resort fees.

Note: Rates listed on the onPeak website do not include the resort fee (except for Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World and Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World. Daily resort fee is included in the nightly rates).

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2022 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

The 2022 SEMA Show Education program will feature more than 70 seminars designed to inspire personal and professional development. Led by industry- and subject-matter experts, the program offers a customizable lineup of sessions and workshops that confront industry challenges, capitalize on emerging trends, highlight and reinforce business best practices, enhance leadership skills and much more.

One of the newest components of the 2022 Show Education program are four sessions focused on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. The first DEI session, "Diversity and Inclusion: How You Can Advance Equal Opportunity in Your Workplace," takes place Tuesday, November 1, and will presented by James Pogue, Ph.D., President and CEO of JP Enterprises.

In addition to the DEI sessions, three new tracks have been added: “Inside the Shop,” “Enthusiast” and “Keynote.” The “Inside the Shop” series will motivate aspiring builders and technicians as they hear from leading customizers sharing their experiences crafting off-road machines, hot rods, musclecars and detailed restorations.

The new “Enthusiast” track, scheduled for Friday, November 4, from 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m., will feature industry personalities and celebrities providing insight on building cars, ideas for obtaining sponsorships and the importance of protecting the automotive aftermarket from overregulation. One of the five sessions, “Celebrity Insights,” moderated by African American Racers Association Cofounder Chris Harris, will give attendees a glimpse into the lives of some of their favorite celebrities, legends and luminaries.  

The “Keynote” track will feature the new “Main Stage Experience,” where some of the industry’s iconic figures and leaders will bring their unique perspectives on ways to strengthen business strategies. The Main Stage promises to be an immersive, informative and entertaining experience. The first presentation is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m., Tuesday, November 1, the opening day of the 2022 SEMA Show.

Building on the success the 2021 Show's education program, the “Leadership Essentials” track, presented by Dale Carnegie, returns to the Show offering six courses spread out over three days. The courses, which can be taken as a whole or individually, feature trainers from Dale Carnegie providing the institution’s acclaimed leadership, communications and sales program that improve both individual and business performance.

“The SEMA Show has a lot to offer, from seeing new products and vehicle builds, meeting with manufacturers, learning from experts and developing meaningful relationships that you can only get from an in-person event,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “We encourage Showgoers to take advantage of all the elements of the SEMA Show so that they get the greatest ROI.”

With a wide array of seminars and workshops, the education offerings at the Show provide something for everyone. The 14 tracks available are:

• Aftermarket Updates & Future Trends
• Business Management
• Digital Marketing
• Electric Vehicles
• Enthusiast
• I-Car Collision Repair Training
• Inside the Shop
• International Roundtables
• Keynote
• Leadership Essentials (presented by Dale Carnegie)
• Legislative and Regulatory
• SCRS Repairer Driven Education
• Tire Industry Association
• Vehicle Technology

All sessions are held in meeting rooms at the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it easy and convenient for attendees to schedule seminars between meetings with exhibitors. Registrants can sign up for the education program while applying for SEMA Show credentials at www.SEMAShow.com/register.

For a review of the 2022 SEMA Show Education Program, visit www.SEMAshow.com/education.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA is calling all SEMA Show car builders to register for SEMA Battle of the Builders, the aftermarket industry’s ultimate vehicle competition. Open exclusively to builders with a car or truck displayed at the annual trade show, the competition celebrates and honors top builders for participating in what many consider to be the pinnacle of automotive events.

“Since 2014, we’ve provided vehicle builders a special platform to showcase their imagination, creativity and craftsmanship while also fueling the love for competition and pride of accomplishment,” said RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing. “SEMA Show Exhibitors are tremendously selective with the vehicles they choose to showcase their products, capture attention and drive traffic to their booths. SEMA Battle of the Builders not only offers an additional avenue for further exposure by featuring the top builders and brands that exhibit at the SEMA Show but also provides a chance for top builders from different genres to learn from each other building meaningful connections as they judge each other’s builds in the final round.”

SEMA Battle of the Builders gives builders to opportunity to gain global recognition, including possible inclusion in a one-hour television special or SEMA’s social channels, and a chance to be recognized and named as the industry’s top builder. The competition recognizes one winner in four different categories:

• Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck
• 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road
• Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic
• Young Guns—before crowning the coveted title, Battle of the Builders Champion.  

The four categories have evolved for the 2022 competition. Hot Rod Trucks will now compete with traditional Hot Rod builds. The former Truck class becomes more focused on 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road builds while the Sport Compact class is expanded to include Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic builds as well. The age limit for the Young Guns class has also been raised from 27 to 29 years old. As part of SEMA’s initiative to support and encourage the next generation of builders in the industry, the association will continue its SEMA Young Guns category for builders who are 29 and younger.

“Each year, we meet amazing young builders through the Young Guns program,” said de Vera. “It is inspiring to witness the passion, drive and courage they have to put their blood, sweat and tears into their projects and to compete with their pride and joy in this competition. To see the industry embrace them as they build a network of contacts and connections that will fuel a lifelong career is exactly why the Young Guns class was created. Fortune definitely favors the brave, and we want to highlight that.”

Although the SEMA Show is a trade-only event, consumers can experience the excitement of the event and see the winning Battle of the Builder vehicles during the SEMA Cruise and at SEMA Ignited (www.semaignited.com), the official SEMA Show after-party taking place from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., in the West Hall parking lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

For more information on the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition or to register, visit www.semabotb.com. The deadline to register is October 14. Calling all builders!

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Marketing Manager
Anderson Composites

Anderson Composites is hiring a full-time onsite marketing manager. This candidate will be the day-to-day marketing and creative person, working closely with the sales department to grow the brand and drive sales. This position will lead in marketing strategy and implementation, branding and advertising, and preferably know enough Adobe Suite to lead in creative and graphic design as well. Successful candidates should have experience in digital and social media marketing, graphic design and photography skills, and some previous experience in project management. Ideal candidates should have knowledge of the automotive industry.

Director, University of the Aftermarket
Northwood University

Northwood University seeks a director of the university of the aftermarket to develop and promote existing and new programming for Northwood University in the aftermarket space. The director of the university of the aftermarket reports to the dean of the graduate school and works closely with all automotive aftermarket programs at Northwood University. Candidates must have a master’s degree in a related field and strong experience in designing and implementing successful programs for students in need of continuing/executive education programming within the aftermarket space.

Sales Manager
Texas Speed & Performance

Texas Speed & Performance is hiring a sales manager to lead the sales and customer service teams to drive rapid sales and margin growth and manage expenses for Texas Speed & Performance, while providing world class service to customers. This growth will be achieved by providing customers with friendly and efficient service, driving continuous improvement with contact center SLAs, seeking new leads through social media/forums, execution of SPIF programs and driving AOV and margin initiatives. Candidate must have 10+ years of experience leading and directly managing a sales/customer service team of 10 or more, preferably in a contact center environment as the formal supervisor/manager. 

  Exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.

The list, which will be updated in SEMA News, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2022 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.

Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2022 SEMA Show.

View the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list.

  Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show, the premier gathering for the automotive specialty-equipment industry, is now open at www.semashow.com/register.

Taking place November 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 2022 SEMA Show will build upon the positive momentum following last year’s event, which successfully connected the $47.8 billion industry in person in what was the largest automotive trade show in North America since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.

“The SEMA Show is where industry professionals go to grow existing relationships, create new ones and push their businesses forward,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Exhibitors are eager to showcase their products and services to the tens of thousands of qualified professionals in attendance.”

Anticipation for this year's SEMA Show ramped up in recent weeks as exhibitors selected their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, a weeks-long process that took place May 2–18.

“Enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to exceed last year’s, with more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed for the 2022 SEMA Show and confirmed spaces running 25% above last year,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.

Attendees at the 2022 SEMA Show will learn about the latest products, trends and technology in the industry from manufacturers exhibiting throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, including the surrounding parking lots. Educational seminars led by industry experts and networking events that bring market niches together will also be available during the four-day trade event.

“Our industry continues to thrive despite current challenges in the marketplace, and last year’s event proved that the value of conducting business and networking face-to-face can never be replaced,” said Gattuso. “Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”

Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor and media—and everyone must qualify to attend. Attendees are encouraged to register early at www.semashow.com/register so they can secure their credentials and receive updates on breaking news from the 2022 SEMA Show.

Attendees are encouraged to check the floorplan to see where the companies they need to interact with will be located at the 2022 SEMA Show.

For more information about qualifying documents and the 2022 SEMA Show, log on to www.semashow.com.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA members are invited to join Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events, for a Facebook and Instagram live chat about the 2022 SEMA Show on Wednesday, September 14, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).  

Taking place on the SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) Facebook page and FLN Instagram (@fln_sema), the live discussion will help members get the most out of their experience at the week-long, trade-only event taking place November 1–4 in Las Vegas. Gattuso will share updates on the current status of this year’s Show, what to expect in November and tips to make navigating the Las Vegas Convention Center easier and more efficient.

There is no other event in the automotive industry where you can discover emerging trends, see thousands of new products, speak directly to experts from the manufacturing companies and build business knowledge through more than 70 free, professional, skill-enhancing education sessions. Get your questions ready and tune in. 

Live Chat location:  

• FLN Facebook page
• FLN Instagram live (@fln_sema)  

By Ashley Reyes

Insurance experts will help manufacturers discover if they can save money on product liability insurance during a live webinar on September 8, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

Presented by Bob Corwin and Franco Ganino of Alliant Insurance Services Inc. (a SEMA benefit partner), this webinar will provide manufacturers with updates on cost-effective programs that offer support and coverage solutions. Attendees will walk away understanding the importance of warning customers about risks, the different classifications that may impact costs and how to prevent issues that might negatively impact business.

Register today.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The California legislature failed to pass bipartisan SEMA-sponsored legislation (A.B. 2350) that would have incentivized consumers to convert gasoline- and diesel-powered motor vehicles into zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) prior to adjourning for 2022. If enacted, A.B. 2350 would have provided eligible motorists who convert their vehicle with a $2,000 rebate.

Despite unanimously passing five committees and the entire California Assembly, the bill was held by the Senate Appropriations Committee in the final days of the legislative session. SEMA looks forward to working with its allies in the legislature to pass a similar bill in 2023.

For more information, please contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.