The bulk of the action at the SEMA Show may occur on the exhibit floor, but there are also a host of after-hours SEMA council and network receptions to attend that connect clients and colleagues and celebrate the achievements of industry leaders in a relaxed, collegial atmosphere. Here’s a brief guide to this year’s activities.

Grabbing a good meal during the SEMA Show is important to maintaining the energy you need for a successful Show, and luckily, there are plenty of food options. The trick is to find something that fits the amount of time allotted for you to eat.

As the single largest gathering of small businesses in America, the 2019 SEMA Show is expected to draw nearly 170,000 industry professionals to the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), November 5–8. This year, the Show benefits from several ground-transportation improvements, making a commute to the LVCC easier than ever. For more information about any of the following services, visit www.SEMAShow.com/ground-transportation.

More than 170,000 automotive specialty-equipment professionals from all over the world—including 60,000 buyers—are expected to attend the 2019 SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas. This year’s Show promises to deliver several new features and opportunities for exhibitors and buyers to connect across the more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space inside and around the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso offered attendees a preview of what to expect this year as well as tips on how they can make the most efficient use of their time on the Show floor.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded $272,000 to 97 individuals this year. The financial awards include scholarships for current students and loan-forgiveness awards to employees of SEMA-member companies.

More than 3,000 members of the media will attend the 2019 SEMA Show. They will represent all manner of publications—large and small, domestic and international, printed and electronic—and can sometimes provide a meaningful boost to a new-product launch or a brand’s image. In a recent survey, in fact, 42% of exhibitors told us that they measure success based on media exposure from the Show. If you’re one of those exhibitors, here are some best-practices tips for keeping your media interactions productive and efficient.

The good news for 2019 SEMA Show exhibitors is that the trade-only event is on track to draw more than 60,000 buyers, a large percentage of whom are already deciding which companies they will see. With the Show’s opening just weeks away on Tuesday, November 5, this is the critical point for first-time and veteran exhibitors alike to make sure that their booths and Show strategies are ready to go.

If you’re a buyer destined for the 2019 SEMA Show, now is the time to strategize a successful Show itinerary. First-time exhibitors are of particular interest because they bring never-before-seen products and services to the Show. As of June, more than 250 first-time exhibitors were already on the floorplan, and that data is offered here so you can get busy preparing a list of leads well before your Las Vegas arrival. Seasoned buyers will tell you that this is one of the best ways to hit the ground running and take full advantage of an active Show week.

The 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders competition began with more than 300 vehicles entered by builders and customizers from all across the United States. The entries included vehicles crafted by both well-known, highly acclaimed builders and lesser-known younger customizers. The 2018 format was updated to provide a mechanism to recognize winners in four different categories: Hot Rod, Truck/Off-Road, Sport Compact and Young Guns (under 27).

For nearly a decade, WD-40 and SEMA Cares have worked together to bring vehicles to auction for the benefit of SEMA Cares’ charitable partner organizations. On January 17, a ’67 Camaro will be auctioned to benefit Childhelp at the Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. Childhelp is an organization dedicated to closing the cycle of child abuse in the United States by helping victims and those at risk.