Suitcasing Policy
 

Suitcasing is the act of soliciting business in the aisles during the exhibition or in other public spaces by non-exhibiting companies, including another company's booth or a hotel lobby. It is NADA Show Management’s objective to do everything legally possible to protect our Exhibitors from suitcasing. We want our Exhibitors to know that NADA is tough on suitcasers, and that we are vigilant in our efforts to stop them in order to prevent Exhibitor unhappiness and show erosion.

Please note that while all meeting attendees are invited to the NADA Show, any attendee who is observed to be soliciting business in the aisles or other public spaces, in another company’s booth, or in violation of any portion of the Exhibit Policies, will be asked to leave immediately.  Additional penalties may be applied. Please report any violations you may observe to Show Management.  Show Management recognizes that suitcasing may also take the form of commercial activity conducted from a hotel guest room or hospitality suite; a restaurant, club, or any other public place of assembly.  For the purposes of this policy, suitcasing violations may occur at venues other than the exhibition floor and at other events.  Requests for hospitality suites must be approved by NADA Show Management and are only available to confirmed exhibitors.


What Show Management Will Do

The Suitcasing Prevention Team

Show Management has created a Suitcasing Prevention Team that will be in place from the start of the Show to the conclusion of the Show. This team will respond to all complaints regarding suitcasing. The team will be trained on what to look for and the appropriate factors to determine if there is an issue. The Team will be composed of members of the Show Management staff as well as the Floor Manager assigned to each section of the Show. 

The Suitcasing Prevention Team will have the following responsibilities:

  • Review complaints concerning suitcasing.
  • Review each complaint off the Show floor and take appropriate action, including removal from the Show floor.
  • Levy penalties for violations, up to and including, suspension from participation in future Shows.

 

What Can You Do

If you have a pending dispute regarding suitcasing at the Show, then you should consider the following: 

  1. Prior to the Show: If you feel there is a reasonable risk of a problem involving suitcasing, notify Show Management prior to arrival.
  2. Onsite: If you suspect another company of suitcasing, report this to the Show Management office and someone from Show Management will come to your booth immediately.
  3. Show Management Action:  Show Management will take one of the following actions:
    • Upon receipt of a complaint from an exhibitor, Show Management will review the complaint with the exhibitor.
    • Show Management will confer with other members of the Suitcasing Prevention Team to investigate the complaint and determine what action may be taken, including meeting with the company/person that is accused of suitcasing. This will include:
      • Remove anyone found violating the suitcasing policy; or
      • If deemed advisable, Show Management will attempt to bring the accuser and alleged violating party together in a meeting in the Show Management office in an attempt to resolve the matter; or
      • Take no action if it is determined there is no action necessary.

If the Suitcasing Prevention Team determines that a complaint is valid but the violator will not attend such a meeting nor leave the Show floor, then that party/company will be prohibited from exhibiting or attending in the following two (2) Shows.