STAFDA convention moves to Orlando
The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) announced that it is relocating its 2021 Annual Convention & Trade Show from Charlotte, N.C., to Orlando, Fla.
The Charlotte dates were slated for Nov. 7 to Nov. 9. But the move to Orlando includes new dates for Oct. 24 to Oct. 26.
As the country continues to move forward from the COVID pandemic, Florida, Texas, and Indianapolis, Ind., are all ‘open’ for business, STAFDS said. A large number of meetings that were scheduled in cities with tight restrictions – including Las Vegas, Baltimore, and Charlotte – are migrating to these destinations, particularly Orlando.
The association also said that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer have developed effective and safe plans to reintroduce live meetings without compromising attendees’ health. The OCCC’s health guidelines are available at www.occc.net/meetingsafely.
STAFDA’s Orlando Convention & Trade Show will be held in the South Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). The Trade Show will be in South Hall SA2, the General Session in South Hall SA1, and STAFDA’s educational workshops will take place on the South 200 and 300 Levels.
An Oct. 25 keynote address will be provided by William (Bill) Taylor, co-founder of Fast and best selling author.
Taylor has a passion for the ideas and practices that are reshaping how organizations compete, innovate, and win, STAFDA said. He will address these ideas in his STAFDA presentation, “Talent, Culture, and the New World of Work: How to Unleash & Sustain Fierce Execution & Nonstop Innovation.”
STAFDA also said that its ‘“Opening Party will be a “dynamite event” on Oct. 24. This includes a joint venue affair at Mario Andretti’s Indoor Karting & Games and TopGolf.
The three host hotels for STAFDA attendees will be the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Hilton Orlando, and Rosen Centre. Both the Hyatt and Hilton have raised walkways to the South Concourse and the Rosen Centre is directly across International Drive from the South Concourse.
“Unfortunately, North Carolina’s and the city of Charlotte’s restrictions have made it impossible for STAFDA to plan or move forward with its meeting,” STAFDA said in a prepared statement.
The 40,000-square-foot ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center, which can normally handle 4,000 people for STAFDA’s General Session, is only accepting up to 473 people.
STAFDA’s Orlando Convention registration opens June 28 at 8 a.m. Central Time. More information will be available at STAFDA.org.