The 2022 UMA Motorcoach EXPO in Long Beach, California, on Feb. 23-26 will boast a show floor with more vendors than were at last year’s industry gathering.
It’s one more sign of the industry’s economic recovery.
“The number and quality of vendors at this year’s show is a testament to the strong commitment to this industry’s comeback,” said United Motorcoach Association President and CEO Scott Michael. “There is pent-up demand, and our vendor partners are ready to offer new solutions, technologies and products to meet operator needs. And having eight OEMs with the latest vehicles adds a wow factor that sets UMA’s show apart from all others. It’s exciting.”
UMA Motorcoach EXPO is the premier equipment and education trade show for the North American motorcoach industry, which is bouncing back from shutdowns during COVID-19.
With consumers eager to begin traveling again, this event will be the best opportunity for private ground transportation professionals to meet in person with leading product and service providers.
The show will be much larger than the 2021 EXPO in Orlando, Florida. Demand has been high for the EXPO, with 90% of the space sold, said David A. Petrillo, Senior Managing Director at Naylor Association Solutions, the firm that coordinates the show for the UMA.
“We look forward to providing a platform that brings operators and industry vendors together to connect and prepare for continued growth in the market,” Petrillo said.
The theme for this year’s EXPO is “Reconnecting,” reflecting the opportunity to gather for an upbeat, in-person event as the motorcoach industry returns to the road, fueled by optimism for the future of travel.
Appealing venue
Traditionally, UMA EXPO events held in California have had the largest turnouts, Petrillo said. He added that the Long Beach Convention Center’s location, near the oceanfront and other destinations, makes it an appealing venue.
The facility has more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
“It just provides that unique platform to really bolster engagement,” Petrillo said. “Every trade show is all about engagement. The layout of this convention center, and how everything is very close together, from hotels to restaurants, really lends itself to be that perfect platform to foster maximum engagement.”
Vendor spots in the exhibit hall are selling quickly.
“Operators are positioning themselves to be successful, and as things are coming back to normal, an expo is the exact place to be for that positioning,” said Petrillo. Such an event, he added, allows operators to engage with the vendors that supply the parts, technology, safety components or or other things businesses need as group travel continues to improve.
Below is a list of business partners – including eight OEMs – that have signed up so far to showcase their latest products, services and vehicles at UMA Motorcoach EXPO. Over the decades, the event has built a reputation as the most important gathering of the industry, because the EXPO exhibit hall is where business is done.
- 5Star Specialty Programs
- ABC Companies
- Amaya Astron Seating
- AMBEST Inc.
- Amerifuel
- Atlantic City/Meet AC
- Atlantic Union Equipment Finance, Inc.
- Auto-Motion Shade Inc
- Awash Ecowash Systems Corp.
- Bitimec International Inc
- BITZER US Inc.
- Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO)
- Budget Truck and Auto, Inc
- BUSBooks
- BusGraphix
- busHive
- BUSTEXTIL
- BYD Motors Inc
- Camira Fabrics
- Carolina Casualty
- CommercePayments
- Complete Coach Works
- Curved Glass Distributors
- Daimler Coaches North America
- DIA Solutions Inc.
- Distinctive Systems Inc.
- Executive Coach Builders, Inc.
- Gerflor
- Huntington
- Icomera US
- Interclean Equipment
- Irizar USA LLC
- J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
- Kelly Anderson Group
- Kiel NA LLC
- Kirk’s Automotive Inc.
- Lancer Insurance Company
- Lang US LP
- MASATS S.A.
- Motor Coach Industries
- MYS Test Payment
- National Interstate Insurance
- Odyssey Battery
- Pana-Pacific
- Power Manufacturing Inc.
- Prestolite Electric
- Prevost
- Proheat
- ProSight Specialty Insurance
- Rally OurBus
- REI
- Relational Bus Systems
- Reyco Granning Suspensions
- RLI Transportation
- Rosco Vision Systems
- RRL Insurance Agency
- Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery
- Saucon Technologies Inc.
- Scalabros SRL
- Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants
- Shriver Transportation Insurance Agency, LLC
- SPAL USA
- Stertil-Koni USA, Inc.
- SubOut
- Temsa Skoda Sabancı Ulaşım Araçlari A.Ş.
- TIB Transportation Insurance Brokers
- Trans Lease, Inc.
- Translite Enterprises – Bus Glass Distributors
- Transportation Advisors / EZ-DrugTest
- Turbo Images
- Turbo Studio
- Ultra Coachliner
- Webb Wheel Products
- Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
- Worldwide Monochem
