No Decision Made on World Tire Expo Future

(Akron/Tire Review) Contrary to some reports in the wake of the recently completed World Tire Expo, TIA’s board of directors and officers have made no decision regarding the future of the biannual conference and trade show.

At a press conference following the show, TIA president Dick Gust said that TIA was heartened by the interest shown in the WTE this year – particularly in the education programmes offered – but was considering its options. The WTE was held 20 – 22 April in Louisville, Kentucky.

“We’re really talking about it,” said Mr Gust during the press conference. “It’s still up in the air what we’re going to do.” Mr Gust said that TIA’s board was planning to meet and consider the future of the event, including the potential to change the format to purely educational seminars, adopting a programme similar to TIA OTR Conference. The TIA president did not offer a timetable for when the board might reach its decision.

Total attendance for the 2005 WTE, including registered buyers and exhibitors, came in at 1,541, according to TIA, up from 1,485 in 2003, but still well below the 2001 show’s total attendance of 2,150. However, unlike the 2003 event, the trade show floor was far busier, and, as Dick Gust pointed out, seminar attendance was higher than expected. TIA executive vice president Roy Littlefield said exhibitors were “very positive,” and some had inquired about committing for the next WTE.