DEMA Thanks the Diving Industry for their Participation in DEMA Show 2016

** Thousands of Industry Professionals from Every Segment of the Diving Industry Came Together at Trade-Only Show to Buy, Learn and Collaborate **

DEMA is pleased to say THANK YOU to the more than 9,500 pre-qualified dive professionals who registered for DEMA’s 40th annual DEMA Show, and more than 600 exhibiting companies who made DEMA Show successful.  The trade-only Show was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV from November 16th to 19th, 2016.   

DEMA Show 2016 provided many opportunities for Attendees and Exhibitors to do great business together by providing hundreds of exhibits, products, services, educational sessions and more.  Verified attendance figures, which are obtained from electronic scans of Attendee and Exhibitor badges, confirm that over 8,200 Industry Professionals entered and participated in the Show during its four days. The Show’s long-standing credentialing process established by the Board of Directors, helped confirm that the Show maintained a trade-only atmosphere, welcoming highly qualified Buyers and Influencers.

During the four days of DEMA Show 2016, Exhibitors hosted thousands of Attendees in their booths to showcase their latest products, programs and services.  DEMA’s video production partner, 506 Studio, has captured the excitement of the action-packed days of DEMA Show 2016 in a series of videos highlighting the Show.  In honor of the Show’s 40th Anniversary, all Attendees and Exhibitors were asked to “Share Your Story.” Participants were interviewed on camera to share their first and favorite DEMA Show moments. More than 160 stories were shared and captured during this year’s event.

DEMA extends its THANKS to the entire Industry for the continuing success of DEMA Show! Looking toward the future, DEMA Show will be returning to Orlando, FL from November 1-4 in 2017. DEMA continues to look at additional venues for future shows, using key factors of Exhibitor and Attendee cost and venue availability.  A complete overview of how DEMA Show venues are selected is available here.

Funds raised through DEMA Show (and all events produced by DEMA) are used to help the industry, including monitoring legislation, advocating for environmental and economic issues, promoting recreational diving, keeping dive sites open and accessible to divers, providing DEMA-Member access to benefit programs such as the promotional program Go Dive Now, and conducting research on behalf of the Industry.  With this year’s strong DEMA Show participation, DEMA can continue its mission of bringing businesses together to grow the diving industry.

2017 DEMA Board of Directors Election Deadlines Announced

** Ballot packets have been mailed to all current 2017 DEMA Members **

DEMA has announced that its 2017 Board of Directors election will take place from December 19, 2016 to January 27, 2017. All 2017 DEMA Members are eligible to vote – join DEMA by 4:00pm Pacific Time on January 6, 2017 to become eligible to participate in the 2017 Board of Directors Election.

DEMA's 2017 Board of Directors Election candidates are: 

• Category A1 – Manufacturers, Distributors and Affiliated Field/Sales Representatives:
• Mike Hollis, Aqua Lung
• Category A2 – Diver Certification and Training Agencies, and Affiliated Field/Sales Representative:
• Dallas Edmiston, NAUI
• Category A3 – Dive Publishing, Media, Dive Industry Consulting, Associations & Non-Retail Service Providers:
• Linda Sue Dingel, Bonnier Corporation
• Dan Orr, Dan Orr Consulting
• Category A4 – Retail Distribution of Diving Goods & Services:
• Bill Cole, Sea Experience
• Davis Graham, Texas Dive Center
• Pat  Hammer, Scuba Emporium
• Myra Kurn, Ocean Enterprises, Inc.

·        Category A5 – Dive Travel Provider or Resort:  

• Jenny Collister, Reef & Rainforest Dive & Adventure Travel
  
•  Stuart Cove, Stuart Cove's Dive Bahama

All A-category DEMA Members who pay their 2017 dues by 4:00PM Pacific Time on January 6, 2017 will be eligible to vote in this election.  DEMA encourages Members to consider each candidate carefully and to vote for the candidate in each category that meets industry needs as perceived by the individual Member.   

CLICK HERE TO JOIN FOR 2017  

For membership information please contact membership@dema.org or (858) 616-6408. In accordance with the DEMA Bylaws, Directors serve three-year terms.  Click here for more information on DEMA's Board of Directors and Bylaws.