DEMA Announces 2021 Diving Community Champion Awards Recipients

 ** Diving Community Champion Awards will be presented during the DEMA Membership Meeting held at DEMA Show 2021 **

The annual Diving Community Champion Award  recognizes DEMA-member companies that utilize their recreational diving businesses and positions in the community to make a difference locally or on a wider scale. Especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic, many DEMA-member companies from all stakeholder groups have been engaging with others to help one another locally or even globally, using a variety of activities. 

The Platinum, Gold and Silver Diving Community Champion Awards are provided to the top three DEMA-Member companies as voted by the DEMA Membership. DEMA is excited and proud to announce the 2021 Diving Community Champions! 

Congratulations to 2021 Diving Community Champion Award Recipients:

2021 Platinum Winner: FORCE BLUE

FORCE BLUE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to assist Special Operations veterans in their transition back to civilian life by restoring their sense of pride, fellowship and purpose and giving them a positive outlet through which to utilize their training and teamwork to help preserve the planet. 

2021 Gold Winner: Adaptive Diving Association

Adaptive Diving Association is the only DEMA member that exclusively manufactures and supplies adaptive diving equipment. ADA has made it their purpose in life to design and manufacture diving equipment specializing in enabling adaptive individuals the independence that water and diving can provide. 

2021 Silver Winner: Ocean Reef Group

In response to the severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ocean Reef Group designed and patented an adaptor to transform their Full Face Snorkeling Masks into PPE respirators and/or ventilated solutions for COVID-19 health care professionals and patients. 

A complete list of finalists and their nomination submissions can be found online here.

The Diving Community Champion Awards will be presented during the DEMA Membership Meeting held at DEMA Show 2021 in Las Vegas, NV on November 17, 2021.

DEMA Show 2021 Update

 * DEMA Show 2021 Will Stage in Las Vegas, November 16-19, 2021 *

With DEMA Show 2021 two months away, we are thrilled to finally reunite the industry after two years of being apart. Despite any rumors you may have heard, DEMA has no plans to cancel DEMA Show 2021.

We understand the pandemic is an ongoing concern and we are committed to providing a safe and productive Show experience for all members, exhibitors, and attendees. DEMA will continue to watch and implement the health and safety requirements put forth by the state of Nevada, Clark County, and the Las Vegas Convention Authority.

As of this writing, Nevada and the city of Las Vegas require that masks be worn by attendees and exhibitors while indoors at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and during DEMA Show. Additionally, the LVCC has been awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR certification, which demonstrates the highest standards for daily cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization. You can learn more about their standards and protocols for maintaining a clean and safe facility here. We also encourage Show attendees and exhibitors to take any additional steps that will make them feel comfortable and safe on-site, such as limiting physical interactions and social distancing. You can view DEMA’s Show health and safety guidelines here.

As you may have heard, a few large exhibitors have decided not to participate in DEMA Show 2021. We are disappointed that you will be unable to see them in Las Vegas this year, but the hundreds of contracted exhibitors remaining are excited to meet and connect with you. They are eager to engage with industry professionals, show you their latest products and services, and provide access to many hours of professional development, as they participate right alongside you.

Like DEMA Show exhibitors who have made the commitment to support your business, DEMA Show also has contractual obligations with convention facilities, hotels, and more. Given that Las Vegas is safely hosting many other large trade shows, canceling, or postponing a show with our size and success would be difficult and could impair DEMA’s future ability to support our members. But if we believed DEMA Show would be an unsafe environment, we would look for alternative ways to provide a similar opportunity for the industry. Much has changed with the state of the pandemic since the end of 2020. As we see many other large-scaled shows successfully take place in Las Vegas, and with established Show safety protocols approved by the authorities in Nevada, we are confident that DEMA Show 2021 will be a safe, fun, and productive experience for all participants.

In fact, every week, LVCC successfully hosts other trade shows of all sizes. Among the many trade shows staging around the city of Las Vegas between now and DEMA Show, 17 of them are scheduled at the LVCC. Many of these shows have thousands of attendees. Throughout the year, successful and safe events have been and are being hosted each week in the city, following LVCC and Nevada Guidelines. The full list of the upcoming events is available on the Las Vegas Means Business website.

DEMA’s goal is to provide the best possible platform for the professional diving community to connect, engage, collaborate, and celebrate our industry. As “polls” are notoriously inaccurate, DEMA Show prefers to rely on actual attendee and exhibitor participation data. This early, with about two months still to go, our best bellwether is the fact that more than 2,500 DEMA hotel block rooms have already been booked to date—a number we anticipate will continue to grow.

DEMA-Members, exhibitors, and attendees have expressed immense excitement and eagerness to return to an in-person DEMA Show. Like all trade shows staging since the beginning of the pandemic, we do expect the 2021 Show experience to be a different one, but we also expect it to be valuable—given the circumstances, perhaps more valuable than ever before.

DEMA Show brings great value to the industry by providing an unmatched opportunity for participants to network with other industry professionals, as well as to see many industry offerings all in one place, in a cost-effective way. With the established safety protocols, DEMA Show will once again provide this opportunity for the industry and will stage as scheduled.

As a non-profit trade association, DEMA will continue to use the money earned through DEMA Show to fund public policy efforts, research, professional development offerings, disaster assistance, future DEMA Shows, and more. Everything DEMA does is in support of the recreational diving industry.

You are our community, and we continue to do everything in our power to support you. We hope that you’ll join us in Las Vegas this November.

Stay safe and well.

Sincerely,


Tom Ingram
President & CEO
The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association
(858) 616-6408

tom.ingram@dema.org

Online Education Seminars with DEMA Show 2021

Did you know that DEMA Show 2021 Education Package Registrants have exclusive access to online DEMA-Sponsored Education sessions that start in just one month?

Starting October 12, DEMA Show 2021's online education sessions will kick off, offering new business and career-related programs each week leading up to the in-person Show.

This is a new feature for DEMA Show 2021, complimenting the in-person Education offerings taking place during the Show in Las Vegas.

Register for DEMA Show today and start expanding your business and career, even before you arrive at the Show!

 

LEARN MORE

DEMA Launches New Professional Development Recognition Badge

For the first time, DEMA is offering professional development sessions leading to a Digital Recognition Badge!

By attending the in-person DEMA Show 2021 and the eligible Marketing Education sessions, you’ll gain knowledge about marketing from experts in their field.

When you participate in and complete at least five designated Marketing Education sessions during DEMA Show 2021, you can apply to receive your own Digital Recognition Badge.

This digital badge is a great way to verify professional development participation for current or future employers or to help demonstrate your value as a volunteer or business owner.

LEARN MORE

DEMA Show Adds Brand New Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World as Official Show Hotel

**Book by October 25, 2021 for Exclusive DEMA Show Rates**

 

DEMA Show 2021 is excited to share that the newly opened Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World has been added as an Official DEMA Show hotel! DEMA Show 2021 will take place Tuesday through Friday, November 16-19, in Las Vegas, NV. To save the most on your experience, book your accommodations in the official DEMA Show block, which now includes Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World. Those booking within the official hotel block will enjoy exclusive exhibitor and attendee rates and benefits and help keep Show costs down for all. Reserve your rooms today before the DEMA Show block sells out!

Resort World is located on the Strip's north end, just down the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center (home to DEMA Show 2021). There's plenty to do at Resorts World when you aren't at the Show—a gaming floor, sports book, nightclubs, a wellness spa, and seven outdoor pools. Dining options include a street food hall and award-winning steakhouse.

Those booking in DEMA's block at Resorts World will have access to complimentary limited shuttle service to and from DEMA Show 2021 as well as access to the new Tesla Loop underground shuttle service which runs from the Central and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center to the new West Halls located just next door to Resorts World. Special discounted room rates are available to DEMA Show registrants making reservations in the official DEMA Show block by Monday, October 25, 2021, so ACT NOW! Room rates are as follows and based on availability:

• Standard Run of the House $165 (single/double occupancy) for the following nights: November 13-21, 2021 (excludes resort fee and taxes)*

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS

*See demashow.com for complete details.

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A SPECIAL CAUTION ABOUT UNAUTHORIZED THIRD-PARTY HOTEL VENDORS
Companies not affiliated with DEMA or DEMA Show are actively approaching DEMA exhibitors and attendees with offerings of attractive rates on hotel rooms, attendee/registrant lists and other services. DEMA Exhibitors and Attendees are duly warned that services not affiliated with DEMA or DEMA Show could be fraudulent. Companies engaging in fraudulent activity often have hidden costs and may “bait and switch” attendees or exhibitors into hotel rooms they never booked.

Of course, these companies are in no way affiliated with DEMA Show 2021, or the official contractors or hotels in Las Vegas. They troll the internet and association websites looking for annual events and then gain access to email addresses for direct contact or draw attendees to their websites posing as DEMA’s sanctioned contractor/housing provider. Do not give them your credit card information!

If you are contacted by anyone asking if you need a service or room reservation for DEMA Show 2021, or if they represent themselves as "DEMA's official housing providers or contractors," please get as much information as you can, then contact DEMA Show at info@demashow.com.

Help DEMA keep your hotel costs down for DEMA Show by booking within DEMA's official hotel block.

Submit Your Nominations for the 2021 Diving Community Champion Awards

The Diving Community Champions Awards Program recognizes the good works of DEMA-Member companies and showcases the recreational diving community to the general public. All DEMA-Member companies are eligible to submit a nomination to recognize other DEMA Members, and honorees will be recognized at the Annual Membership Meeting taking place on November 17, 2021 during DEMA Show 2021 in Las Vegas, NV.

Nominations for the Diving Community Champion Awards are being accepted until September 17, 2021.

Learn more and submit a nomination!

DEMA Show is ON! Latest News about DEMA Show

With COVID cases in the United States recently increasing due to the delta variant, DEMA is staying informed and knowledgeable of the evolving situation.

With the U.S. working on plans to reopen borders and some experts predicting a steep decline of the delta variant in September, DEMA remains optimistic and is continuing plans for the Show.

DEMA Show 2021 is still set to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV this November 16-19 (Tuesday–Friday).

The Show will follow the latest local guidelines and enforce the proper protocols and safety measures deemed appropriate at that time.