LAS VEGAS — Those planning to head to the American Financial Services Association’s 16th Annual Vehicle Finance Conference and Exposition might want to make hotel reservations this weekend, at the latest.

AFSA reminded attendees this week that the Las Vegas Bellagio, the site of the conference, will no longer offer the special group rate after this coming Monday.

The discounted rate is $249 plus tax for single or double occupancy rooms.

To book rooms, call the hotel at (888) 987-6667 and mention the AFSA 2012 Vehicle Finance Conference to receive this special room rate.

“The room block always fills up before the registration deadline, so call as soon as possible to ensure availability,” AFSA officials stressed.

The 16th AFSA Vehicle Finance Conference & Exposition is the first event of the year for the vehicle finance industry and will be held in conjunction with NADA’s Convention and Exposition, also in Las Vegas.

The conference is scheduled for Feb. 1–3.

The AFSA conference will include one of its most popular sessions — the Industry CEO Panel — which will feature chairman and chief executive officer of TD Auto Finance Thomas Gilman, as well as the president of Bank of America's Dealer Financial Services division John Hyatt, to name a few.

“Leading vehicle finance CEOs will discuss the challenges facing the industry and what they expect in 2012 and beyond,” officials noted of the panel that will also include Marc Sheinbaum, president and CEO of Chase Auto Finance, and Andrew Stuart, president and CEO of Volkswagen Credit.

The three-day event will also feature presentations such as “Myths vs. Reality: Financing Military Members and Veterans,” presented by Ann Bybee, vice president of Toyota Financial Services, and a NADA Leadership Panel, titled "Top Issues for Dealers in 2012."

AFSA Members and Staff Attend CFPB Military “Financial Fitness Forum”

In other news frm AFSA, members and staff recently attended a military “Financial Fitness Forum” in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 13., which was convened by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs.

The forum, which brought together policymakers, senior representatives of the military service branches and financial institutions, was designed in an effort to “foster an ongoing dialogue with financial services providers that serve military personnel and their families, and an opportunity to learn about products and services currently offered to or used by this population,” the CFPB noted.

The day-long event included panels on the personal financial readiness of the military force, products and services tailored to military personnel and their families and responding to the needs of the military consumer

What were some of the topics discussed by panelists?

Attendees and panelists expressed a desire to “improve financial literacy among service members, while casting doubt upon the willingness of the Department of Defense to invest in financial education,” officials noted.

It was also decided upon, in general agreement, that programming should be delivered in “smaller bites” and more frequently, and that it should be mandatory for new recruits.

Though the day provided a forum to exchange knowledge about the unique financial needs of military consumers, AFSA officials expressed worries that its usefulness was limited by the fact that the audience was not permitted to ask the panelists questions.