McLEAN, Va. -

In what the dealer association calls an indication of auto recovery and a harbinger for economic progress, registration numbers for the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Expo are expected to hit a four-year high and eclipse 20,000 attendees.

Registration rates are up 20 percent year-over-year and exhibit sales have climbed 30 percent, NADA indicated, pointing out that there are 450 exhibitors.

Moreover, the conference is scheduled for Feb. 3–6 in Las Vegas; and six hotels in town are already completely booked.

“The NADA convention is considered the automotive industry event of the year. It’s also considered a bellwether of the economy,” said Stephen Pitt, NADA’s vice president of conventions and expositions. “We haven’t seen these kinds of numbers since before the economic collapse in 2008. But now the economy is on the mend. New car and truck sales are steadily improving, and dealers are preparing for brighter days ahead.”

The upcoming conference features a wide array of keynote speaking, including Chrysler/Fiat chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne. It also is the first time that NADA will hold its convention in conjunction with the American Truck Dealers Convention & Expo.

There are 38 dealer franchise meetings at the combined conferences and seven OEMS — the Big 3, Toyota, Kia, Mitsubishi and Subaru — will have exhibits set up.

There will also be more than 50 workshops via NADA University for dealers and their managers as well as other events.

For more information or to register, visit www.nadaconventionandexpo.org.