It has been quite an odd and unprecedented week for the auto industry and its largest annual event.

Amid the historic snowstorm that hit New Orleans on Tuesday and hampered travel into the city for NADA Show 2025, the president and CEO of the National Automobile Dealers Association released a statement Thursday morning, providing an update on the event’s schedule and shedding light on NADA’s post-conference plans.

In a message to show attendees, NADA’s Mike Stanton said, “The entrepreneurial spirt of auto dealers and the incredible dedication of dealer advocates has never been more apparent to me than over the last few days. I know how difficult it has been for so many of you to get to New Orleans for the 2025 NADA Show. But all of us at NADA are so encouraged by how few of you have given up.

“Our focus continues to be on doing whatever we can to give everyone the best NADA Show experience possible, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Stanton said.

The convention’s welcome reception has been moved indoors to the Great Hall of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and will begin at 7 pm (CT) on Thursday.

Stanton said that attendees who have made it to New Orleans are invited to the reception, where Trombone Shorty will perform.

“I also want to give a special shout-out to our phenomenal exhibitors. Your dedication is unparalleled, and you are a true testament to everything that makes the auto retail industry so special,” Stanton said.

“And to everyone: After the Show concludes on Sunday, we will take a proper look back and make sure we do what should be done for every attendee, exhibitor, guest, etc., who was involved with and who helped make the 2025 Show one for the books,” he added.

“Lastly, I can’t stress enough the importance of downloading the Show mobile app! Understandably, the schedule continues to change, and the app is the best way to get the latest schedule of events, speakers and meetings,” Stanton said. “We are truly all in this together. And I can’t thank everyone enough for their patience and commitment to America’s franchised auto dealers. I can’t wait to see everyone on Thursday night and throughout the weekend! Travel safe.”

Meanwhile, the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) wrapped up its annual Vehicle Finance Conference on Thursday morning with the snowstorm forcing organizers to adjust as the event unfolded.

Many scheduled panelists and executives could not make it to the Big Easy, so AFSA set up virtual connections so those participants could still share their perspectives.

And AFSA also established online streaming so registrants who also could not make it to New Orleans could still absorb the information being shared about topics such as operations, customer care and artificial intelligence.

Tanya Sanders, who is executive vice president and head of Wells Fargo Auto, served as the AFSA vehicle finance committee chair leading into this week’s festivities.

“Who knew that this would be probably the most memorable conference we’d have in the past 20 years or so,” Sanders said as the event concluded. “Thank you all for being flexible and accommodating but also engaging while we’ve been here at this event, taking the opportunity to spend time with our business partners who have put in the effort and the investment to be here in the exhibit hall.

“I want to thank the AFSA staff and team for always being great partners and planning great content for this event but helping to make sure that the event flows smoothly, especially when you have unexpected outcomes like this with the weather,” Sanders added