ARLINGTON, Texas -

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association is planning a Texas-sized celebration for its 75th anniversary.

The association announced on Friday that it will return to an in-person NIADA Convention and Expo after a year of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 75th annual NIADA Convention and Expo will be conducted on Aug. 23-26 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

The association explained that it shifted the event from its traditional June dates for safety reasons. According to current estimates cited by NIADA, every American adult will have access to a COVID vaccination by the end of May.

While Texas no longer mandates COVID restrictions, NIADA said it will follow whatever protocols and precautions are necessary to ensure the well-being of convention attendees.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome our members back to the in-person experience that has been so popular over the years,” NIADA chief executive officer Robert Voltmann said in a news release. “This opens up so many education opportunities for independent vehicle dealers.”

The association highlighted those education opportunities will include sessions organized in three tracks — retail, buy-here, pay-here and service — as well as a new offering.

NIADA is launching a series of 20-minute single-topic micro-sessions called the Service Bay, which, Voltmann said, “will allow us to exponentially increase the number of topics we can address.”

As in the past, the association indicated the NIADA Convention and Expo also will include special events, awards and an expo hall featuring exhibitors offering the latest products and services to help dealers operate more efficiently, leverage technology, find finance sources, grow their business and stay ahead of the competition.

Furthermore, NIADA pointed out the convention venue is easily accessible from San Antonio’s famed River Walk and its restaurants and attractions, as well as the association’s headquarters hotel — the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter.

Future updates and more information will be coming soon and posted on niadaconvention.com.