The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Executive Committee has approved the activation of DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program to assist DEMA-Member Show Exhibitors and Buyers in Florida impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to DEMA Member Exhibitors at DEMA Show 2024 who are located in declared disaster areas following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, to aid them in getting to and exhibiting at DEMA Show 2024,” said Tom Ingram, President and CEO of DEMA. “Registered DEMA-Member ‘Buyers’ from these disaster areas staying in the DEMA hotel block are also eligible for funds to assist in attending DEMA Show so they can buy the products and services they need to keep their businesses in operation.”
DEMA has earmarked disaster assistance funds specifically for affected DEMA-Member exhibitors and registered buyers located in counties impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Hurricane Helene
While other states received substantial rain and wind, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicates that only Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina were declared as “Major Disaster Areas.” Using the FEMA declaration as a guide, DEMA is offering disaster assistance for Members and Exhibitors in the Major Disaster Areas affected by Helene
Hurricane Milton
DEMA is also offering disaster assistance for Members and Exhibitors in the Florida counties where Milton struck as a Category 3 hurricane, and as indicated by disaster designation
Buyer Assistance Program
Impacted DEMA Member attendees registered as “Buyers” for DEMA Show 2024 and who are staying in the official DEMA Show hotel block (Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel) can be reimbursed at the base rate for one night’s stay in the hotel. The individual must be registered as a “Buyer” (as defined by DEMA) for DEMA Show 2024 and be booked in the DEMA hotel block prior to midnight Pacific time, November 21, 2024. DEMA will reimburse the buyer for the DEMA hotel block base price of one hotel night stay (single occupancy) regardless of the actual rate paid.
Buyers applying for assistance must provide a copy of the receipt for the DEMA Block hotel stay to the DEMA Office by 5:00 PM Pacific time on December 5, 2024.
All funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum of the allotted DEMA disaster assistance fund. Exhibitors are not eligible for hotel reimbursement assistance under this program but can receive Exhibitor Assistance as described above.
For more complete details and disbursement information and to obtain an assistance request form, visit DEMA Central in Booth #5233 at DEMA Show 2024 in Las Vegas, NV.
DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program was first created in 2004 and has been used when DEMA-Member companies are impacted by natural disasters, which may interfere with their ability to promote their businesses, products, services, and destinations at DEMA Show.