The professional carwashing and detailing industry gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, May 9-11 for The Car Wash Show™ 2016, hosted by the International Carwash Association (ICA) in partnership with the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) and the Western Carwash Association (WCA). The event, which was held in the new Music City Center, was heavily attended and busy.

According to the association’s preliminary, unaudited numbers: total attendance for the first day of the show (May 9) was over 7,600 attendees — ICA’s largest show since 2007; more than 1,800 attendees signed up for an All Access Pass; and over 9,500 carwash locations were represented at this year’s event. These figures were reported after only the first day of the show.*

Registration lines were long, the exhibit floor was packed and the buzz and energy were real.

“As I mentioned, 2015 and now 2016 have been great times for carwashing,” said Eric Wulf, ICA’s CEO, at this year’s event. “We hear about folks setting records on the operator side and suppliers as well; and ICA has been much the same in terms of membership and attendance at our shows, and it’s all because of you in this room.”

On Tuesday morning at the State of the Industry Breakfast/Presentation and Keynote Presentation, Wulf and Fred O’Neill, ICA’s current president, addressed a crowd of members and attendees.

In addition to laying out the association’s five strategic goals for the coming year, two members of the professional carwashing industry were recognized. Tom D’Eri, chief operating officer and co-founder of Rising Tide Car Wash, received the Community Service Leadership award, and Bob Hodge was entered into ICA’s Car Wash Hall of Fame.

“It is my pleasure today to present the Community Service Leadership award,” said O’Neill. “This is the first time that we have presented this award since 2008; and, frankly, we could not have found a more fitting person.”

“From philosopher to carwash equipment innovator to operator, Bob Hodge has become a legend in the industry,” explained O’Neill while presenting the Car Wash Hall of Fame award.

For more information on the show and these awards, please visit www.carwash.org/thecarwashshow/video/2016-car-wash-network-at-the-car-wash-show.

The Car Wash Show 2017 will be held April 4-6, 2017, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Below are some photos from this year’s event.