Emergency funds have been made available to Assist DEMA Member Exhibitors and Buyers of DEMA Show 2024 that have been affected by the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton
The US Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Executive Committee has said it will provide assistance to DEMA Members in Florida affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Emergency funds will be granted through the organisation’s Disaster Assistance Programme, created in 2004 to help members impacted by natural disasters that might prevent them from promoting their businesses at DEMA Show.
‘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. Â
‘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.’
Exhibitor assistance
DEMA says its Disaster Assistance funds are available to DEMA Show exhibitors who are DEMA Members and have paid in full for their exhibit space by 5 pm Pacific time on September 23, 2024.
They must also be physically located within the counties impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as per the list on DEMA’s official website.
Exhibitors who meet the criteria are eligible to receive disaster assistance funds based on their exhibit space size, which amounts to USD$400 per 10x10ft of space for business exhibitors, and $100 per 10×10 space for not-for-profit exhibitors.
The funds will be awarded to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants at DEMA Show 2024 in Las Vegas. Applications must be submitted to DEMA Central (booth #5233 at the show) prior to 5 pm on Friday, 22 November.
Buyer assistance
DEMA Members registered as ‘Buyers’ for DEMA Show 2024, and who are staying in the official DEMA Show hotels  (Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino and Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel) can apply to be reimbursed the hotel’s base price for one night’s stay, as long as they have booked before midnight Pacific time on 21 November.
Buyers applying for assistance must also provide a copy of the receipt for the hotel stay to the DEMA Office by 5pm Pacific time on 5 December 2024.
For more details visit the DEMA Show website, and to obtain a request form head to DEMA Central (booth #5233) at the 2024 show in Las Vegas, which runs from 19-22 November.
