Carwash Con East posts record 423 exhibits ahead of Atlantic City show
The rebranded East Coast convention, formerly the Northeast Regional Carwash Convention, says its show floor and pre-registration numbers are both up for the October event.
By The Car Wash News Staff
3 min read
Carwash Con East, the East Coast convention formerly known as the Northeast Regional Carwash Convention, says it has hit an all-time high for exhibitor participation ahead of its October dates in Atlantic City. With about two weeks to go before the show, the event had grown its floor to 423 exhibits, according to reporting from Car Wash Business Center.
The convention runs October 5 through 7 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, with the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino serving as the host hotel. Organizers said only a few booths remained available, and the deadline to register off site was October 1. Co-Chair Mike Ashley said pre-registration numbers are also up, crediting board and staff work on both the exhibit hall and the education program.
A rebrand paying off
The show dropped the NRCC name earlier in 2026 as part of a rebrand that expanded its stated focus to carwash operators across the entire East Coast. Show Co-Chair Dave DuGoff tied the record directly to that shift, saying the organization has rebranded, expanded its reach and continued to elevate its education. The 2026 edition is hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Carwash Association, one of four regional associations that jointly produce the event alongside groups from New Jersey, New England and New York. The convention traces its roots to 1988, when it was first held in Newport, Rhode Island.
Education and networking lineup
Organizers are promoting an expanded slate of speakers and seminars, including programming aimed specifically at managers. Highlights include a keynote from Harley-Davidson's Ken Schmidt on market dominance and a session from Southwest Airlines' Tony Brigmon on service and employee engagement. Other sessions cover high-performing wash habits, AI-driven search visibility, and two tracks focused on self-service operations. Two dedicated manager tracks address sales and coaching strategies, and the traditional Early Bird panel returns.
The Virtual Carwash Tour also returns, and this year it is open to every attendee. The tour features four different wash models, giving attendees a behind-the-scenes view of varied operations without leaving the convention center.
Why it matters for operators
Regional shows like this one remain a practical, lower-cost alternative to the national conventions for operators who want to compare equipment, evaluate vendors and pick up operational ideas close to home. A record exhibit count means more suppliers in one room, which gives operators more leverage to shop technology, chemistry and service contracts side by side before making capital decisions.
The programming mix is worth noting for owners thinking about staffing and retention. Dedicated manager tracks on sales and coaching, plus sessions on service culture and employee engagement, target the frontline management gaps that drive labor turnover and inconsistent customer experience. Sessions on AI search visibility also point to a shift in how washes get found by local customers, an area many operators still underinvest in.
For operators who could not attend, the record turnout signals healthy vendor interest in the East Coast market and suggests the rebrand has broadened the show's draw. Those planning for next year should watch how the expanded regional focus affects both exhibitor rosters and the depth of the education program, since that will shape whether the event stays a useful annual stop for buying and benchmarking.
