Ah, New Orleans. The land of Bourbon Street, beignets, and world-famous Hurricane cocktails. But when NADA 2025 rolled into town last week, it brought something the city never sees: snow. Yes, snow. If you can believe it, a snowstorm hit Louisiana just days before the biggest event in automotive retail kicked off. Flights were canceled left and right, highways closed, and everyone scrambled to find a way, any way, to get to New Orleans. What followed was a comedy of errors that featured snowstorms, cancelled flights, Denny's, and a surprising amount of powdered sugar. This is a story of perseverance, camaraderie, and, well, some questionable meals.
The Journey From Chaos to Crawfish
Our team’s adventure began like most great travel stories with a 5 a.m. flight canceled at 10 p.m. the night before with no chance of getting a rebooking. Some of us were rerouted through four different cities before landing in Baton Rouge on Thursday morning, where Bruce, the MVP with a carry-on, saved the day by driving us the rest of the way to New Orleans. With highways closed and only summer tires on the rental, we took the back roads, making a two-hour drive into a 3.5-hour slog. By the time we arrived, we were barely functioning zombies shambling toward the promise of sleep. Meanwhile, Maury, our fearless CEO, had his own odyssey. After a canceled flight from Calgary to Atlanta, he tried everything. After flight cancellations, car rental dead ends, a ridiculously priced one-way flight, and even a cancelled bus (yes, a bus), Maury finally waved the white flag. Every single plan fell through. When his final flight was canceled, Maury threw in the towel and headed back home. I think he said it best: “I felt like Tom Hanks in The Terminal”. Adventures in New Orleans Cuisine If there’s one thing that bonds weary travelers, it’s a 2 a.m. Denny’s run. The team shared some great moments swapping stories over late-night pancakes before hitting the hay. After catching some much-needed Zs, we decided to reward ourselves with dinner at New Orleans’ top-rated restaurant. Spoiler alert: it was... not good. Something we take for granted is insulation and heating during the winter in a public restaurant. Well, when palm trees grow, planning for snow and icy weather isn’t the norm. Maybe we were tired and grumpy, but a freezing dining room and lackluster food, didn’t exactly scream “culinary delight.” It was when the waitress started pushing us to give a 5-star Google review that we realized THAT’S why they were so highly rated. A solid 5/10 experience. For the rest of the trip, we dove headfirst into New Orleans cuisine. Crawfish, alligator, turtle, redfish, and beignets….oh so many beignets. But by Saturday, most of us had reached the carb-and-protein limit and were practically begging for vegetables. Our VP Jane’s solution? A wedge salad. It’s pretty much just lettuce. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do.
The Conference That Almost Wasn't
With more than 50% of dealers unable to make it due to weather, NADA was quieter than usual. Still, we managed to find some great value. The true highlight of the conference? The meetings. Even though the weather made the logistics nice and interesting, the meetings were fantastic. Dealers loved the 1:1 time with our team, and the conversations felt meaningful and personal. The NADA buzz may have been quieter this year, but it reminded us of something important: it’s not always about the flashy booths or packed schedules. Sometimes, it’s about showing up, rolling with the punches, and sharing experiences. Whether at a dealership, a diner, or a freezing restaurant. “They’ll remember these meetings, not the ten booths they stopped at,” one of our team members noted. And Canada Night? It was definitely a different feel this year with fewer attendees, but we had a great chance to connect and speak with other vendors and dealers, making the most out of the time we had during the event. Snow and planned parties just don’t mix.
Final Thoughts
NADA 2025 will undoubtedly go down as one for the books. Not for the snowstorm or the logistical nightmares, but for the shared stories, laughter, and the sheer determination to make it happen. And while New Orleans may not have wowed us with its #1 restaurant, it did win us over with its resilience, its beignets, and its unforgettable charm. Here’s to making the most of every adventure, no matter how wild the journey gets. See you at the next one (hopefully with fewer flight cancellations).
