DAN News
DEMA & DEMA Manufacturers Launch Hurricane Relief Fund
Last Updated: 9/22/2004 9:57:12 AM

With many DEMA Show 2004 travel and destination exhibitors impacted by the recent string of hurricanes including Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne and Karl, DEMA and the DEMA member manufacturers have launched a relief fund.

"As a result of the damages sustained from these storms many travel and destination companies may have difficulty exhibiting at DEMA Show," said Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. "Especially during critical times like these, these businesses need to promote their operations to the diving community. DEMA Show 2004 is important to this promotion, and DEMA recognizes that the financial hardship of this situation may make such promotions difficult.

"Through this fund, DEMA is doing what we can to assist destination businesses in telling the diving community that they are still booking trips and serving customers. Under these circumstances, there is no better way for DEMA to fulfill its mission of promoting diving businesses."

Who Qualifies for the Relief:

The fund will provide assistance to those travel and destination companies exhibiting at DEMA Show 2004 that sustained damages as a result of the recent hurricanes and who may need help exhibiting at the Show. It also includes a special provision for companies who sustained sufficient damage as to make it impossible to exhibit in their original Show configuration. Affected areas include the Lesser Antilles, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Florida, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Cancun, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

How to Apply:

Travel and destination exhibitors from affected areas that have paid in full as of Sept. 17, 2004 may apply for these funds directly through the DEMA office prior to the close of business on Oct. 8, 2004. Applications can be downloaded online by visiting http://www.dema.org. To request additional information or to receive an application via fax, you may call Erika Caudillo at the DEMA Office at +1-858-616-6408.

How Much Exhibitors Will Receive:

The amount of relief an exhibitor can receive will be based on their contracted and paid exhibit space size. For each 10 x 10 ft. travel/destination exhibit space, DEMA will provide the applicant company with $400 to assist them in participating in DEMA Show 2004. Funds will be awarded at the Show for those that apply.

How the Fund is Financed:

The relief fund has been generously provided by DEMA member manufacturers. The "Manufacturer's Fund" is a discretionary account through which the Manufacturer's Committee helps finance many of DEMA's Industry-wide promotions. Such projects as the Scuba Tour, the recent DEMA Stakeholder meetings, and the DEMA PowerUp Seminar series exist due to the financial support from the Manufacturer's Committee. <