CARY, N.C. -

Cherokee Media Group responded to guidance from local and federal health experts as well as other event orchestrators about the increased risk associated with COVID-19 and rescheduled the Automotive Intelligence Summit; the in-person conference bringing together leading executives and entrepreneurs to discuss ideas and trends associated with mobility and connectivity, fintech solutions and digital retailing.

The event still will be conducted in Raleigh, N.C., but shifting to Aug. 17-19 from the originally slated timeframe of April 14-16. Cherokee Media Group president Bill Zadeits explained the company’s methodology for making the move.

“I’d like to state clearly that we are taking concerns about COVID-19 (commonly known as Coronavirus) very seriously,” Zadeits said. “The health and safety of our clients and their families, as well as our team and their families, is our top priority.

“Our team is closely following the CDC’s official Interim Guidance for Event Planners and the PCMA’s (Professional Convention Management Association) COVID-19 resource page for the most accurate, relevant and updated information and will be making the necessary and appropriate changes for our event to ensure a safe and successful meeting for all of us,” he went on to say.

The change involving AIS 2020 coincided with other industry events being forced into modifications, including organizers of the Conference of Automotive Remarketing postponing the 2020 CAR Conference, originally scheduled for later this month in Las Vegas, as well as the American Recovery Association moving the North American Repossessors Summit to the beginning of October.

“Our team possessing more than a dozen years of wide-ranging experience ensures that we can navigate extreme challenges when hosting our industry-leading events,” said Marilu McQuilkin, Cherokee Media Group’s senior director of marketing and events. “Our pledge is to orchestrate the Automotive Intelligence Summit with the same excellence the industry has come to know with our other events, including Auto Remarketing Canada, Women & Automotive and Used Car Week.”

All registrations, sponsorships and speakers for the Automotive Intelligence Summit will convey the new dates of Aug. 17-19. Because of the date shift, early bird discounts to the Automotive Intelligence Summit have been extended until July 17.

Should there be any scheduling conflicts, Cherokee Media Group will work diligently with impacted individuals and companies to smooth challenges as much as possible.

McQuilkin also noted that anyone who already made hotel reservations with the Crabtree Valley Marriot in Raleigh, N.C., in the room block connected with the Auto Intelligence Summit will automatically have those arrangements canceled. There is no need for individuals to call the hotel to make the cancelation.

Furthermore, McQuilkin said Cherokee Media Group made a new hotel registration link available, keeping the original discounted rate intact for AIS 2020.

“We are excited about the great speaker lineup and energy that is building around this event, the new business opportunities, the new people we’ll meet and the new things we will all learn,” Zadeits said.

For the latest information about the Automotive Intelligence Summit, visit www.autointelsummit.com