ALEXANDRIA, VA. – NATSO, the trade association representing truckstops and travel plazas, announced today that it has reinvented its annual convention and trade show and that the newly redesigned NATSO Connect will kick off in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 10. The trade association has redesigned every element of its annual meeting, from the trade show floor to the name, with a single goal in mind: to create an event that will enable truckstop and travel plaza operators to not just survive but thrive amid ongoing industry disruption. The NATSO Show has been renamed to NATSO Connect to better fit its focus—forming meaningful connections for truckstop and travel plaza owners and operators and their vendors. “Considering the changes facing our industry, we want our attendees to leave our event armed with an understanding of how these changes will affect them, as well as strategies for meeting new challenges,” said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. “At NATSO Connect, with the support of industry vendors, we are creating experiences that will leave truckstop operators feeling inspired and mobilized to pursue real change,” Mullings added. This highly-focused annual meeting will combine exclusive, executive briefings with opportunities for operators to gain specific guidance on how to succeed by speaking directly with experienced operators and vendor partners. NATSO Connect lets operators problem-solve with key industry suppliers and their peers so they can grow their business. For two and a half days, this collaborative group will share insights and best practices to convert ideas into action. “The NATSO Show has always brought together vendors with the industry’s top executives, key decision makers and buyers, but this year at NATSO Connect we’re taking it a step further by integrating even more peer-to-peer discussions, a deep dive into how national retail trends are affecting travel plazas’ unique realities, and problem-solving sessions geared toward helping operators grow their business,” said Pamela Hayes, NATSO’s vice president, strategic partnerships.