DEMA Activates Disaster Assistance Program to Aid Those Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

** Funds Available to Assist DEMA Member Exhibitors and Buyers of DEMA Show™ 2025 **

San Diego, CA (October 29, 2025) – The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Executive Committee has approved the activation of DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program to assist DEMA-Member Show Exhibitors and Buyers in designated disaster areas impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

“DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to DEMA Member Exhibitors at DEMA Show 2025 who are located in declared disaster areas following Hurricane Melissa, to aid them in getting to and exhibiting at DEMA Show 2025,” said Tom Ingram, President and CEO of DEMA.  “One registered ‘Buyer’ from each DEMA-Member operation located in these designated disaster areas and staying in the DEMA hotel block is also eligible for funds to assist in attending DEMA Show so they can buy the products and services they need to keep their businesses in operation.”

DEMA has earmarked disaster assistance funds specifically for affected DEMA-Member exhibitors and registered buyers located in the designated disaster areas impacted by Hurricane Melissa, including:

  • Bahamas
  • Dominican Republic
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Turks and Caicos

EXHIBITOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program funds are available to DEMA-Member Exhibitors who were fully paid for their contracted exhibit space by 5:00 PM Pacific time, September 22, 2025, and physically located within the aforementioned designated disaster areas impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Qualifying exhibitors are eligible to receive disaster assistance funds based on their exhibit space size. For-profit exhibitors are eligible for $400 US per contracted 10×10 exhibit space and non-profit exhibitors paying the DEMA-Member non-profit rate are eligible for $100 per 10×10 space.

Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum available from the DEMA disaster assistance fund.

All interested parties must apply for the assistance funds on site at DEMA Show in Orlando, FL by visiting DEMA Central (Booth #421) prior to the close of the Show at 5:00 pm on Friday, November 14, 2025.

BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

One registered “Buyer” from each DEMA-Member organization located in the impacted area is eligible for assistance when they are staying in the official DEMA Show hotel block (Rosen Centre or Days Inn). Eligible Buyers can be reimbursed at the base rate for one night’s stay in the hotel. The individual must be registered as a “Buyer” (as defined by DEMA) for DEMA Show 2025 and be booked in the DEMA hotel block prior to midnight Pacific Time on November 13, 2025. DEMA will reimburse the Buyer for the DEMA hotel block base price of one hotel night stay (single occupancy), regardless of the actual rate paid.

Buyers applying for assistance must provide a copy of the receipt for the DEMA Block hotel stay to the DEMA Office by 5:00 PM Pacific time on December 4, 2025.

All funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum of the allotted DEMA disaster assistance fund. Exhibitors are not eligible for hotel reimbursement assistance under this program but can receive Exhibitor Assistance as described above.

For more complete details and disbursement information and to obtain an assistance request form, visit DEMA Central in Booth (Booth #421) at DEMA Show 2025 in Orlando, FL.

DEMA’s Disaster Assistance Program was first created in 2004 and has been used when DEMA-Member companies are impacted by natural disasters, which may interfere with their ability to promote their businesses, products, services, and destinations at DEMA Show.

The annual DEMA Show, the largest trade-only event in the world for companies doing business in the scuba diving, ocean water sports, and adventure/dive travel industries, attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world.  In addition to providing an arena to conduct business and network, DEMA Show offers participants the most extensive educational opportunities in the industry, including DEMA-Sponsored education and exhibitor-sponsored seminars from participating manufacturers, travel destinations, dive certification organizations, and more. DEMA Show 2025 will take place November 11-14, 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. DEMA Show is produced by DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, an international, non-profit trade association with the mission of bringing businesses together to grow the diving industry worldwide. Funds raised through DEMA Show and membership revenue support programs that directly benefit the recreational diving industry. Learn more about DEMA Show at DEMAShow.com and follow DEMA Show on Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter. DEMA Show™ is a trademark of the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.