Modern Retailing Conference 2026 (MRC) in Palm Beach: agenda, tickets and hotels
Everything you need for MRC 2026 in one place: the agenda by day, ticket prices, where to stay and the Built on the Lot AI Showdown. Heading home with AI on your list? See HelloRamp.ai take a car from lot to listing in under 5 minutes, on your own inventory, in a 20-minute online demo.
MRC 2026 at a glance
The Modern Retailing Conference 2026 runs Sunday, November 15 to Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in the Palm Beach area of Florida. Organized by Pasch Group, it gives dealership leaders three days of retail strategy, AI and innovation across 60+ speakers and 30+ sessions, plus training labs and a live AI Showdown for dealer-built tools.
- Dates
- Sun, Nov 15 – Tue, Nov 17, 2026
- Venue
- Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, 100 S Ocean Blvd, Manalapan, FL 33462
- Organizer
- Pasch Group
- Program
- 60+ speakers, 30+ sessions, training labs, AI Showdown
- Website
- modernretailingconference.com
- Tickets
- Dealer and OEM $795 · Virtual $250 (as of Nov 14)
- Airport
- Palm Beach International (PBI), about 15 minutes
About the event
What is the Modern Retailing Conference?
The Modern Retailing Conference (MRC) is a three-day event on high-impact retailing strategies for automotive leaders who want to grow dealership sales, service and return on investment. The 2026 program brings 60+ speakers and 30+ sessions across keynotes, panels, flash talks, hands-on workshops and training labs.
This year one theme runs through almost everything: AI moving from pilots to production. Sessions cover AI in dealership operations, who owns the data (CRM, CDP and DMS), AI-driven marketing and websites, visibility in AI search, inventory health, used EVs and fixed ops.
MRC is organized by Pasch Group, whose founder Brian Pasch hosts the event. Dan Moore, an author and TEDx speaker with 25+ years in automotive digital marketing, is Master of Ceremonies for 2026.
- Event
- Modern Retailing Conference 2026 (MRC)
- Dates
- November 15–17, 2026 (Sunday to Tuesday)
- Venue
- Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, 100 S Ocean Blvd, Manalapan, FL 33462
- Organizer
- Pasch Group
- Format
- In person, plus a Virtual Content Access Pass for recordings
Agenda
MRC 2026 agenda: what's happening each day?
Sessions announced so far. All times are Eastern. Sessions can move, so check the official agenda for the full, current schedule.
- 8:30–11:30 AMTraining labs: Building Database Applications with Claude and Supabase · Building Autonomous Retail Workflows with Claude · Beginning with the End in Mind (from 9:00 AM). Separate sign-up.
- Conference kickoff, Ballroom
- Keynote: Building the Data Foundation for AI Success
- Keynote: Inventory Health: The Next Competitive Advantage
- Workshops: The Service Opportunities Playbook · The Future of Automotive · Build It, Measure It, Prove It: A CTV Strategy Workshop
- Panel: Who Controls the Customer Conversation?
- Panel: Balancing AI Efficiency with Meaningful Customer Interactions
- Flash talk: The Used EV Wave
- Keynote: Finding Opportunity in the Conversion Gap
- Cocktail hour, Exhibit Hall
- Breakfast, Ballroom
- Keynote: The Final Boss of Dealership Software
- Keynote: The ROI of AI: Investing in AI That Pays Back
- Also todayManaging the AI Transformation · Build or Buy? · AI Is the Interface · Relationships and Data: Who Is the System of Record? · an AI search keynote · The Streaming Reset · a panel on modern retail websites with AI and first-party data
- End of dayCocktail hour
- MorningBreakfast
- AnnouncedReimagining Retail: emerging technologies in vehicle sales
- MiddayLunch and closing sessions
Agenda compiled from the official MRC agenda, as of November 14, 2026. Day two and day three times not shown here had not been published. Training labs need advance sign-up and dealers get priority; every other session is open to all ticket holders.
New for 2026
What is the Built on the Lot AI Showdown?
New at MRC 2026, the Built on the Lot AI Showdown rewards the best AI tool built by a dealership's own team. The winner takes home $5,000 cash and a trophy.
Finalists compete at the conference and attendees vote live. It's one of the clearest signs of where the industry is heading: dealers building their own AI, not just buying it.
Also new for 2026: the AutoTech Founders Lab for automotive technology founders and executives, and an event app (listed as coming soon).
- Who could enter: tools built by a dealership's or dealer group's own team. Vendor, agency and white-labeled products were excluded.
- What qualified: working tools in active use, back office (inventory, accounting, service scheduling, reporting) or customer facing (chat, follow-up, appointment setting).
- Status: entries closed October 30, 2026. Finalists compete live at MRC.
Who attends
Who goes to the Modern Retailing Conference?
MRC is built for dealership leaders who want strategies they can use the following Monday morning.
- Dealer principals and executives, general managers and general sales managers
- Department leaders: sales, BDC, fixed ops, marketing, digital retail, HR, desk and internet
- OEM teams and industry partners
- RV and powersports dealers, alongside the core automotive audience
Tickets
How much are MRC 2026 tickets?
Tickets are on sale through the official site. Prices as of November 14, 2026:
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer | $795 | Must be a dealer |
| OEM | $795 | Must be a manufacturer |
| Allied industry | Ended | Sales closed |
| Virtual Content Access Pass | $250 | Recordings and decks, 180 days |
- Included in person: all sessions for three days, two breakfasts, two lunches, coffee breaks and cocktail hours
- Dealer Group Bundle: $300 off each ticket when you buy four, code DEALERGROUP
Venue and travel
Where is MRC 2026, and where should I stay?
MRC 2026 is at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, 100 S Ocean Blvd, Manalapan, FL 33462: an oceanfront resort just south of Palm Beach with pools, private beach access, on-site dining and the Eau Spa.
- Palm Beach International (PBI): about 15 minutes by car
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL): about 40 minutes
- Miami International (MIA): about 1 hour 15 minutes
- Parking: on-site valet at a per-night rate, or a self-parking lot across the street
Hotel details from the official MRC hotel page, as of November 14, 2026.
Networking
What networking is there at MRC 2026?
Speakers and attendees mix freely at MRC, and most of the best conversations happen between sessions.
Cocktail hours
At the end of days one and two, starting with the day one reception in the Exhibit Hall.
Sun and Mon eveningsBreakfasts and lunches
Included with an in-person ticket, plus coffee breaks throughout.
Included with ticketTraining labs
Three-hour, small-group labs on building with AI. Limited seats, dealers get priority, sign-up required.
Sunday morningSponsor dinners
Some sponsors host dinners at local restaurants. Otherwise dinner is on you, so plan your evenings early.
EveningsAI Showdown vote
Watch dealer-built AI tools go head to head and vote for the winner live.
Live voteAutoTech Founders Lab
New for 2026, for automotive technology founders and executives.
NewTips for getting the most out of MRC
- Dress business casual. Business professional or business casual is the norm.
- Lock in your training lab seat at checkout. Labs are first come, first served.
- Stay for Q&A. Sessions leave time for questions.
- Book meetings before you arrive. Three days go fast, and evenings fill with dinners.
- Bring real numbers: your days-to-frontline, photo turnaround and lead response time make every vendor conversation more useful.
After MRC
How can HelloRamp.ai put AI to work on your lot after MRC?
MRC 2026 is about AI moving from pilots to production. HelloRamp.ai is AI already in production on the lot: every car photographed, listed and published in minutes, at 200+ dealerships across the US, Canada and India.
See it run on your own car
Book a demo with a VIN or your website URL and watch capture, photobooth backgrounds and smart fixes on a real vehicle, not a canned deck.
HelloRamp Studio →Close the photo gap
Vehicles typically wait 1 to 5 days for photography. Dealers on HelloRamp.ai get that down to minutes.
Lot to listing in under 5 minutesTurn inventory into daily social
Posts, reels and Marketplace listings created from your inventory and published daily across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
HelloRamp Social →Answer leads with video
Send shoppers a personalized video reply about the exact car they asked about, in about 10 seconds.
HelloRamp Engage →Fits the stack you already run
Works with vAuto, DealerCenter, Dealer.com and DealerOn, and feeds Cars.com, CarGurus, Autotrader and Facebook Marketplace.
IntegrationsEvery image checked before it goes live
HelloTrust puts a trained reviewer on every image, so what reaches your VDPs and marketplaces is brand safe.
HelloTrust →FAQ
Modern Retailing Conference 2026: frequently asked questions
When is the Modern Retailing Conference 2026?
The Modern Retailing Conference (MRC) 2026 runs Sunday, November 15 to Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in the Palm Beach area of Florida.
Where is MRC 2026 held?
At the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, 100 S Ocean Blvd, Manalapan, FL 33462, an oceanfront resort just south of Palm Beach. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is about 15 minutes away by car.
Who organizes the Modern Retailing Conference?
The Modern Retailing Conference is organized by Pasch Group, whose founder Brian Pasch hosts the event. Dan Moore is Master of Ceremonies for 2026.
What is the official MRC website?
The official website is modernretailingconference.com, which has the agenda, speakers, tickets and hotel details. Dealer and OEM tickets are sold through Eventbrite.
How much are Modern Retailing Conference 2026 tickets?
As of November 14, 2026, Dealer and OEM tickets are $795 and the Virtual Content Access Pass is $250. Allied industry ticket sales have ended. The Dealer Group Bundle takes $300 off each ticket when you buy four, with code DEALERGROUP.
Is there a virtual option for MRC 2026?
Yes. The Virtual Content Access Pass gives 180 days of access to session recordings and presentation decks. It is sold separately from the in-person tickets.
Who should attend the Modern Retailing Conference?
Dealer principals, general managers and department leaders across sales, fixed ops, BDC, marketing, HR, desk and internet, plus OEM teams. The focus is automotive, with RV and powersports dealers also welcome.
What is the Built on the Lot AI Showdown?
A contest at MRC 2026 for AI tools built by a dealership's own team. Finalists compete at the conference, attendees vote live, and the winner receives $5,000 cash and a trophy. Entries closed on October 30, 2026.
Where should I stay for MRC 2026?
The Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is the host hotel, but its room block is listed as sold out, with very limited rooms remaining by calling the resort. Tideline Palm Beach, about 2 miles away, held an alternate block that is also full, and The Ben, Autograph Collection and the West Palm Beach Marriott are also suggested.
Which airport is closest to the Modern Retailing Conference?
Palm Beach International (PBI) is about 15 minutes from the resort by car. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is about 40 minutes away and Miami International (MIA) about 1 hour 15 minutes.
What is the dress code at MRC?
Business professional or business casual is recommended, though the organizer encourages attendees to wear whatever makes them comfortable and confident.
Are meals included with an MRC ticket?
Yes. In-person tickets include two breakfasts, two lunches, coffee breaks and cocktail hours. Other meals, including dinners, are on the attendee.
Can I see HelloRamp.ai on my own inventory during MRC week?
Yes, online. Book a 20-minute demo at helloramp.ai/demo. It runs on your own cars, not a canned deck, with weekday slots between 9am and 5pm CST.
Event details compiled from the official Modern Retailing Conference site (modernretailingconference.com). Last checked November 14, 2026. The Modern Retailing Conference is a Pasch Group event; HelloRamp.ai is not affiliated with the organizer.
Your next car, listed in minutes. See it on your own inventory.
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