Why the LA Auto Show Is About More Than Just New Cars with Andy Steinhauser

What do cruise ships and car dealerships have in common? More than you'd think, especially when it comes to making people feel welcome. Andy Steinhauser, Director of Sponsorship and Business Development for the LA Auto Show, joins Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo to share how nearly nine years working on cruise ships shaped his approach to hospitality, leadership, and creating memorable experiences. From managing an 85-person team at sea to helping bring one of America's largest auto shows to life, Andy has learned a thing or two about getting people excited. The conversation starts with four simple hospitality standards from Andy's Royal Caribbean days: greet and smile, own the problem, look the part, and deliver the wow. The guys dig into what those principles could mean for automotive retail before turning their attention to Automobility LA and the opportunities it creates for dealers, automakers, and industry partners to connect. They also get into the changing automotive landscape, the balance between EVs, hybrids, and gas-powered vehicles, and why getting people into the same room still matters in a relationship-driven industry. Plus, Paul and Kyle share what surprised them most about attending Automobility LA for the first time, and the crew debates whether working at a dealership is basically like being stuck on a cruise ship. Timestamped Takeaways 00:00 – Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo 02:21 – Andy's unexpected path from Georgia to cruise ships 04:35 – Becoming a cruise director at 28 05:47 – What cruise ships teach us about automotive hospitality 09:10 – How Automobility LA brings the industry together 12:46 – Why dealers should experience the competition firsthand 14:17 – The unexpected value of being in the right room 16:51 – Creating experiences beyond traditional sponsorships 19:49 – Finding the balance between EVs, hybrids, and gas vehicles 21:32 – How auto shows help drive dealership sales 23:02 – Connecting ASOTUCON West and Automobility LA 24:53 – Is working at a dealership basically a cruise ship? Links LA Auto Show and Automobility LA: https://laautoshow.com/media-and-industry-day/ ASOTU CON West: https://asotuconwest.com/ Andy Steinhauser: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysteinhauser/ More Auto Collabs: https://daily.asotu.com/auto-collabs Subscribe to the Automotive State of the Union Daily Email: https://daily.asotu.com/