The 2026 Mazda Brand Summit brought together 500 Mazda dealership leaders to discuss forward-thinking strategies, tools, and inspiration to elevate their local marketing efforts while embodying the spirit of Omotenashi, Mazda’s core commitment to exceptional customer care. The conference was designed to immerse attendees the brand, showing them first-hand how Mazda would like their commitment to customer service to trickle down to the dealership and customer level. 

Hosted at Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center, Arlington, TX, the summit provided dealers and marketing leaders the opportunity to explore the evolving landscape of retail marketing through engaging keynotes, hands-on workshops and curated experiences.

Hit Play and Benchmark designed and fabricated three unique session experiences: The General Session stage featured an 84” widescreen flanked by sophisticated, rich wood stage wings and backlit Mazda logos. In the breakout rooms, attendees sat in the round, with a central circular stage followed by a stadium seating set, designed to emulate a talk show experience and encourage audience participation. Beyond the sessions, the team curated hospitality and lounge vignettes throughout the venue and a full branding and signage package.

On the final evening, attendees were treated to an offsite dinner at the National Medal of Honor Museum, featuring vintage Mazda cars and Japanese bartenders, servicing sake, whiskey and delighting the crowd with made-to-order ice carving.