PHOTO COURTESY CHICAGO BOAT CO. The Seattle Boat Show marked its 75th anniversary and wrapped up another successful nine-day run last Saturday. Meanwhile, an all-new in-water show is set to premiere in the Emerald City in April.
“The return of our in-person show this year confirmed once again that boaters in the Pacific Northwest love our shows,” said George Harris, president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association. “While the 30,000-plus attendance was a decrease from our last in-person show in 2020, we fully anticipated it due to Covid. Still, once again our exhibitors were able to be face to face with such a large number of qualified customers and prospects, and that’s every show’s goal.
“The public’s excitement about the show’s return was palpable,” he added. “Lines of visitors formed well ahead of opening times. Some days it was like one big family reunion in various exhibitor displays. Our exhibitors were bullish on the show, and many have even reported exceptional and best ever sales.”
A trademark of the Seattle show is the extensive program of boating and fishing seminars, the largest such lineup in the industry. This year there was a new format for the 91 sessions that were packed to capacity most days. NMTA created an industry-first Online Seminar Program. Nearly 1,000 Online Seminar Packages were sold, with the recorded seminars available for viewing by package participants until May 15.
No question there was a lot of uncertainty leading up to the show as omicron was surging. But Harris pointed out they “never hesitated.”
“I’m happy to report that it was absolutely, hands down, unequivocally the right decision to move forward and return to the in-person show.”
Tori Parrot, owner of Signature Yachts and NMTA boat show committee chair put it this way:
“The show committee had to make a lot of high-stakes decisions leading up to the show, faced with uncertainty and the swiftly changing landscape of Covid and omicron. The committee and staff put in countless hours examining every possible scenario. In the end, we made the right decision to produce an in-person show. The visitors were very happy that we were back. The mood was celebratory. The quality of attendees was high. And it was great to see and connect with customers and friends, many of whom we hadn’t seen over in two-and-a-half years.”
Also during the show, two dozen employers and nearly 100 job-seekers engaged in discussions around specific opportunities and qualifications at a Marine Trade Career Fair held on the Monday of the show.
The Seattle Boat Show is staged in two locations: Lumen Field Event Center and the Port of Seattle’s Bell Harbor Marina, with continuous shuttles making the brief trip between sites.
A New Show Coming to Seattle
The value of boat shows is expected to be demonstrated again when the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association unveils its new spring in-water show, slated for April 28 to May 1 on Seattle’s Lake Union.
Officially called the Boats Afloat Show, the event in the past had been staged in conjunction with NMTA’s Seattle Boat Show. Beginning this year, NYBA will produce a stand-alone spring show with boats in the water and shoreside exhibits. NYBA will now annually produce two of its own shows on Lake Union, including its September Boats Afloat show set for Sept. 15-18.
“Boaters will now have the opportunity to shop for boats in the springtime and be ready for a summer of cruising,” says Schelleen Rathkopf, NYBA director of operations. “The new April show will follow the same format as our popular September show, including the popular VIP preview night the day before opening.”
Amenities and features for the new show include Waterways Cruises 90-foot Olympic Star moored dockside and offering grab-and-go meals, snack options and a bar; local chef Trinity Mack, Lakeside culinary director, on stage twice daily to demonstrate food ideas for on-board entertaining; batch cocktail demonstrations by Diageo brands featuring both alcohol and non-alcohol beverages; and live music on the stage and throughout the show area.
Overall, shows that are being staged around the country continue to be successful in attracting solid crowds.
