ABC 2017: Connecticut trade group receives Co-Host Marketing Award

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association received the ABC Co-Host Marketing Award at the American Boating Congress on Wednesday.

The award recognizes a co-host that goes above the call of duty to promote the conference through marketing initiatives.

“We’re proud to bestow this year’s Co-Host Marketing Award to the Connecticut Marine Trades Association,” NMMA president Thom Dammrich said in a statement. “Their outstanding marketing efforts and achievements greatly contributed to raising awareness of the 2017 American Boating Congress, building enthusiasm for boating advocacy and driving attendance to this year’s conference.”

The NMMA, which organizes the conference, said that after a comprehensive nomination and review process the CMTA stood out as a marketing leader in 2017 for its immense efforts to endorse and raise awareness around the ABC. The CMTA launched its 2017 marketing strategy for the conference nearly a year in advance, reaching out to members, industry leaders and other stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of attending.

Marketing initiatives included daily and weekly newsletters, emails and social media updates. Taking it a step further, during U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy’s “walk across the state” last September, the CMTA met with Murphy at a marina stop, encouraging him to support the Congressional Boating Caucus and welcome members during Hill visits this year.

Lastly, in March during the general session of the CMTA’s annual meeting, the association included a full presentation about the ABC and its importance to the industry, encouraging member participation.

The NMMA said 25 industry organizations came together in 2017 as co-hosts of the ABC, spending months planning and promoting the conference to raise awareness and bring the industry together to present a unified front on Capitol Hill.

Co-hosts sent emails to their network of contacts, included articles in their newsletters, provided ads on websites and in magazines and included content on their social media channels.

“The American Boating Congress would like to thank all of our co-host organizations for their efforts in making this year’s event such a success,” Dammrich said. “With our co-hosts’ help ABC has evolved into the marine industry’s premier political and legislative event, effecting positive change in Washington for recreational boating.”