In its fifth year at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin, the Miami International Boat Show drew a reported 82,171 attendees during a five-day run that ended on Presidents Day.
After a strong start Thursday and Friday, Feb. 13 and 14, momentum slowed Saturday because of weather. This year’s total attendance is down about 10 percent compared from the 91,518 visitors in 2019.
NMMA estimates that the show had an economic impact of $854 million, employing an estimated 5,700 people and filling about 100,000 hotel room nights in Miami. It said Florida exhibitors sold $350 million in product and that and out-of-town visitors spent approximately $53 million at restaurants and other businesses.
“We are happy to hear initial reports from our exhibitors that the 2020 Miami boat show was a strong sales event, reinforcing the healthy sales reports we’re hearing from exhibitors at our boat shows across the country,” Larry Berryman, show director and vice president of NMMA southern shows, said in a statement.
Show organizers streamlined transportation options, making it easier to get to and from the show, including water taxis to and from downtown Miami, water taxi service to and from the Miami Yachts Show, a partnership with Florida’s Brightline train, and enhanced shuttle bus options. It’s estimated that the water taxis and shuttle buses transported 37,668 people, or 46 percent of show attendees.
The show hosted its first Career Day on Friday to highlight employment opportunities within the boating industry. Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez made opening remarks as the show hosted 65 high school students from MAST Academy for a Q&A with industry executives.
NMMA announced that next year’s show will run Feb. 11-15.
