The National Marine Manufacturers Association said that it will postpone several shows until 2023, announcing that the Progressive Insurance events in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis boat shows will not take place in 2022.
“These announcements come at a time when we’re experiencing extraordinary levels of consumer interest in boating and our shows amid product scarcity,” said NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer. “Our robust 2022 line-up of nine boat shows and two new boating events will help the industry maintain its momentum and lay a foundation for the return of our postponed shows in 2023, continuing our commitment to delivering a world-class experience our members and attendees have come to expect.”
Hugelmeyer said the decision was made to postpone after studying the needs and economics of each of the regions where the shows were planned, particularly now that supply chain disruptions have led to low inventory.
“Unprecedented market conditions are forcing event producers around the world to be more nimble than ever, all while providing an opportunity to connect with attendees in new, more relevant ways and NMMA is no exception,” said Hugelmeyer.
As part of its strategic plan, the NMMA said it will launch a new event on Georgia’s Lake Lanier in the spring of 2022 as well as a Discover Boating showcase in Washington, D.C. to coincide with the 2022 American Boating Congress.
In addition, it expects its new Discover Boating campaign to launch at the reimagined Miami International Boat Show in February.
“As we’ve evolved over time from the creation of Discover Boating to the advent of new show markets and events, we’ll continue to reimagine what it means to connect our industry with customers as we integrate Discover Boating across shows and expand the brand,” Hugelmeyer concluded.
NMMA’s 2022 boat show schedule can be seen here.
