There has been a lot of talk about the 2016 Miami International Boat Show, which is slated to move from the Miami Beach Convention Center, while the venue is undergoing renovations, to the Miami Marine Stadium Park.
But much of the focus has been on the hurdles and challenges as the city of Miami grapples with local municipalities over the logistics of bringing the show to the stadium park site.
So organizers are planning to help exhibitors understand the vision for the stadium park and book space for the 2016 show at this year’s Miami show, which will run from Feb. 12-16 at various locations in Miami, including the Miami Beach Convention Center.
“We will have a dedicated sales and information center onsite for exhibitors, allowing them to not only book space for 2016 at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin, but learn about the specifics of the venue and ask questions,” NMMA spokeswoman Ellen Hopkins told Trade Only Today. “We will share information ranging from entertainment and features to the variety of transportation options to and from the show.”
OnPeak, the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s official housing partner, will be onsite, providing exhibitors and attendees with an opportunity to book hotel rooms and learn about accommodation options for 2016, Hopkins said.
Throughout the show, attendees and exhibitors will find signage and other helpful information, such as renderings, she said.
NMMA president Thom Dammrich will discuss the new venue and “all of our exciting plans” during his presentation on the state of the industry on Feb. 12 at the Industry Breakfast, which traditionally kicks off the show.
The path to securing the Miami Marine Stadium as the next venue has been fraught with challenges. Most recently, Key Biscayne made moves to sue the city of Miami over the plan to hold the 2016 show at the site.
The NMMA overcame a major hurdle in its efforts to use the stadium park as a venue for the 2016 Miami show when the City Commission agreed in January to pay for improvements at the park. But with all the attention taken up by the funding issue, little is clear about what the show actually will look like.
“Anybody who participates is going to have to rethink their whole approach to the show, just like we’re rethinking how the whole show is presented,” Dammrich told Trade Only in late January.
“People are focusing on the show coming up soon, and we’ll be getting all the information out there about 2016,” he said. “We’ll have a display and a lot of information available this February in Miami about what things will look like. There will be site drawings. It’ll be pretty clear.”
