MIAMI – The 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show was a massive success after returning to the Miami Beach Convention Center and Downtown Miami. As the largest boat and yacht event in the world, the show welcomed more than 100,000 visitors and generated mega business for the recreational boating industry.
The 2022 inaugural event was a joint production by Informa Markets, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA), and combined the Miami International Boat Show, the Miami Yacht Show and SuperYacht Miami to create one seamless experience for exhibitors, customers and the marine industry at-large.
“The 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show was a historic success, welcoming over 100,000 guests to the largest boat and yacht event in the world and reinforcing South Florida as the top boating and yachting destination,” Andrew Doole, President of U.S. Boat Shows, Informa Markets, said. “We are grateful to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the International Yacht Brokers Association and our local partners for working diligently with our team to deliver a seamless and enjoyable experience for all attendees.”
The 2022 event was the first boat show to be integrated with the Discover Boating brand and debuted the new Discover Boating marketing campaign, which features the theme, “See You Out Here,” creating a unifying voice and addressing the changing interests of boaters and prospective boaters.
“The reimagined, rebranded Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show was a resounding success and couldn’t have come at a better time, bringing all facets of the recreational boating industry together to deliver a world-class, one-of-a-kind experience to boaters from all walks of life,” Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA President, noted “We are grateful for our partners and look forward to building off of the 2022 event to continue to deliver the best of boating to hundreds of thousands of boating enthusiasts from around the globe for years to come.”
SuperYacht Miami, which was the place for those looking for the largest and most luxurious yachts, showcased Damen’s 182-foot Gene Chaser and 180-foot Gene Machine, and Oceanfast’s 163-foot Thunder, among other luxurious superyachts.
“The docks were full, and the exhibitors were pleased with the consumer response. It is clear that our partnership with the NMMA in the new and reimagined Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show will be a successful one for many years to come,” Paul Flannery, Chief Operating Officer, International Yacht Brokers Association, said. “Next year will be even bigger and better.”
With six locations, including returning to the newly renovated Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) powered by West Marine, the show was the first to occupy the entire MBCC and Pride Park campus since reopening after the pandemic, and featured the nation’s leading boat brands and thousands of marine accessories, electronics and engine manufacturers.
“This was a major homecoming for us all, as we were thrilled to welcome back the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, as they haven’t been here since 2015. But it was also an amazing opportunity to not only showcase all that is the MBCC on a global scale, but also for the very first time activate our City Center Campus. To be a part of an international event with such a massive economic impact while being able to put a lot of people to work was truly remarkable,” Freddie Peterson, General Manager, MBCC, said.
Exhibitors raved about the amount of business conducted at the show, and the new buyers and prospects they interacted with. “Although final numbers are not in, we believe the amount of business transacted at this show will be profound,” Randy Field, Vice President of Marketing, South Florida Ventures at Informa Markets, said. “The early feedback we are receiving from exhibitors and attendees is what makes this show a grand slam.”
Echoing that sentiment, Bob Denison, President and Founder of Denison Yachting said, “This year’s Miami Show was the best ever. The docks were full all five days. We broke every sales record. Brokers and clients were both happy. And everyone loved the Yachts After Dark event on Friday night.”
Ken Clinton, President, Intrepid Powerboats, was thrilled with the show. “The Miami International Boat Show was truly amazing in so many ways. The enhanced convention center was a sensational venue because we did not have to be concerned about the weather as we enjoyed indoor, air-conditioned space,” Clinton said. “The Intrepid Nation achieved around $15 million in sales during the boat show, while thoroughly enjoying spending time with Intrepid owners and boating enthusiasts from around the country.”
Related. St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show Sets Attendance Record
Sustainability and innovation took center stage at the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show at the Progressive Boat Show Experience at Pride Park. Visitors enjoyed a collection of experiential activations with aerial aquabatic demonstrations at the Nautical Ventures AquaZone, environmental seminars at the Costa Conservation Village, and the latest EV and battery-powered boats at the Ford Mach-E Charged! Electric Pavilion.
“Sustainability and a push toward green energy is a huge focus for our shows,” Matt Ramirez, Marketing Director of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets, said. “Through our current efforts, we are able to offset all fuel consumed by vessels participating at the in-water portion of the show. We are striving to be the first-ever carbon-neutral boat show.”
Emerging fintech trends also made their way to the 2022 boat show, specifically in the arena of NFTs and cryptocurrency awards. Cloud Yachts, a digital yacht dealer, created an industry-first strategic partnership with Informa Markets to release a limited series of 100 yacht NFTs at the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. The NFTs are original artwork by the top superyacht designers.
The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show will return February 15-19, 2023.
For more information, please visit www.miamiboatshow.com.
Reach Andrew Doole at (954) 764-7642 or andrew.doole@informa.com; Frank Hugelmeyer at (202) 737-9771 or fhugelmeyer@nmma.org; Randy Field at Randy.Field@informa.com
