The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) – owner and operator of the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS) – and Informa Markets – co-owner and producer of the Miami Yacht Show (MYS) and Superyacht Miami – have announced a landmark
partnership creating the first joint production of South Florida’s preeminent winter boat shows. Set to debut from February 16 to February 20, 2022 the joint event—which will carry the Miami International Boat Show name— will deliver enhanced value to participating marine industry businesses, a seamless and unparalleled experience for attendees, and an economic boon to the Miami and South Florida areas.
Under the agreement, Informa Markets, the largest producer of trade and public events in the world, takes on management of the show, with direction and guidance from NMMA, the recreational boating industry’s trade association and the largest producer of boat shows in the U.S. Additionally, NMMA retains ownership of MIBS, while Informa Markets maintains co-ownership of MYS and Superyacht Miami with the International Yacht Brokers Association. The partnership is the result of long-standing conversations between the two organizations on how best to serve the industry and cultivate a best-in-class boat show experience.
Bringing the events together will offer numerous benefits for exhibitors, visitors, and the greater Miami community, specifically Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. The on-land portion of the event will take place at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), while the featured in-water activities will be offered at Sea Isle Marina, One Herald Plaza and Island Gardens Deep Harbour on Watson Island. The combined event will include several new elements to enrich the experience for attendees, including a live concert series, an expanded educational offering, a digital component, and the return of Miami Dealer Days February 14-15. Miami Dealer Days allow exhibitors to gather at the Miami Beach Convention Center prior to the show, providing a unique opportunity for marine manufacturers to connect and discover partnership and growth opportunities.
“For 80 years, the Miami International Boat Show has served as the recreational boating industry’s flagship event and a prized platform to showcase world-class products and innovations to nearly 100,000 people across the globe. With NMMA’s new partnership with Informa Markets, together, we will take the show to the next level and deliver an unforgettable experience for our members, attendees, exhibitors, and the local community for decades to come,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of NMMA. “Our industry and organization are incredibly grateful to the City of Miami for providing a home for our show these last five years at the Miami Marine Stadium and Park, and we look forward to bringing this exciting new event to both Downtown Miami and Miami Beach.”
Notably, this partnership translates into an unmatched opportunity for the region’s hospitality and service industry that is eager to bounce back from the devastating ramifications of COVID-19. The NMMA brings visitors from approximately 35 countries around the globe to South Florida annually, and Informa is considered the largest single annual customer to the market, hosting several large-scale exhibitions in the region each year. Historically, the Miami International Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show have attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees to South Florida and generated an estimated combined annual economic impact of $1.34 billion.
