BoatU.S. Cooperating Marina Program reaches 750 marinas
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The BoatU.S. Cooperating Marina Program, which began in 1995, currently has over 750 marinas signed up to participate for the 2004 boating season, the organization said today.
The program was designed to build incremental marina revenue while providing a valuable benefit to BoatU.S. members, according to the association. It attracts new business by offering preferential discounts to members. In exchange, BoatU.S. aggressively markets the program to its 550,000 members and the boating public at no cost to the marina.
“The proof of the program’s ability to enhance participating marinas’ revenues is this new 750 milestone,” said Jim Schofield, program manager. “Our BoatU.S. members are very loyal, and our program gives our Cooperating Marina partners a way to tap that allegiance.”
How it works
To participate, marina operators select the exclusive discount they want to offer BoatU.S. members: 15 percent off repairs, up to 10 cents off per gallon of fuel, or 25 percent off transient slips. BoatU.S. then markets the program with the BoatU.S. Towing Services & Marina Discounts Guide.
The program also offers a complete national and regional advertising campaign in boating publications – including exposure in every issue of BoatU.S. magazine.
At the local level, co-op advertising dollars are available to the marina for including the BoatU.S. Cooperating Marina Program logo in its local advertising program. The program offers participating marinas a custom Web page at the BoatUS.com Internet site, as well as other free listings in waterway guides, boat-show exposure, and free promotional materials such as signs, decals and flags, BoatU.S. said in its release.
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