MAATS organizers focusing on new products
CHICAGO – The Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) will host nearly 300 exhibitors this year, compared to 297 exhibitors last year, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) said yesterday.
The association reported that more than 20 percent of exhibitors are presenting at MAATS for the first time.
NMMA, which will organize the show in conjunction with the National Marine Distributors Association (NMDA) S.T.E.P. event, said it is giving exhibiting companies more opportunities to introduce new products to buyers participating in MAATS, being held July 8-11 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
“MAATS is the only tradeshow dedicated to marine aftermarket accessories and has become the annual event for introducing new products,” said NMMA Trade Show director Jennifer Thompson. “All the features that make the show a success are returning in 2004, with some additions and improvements to help attendees and exhibitors get the most out of their time in Las Vegas.”
New Product Previews (formerly New Product Snapshots) return, giving accessory suppliers the opportunity to present their new products to a group of more than 120 hosted buyers and media, NMMA said.
Buyer-supplier meetings will follow product previews on the first day. The meetings give accessory suppliers the opportunity to meet with buyers in a private setting to discuss new products. Last year, more than 2,000 meetings were scheduled as part of S.T.E.P. and MAATS, NMMA said.
Show Schedule
Exhibit hours will begin on the second day of the show, while New Product Previews and buyer-supplier meetings kick off the four-day event on July 8. On Friday and Saturday, July 9 and 10, exhibit hours are from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., then from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
NMMA recently announced that the show would continue to be held in July through 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, at the same time as the American Sportfishing Association’s ICAST event.
Dates for the next three years are:
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