MAATS continues to grow
LAS VEGAS – The 2006 Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS) was the largest in its six-year history, shattering previous records for attendance, qualified buyers and exhibitors, the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported in a recent statement.
This year’s event, which took place July 19-21 at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel & Convention Center, attracted 2,426 attendees, 372 exhibitors and 517 qualified buyers.
International participation at MAATS also continued to rise in 2006. The show focused its attention on targeting a greater number of international markets, creating a larger-than-ever Italian pavilion on the show floor and welcoming several new European buyers, according to the association, who owns and produces the event. This year, 285 international participants from 30 different countries attended. In 2005, those figures were 279 and 27, respectively.
Next year, MAATS 2007 will take place July 18-20 at the same Las Vegas venues. The event will once again co-locate with NMDA’s S.T.E.P. Conference; however, ICAST, which co-located with MAATS in 2006 and has been cited as one of the reason’s for the show’s recent growth, will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center one week earlier.
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