Attendance strong at fall boat shows

swadminSeptember 28, 2007

CHICAGO and NEWPORT, R.I. – Despite what seems to be ever darkening forecasts of boat sales declines for the year and few concrete indicators of a rebound ahead, several early fall boat shows are reporting increases in attendance and strong sales numbers.

Attendance at the 37th Annual Newport International Boat Show, Sept. 13-16, was reported to be up 15 percent, for example, in spite of a half day of rain on Saturday.

“And, most important, our exhibitors have indicated a great deal of satisfaction with their sales results and the number of qualified boat buyers who came to the show,” said Nancy Piffard, show director.

Meanwhile, attendance was up 7 percent to 10,796 people at the 2007 Toronto In-Water Boat Show, which ran September 13-16 at Ontario Place in Toronto, Ontario.

Exhibitors reported strong sales and quality buying crowds during the 2006 event, according to show manager Cynthia Hare. “The sentiment remains constant — sales are strong on end-of-year product while consumers also get an opportunity to preview 2008 models,” she said. Next year, the Toronto In-Water Boat Show will take place September 11-14.

In fact, NMMA reported that three of its four fall boat shows – Tampa, Toronto and Norwalk – experienced an increase in attendance compared to 2006 figures.

Tampa saw attendance increase of 5 percent, but in Norwalk attendance was up 22 percent over last year and 13 percent over the show’s three-year average, according to NMMA.