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CHICAGO – The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) completed an agreement to sell the Toronto International Boat Show to Canadian Boat Shows, Inc. today, NMMA reported in a statement. The sale is expected to be finalized on March 31.
On the heels of its recent acquisition of the New England Boat Show in January, the sale of the Toronto International Boat Show comes as NMMA continues to reposition its boat show portfolio. The repositioning is part of a larger long-term strategy, which the association said is enabling it to “continue to best serve the industry’s advocacy, marketing, and research and statistics needs while producing quality boat shows in key markets throughout the United States.”
“Selling the Toronto show is a strategic decision that allows us to expand our reach in other markets and better position NMMA to best serve the industry for the long term,” said NMMA President Thom Dammrich. “There are a lot of opportunities for NMMA and the recreational boating industry as the economy rebounds and we make changes to better align with shifts in the economic climate.”
Canadian Boat Shows, Inc. will be led by Linda Waddell, NMMA’s vice president of northern shows. Waddell will remain with NMMA until the transaction is finalized. The majority of NMMA’s Canadian boat show staff will join Waddell at Canadian Boat Shows, Inc., according to the association. Specific terms of the sale are undisclosed.
“Toronto is a strong market and with Linda Waddell remaining at the helm of the show, we are confident it will be in excellent hands and continue to offer incredible value for the industry,” Dammrich added.
NMMA will maintain its presence in Canada to serve the needs of marine manufacturers doing business in Canada, with its team dedicated to government relations, member communications, research and statistics and the Canadian Discover Boating campaign, according to the association. The Canadian team is led by Sara Anghel, vice president for NMMA Canada.
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