Second annual Docks Expo moves to St. Charles Convention Center
The Waterways Journal Inc. is gearing up for its second annual Docks Expo for the benefit of marinas, boatyards and dock owners and operators in North America. The event will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2016, at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo.
The marina trade show will allow attendees to engage with industry-specific exhibitors, enhance their professional development through education, network with colleagues and more. The Docks Expo is presented by Marina Dock Age, a trade magazine for marina and boatyard management for more than 25 years, and will once again be held simultaneously with Docks and Marinas, a national educational course presented by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Docks Expo sold out of exhibit space in 2015 — its first year. As a result, the event will move to a larger facility, the St. Charles Convention Center, utilizing 36,000 square feet of space and allowing easier access for both exhibitors and attendees. Located just across the Missouri River from St. Louis, the St. Charles Convention Center is easily reached from Interstate 70 and the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The facility is attached to the Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Charles, where exhibitors and attendees can take advantage of special room rates.
“We are excited to welcome an estimated 90 exhibits to St. Charles this year, along with an estimated 500 attendees, exhibitors, speakers and special guests,” said Nelson Spencer, Jr., president of the Waterways Journal and publisher of Marina Dock Age. “The Docks Expo was a success last year, but we’re just getting started. Our second annual show will be even better, with a larger and more open floor plan and expanded educational programs that are relevant, timely and impactful.”
Educational programming will include the two-day Docks and Marinas course, during which top professionals in the fields of marina design, engineering, construction and operation give presentations on the building, maintaining and management of marina facilities. In addition, the Docks Expo will include free educational sessions, new product presentations and panel discussions covering a range of topics including regulatory matters, facility engineering and design, customer service, and environmental safety and sustainability.
Space is being set aside for evening receptions and professional networking on the show floor, which will be open to all attendees and exhibitors and offer complimentary food and beverages. The Docks Expo will also be where Marina Dock Age announces its Marina of the Year Award to the small (less than 250 slips) and large (more than 250 slips) marina that displays exemplary business practices that support customers, the environment and the industry.
“This expo is the place for marina owners, operators and employees to learn from industry experts, meet new contacts, and find products and services that can save them money and increase sales,” said Anna Townshend, editor of Marina Dock Age. “The goal is to empower marina professionals to have more profitable businesses.”
More information about The Docks Expo can be found at www.docksexpo.com.
