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Boat show updates and industry meetings - MarineBusinessWorld.com North America newsletter

by Peter Rendle 8 Jan 2025 12:00 PST
Virgin Islands Boat Expo at Yacht Haven Grande © Savanah Willow Co

The Progressive Cleveland Boat Show organized by the Ohio Marine Trades Association and presented by Toyota Tundra have announced the launch of its inaugural Workforce Days. Aimed at introducing local high school students to the diverse career opportunities available in the marine industry, the two-day event will take place at the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio on January 16-17.

Further south, The Virgin Islands Boating Expo (VIBE), renowned as the premier boat show of the Caribbean, is thrilled to announce the dates for its much-anticipated second edition. Scheduled to take place from May 15-18, the event will once again be hosted at the prestigious IGY Marina Yacht Haven Grande in St. Thomas.

The NMMA and Boating Writers International (BWI) announced today the panel of judges set to evaluate product entries for the 2025 Discover Boating® Minneapolis Boat Show® Innovation Awards. Award winners will be announced January 22. The Innovation Awards judges' committee is comprised of BWI members who perform product testing throughout the year and have specific expertise in marine products and equipment.

Registration is now open for the annual NMMA Canada State of the Industry Breakfast taking place during the Toronto International Boat Show on January 21 at the Beanfield Centre (Exhibition Place). Join industry colleagues to gain insights into current trends in the recreational boating industry, including Wells Fargo Economist Nick Bennenbroek.

With 2025 officially under way, the new Congress sworn in and President Trump set to take office in the next few weeks, the sportfishing industry and recreational fishing community are sharing policy priorities for the next four years with leadership in Washington, DC. The Future of Sportfishing [PDF] is a comprehensive report highlighting legislative and regulatory opportunities to support the most critical conservation goals for this year and beyond.

Innovation includes Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the global leader in marine technology, will display it's broad, industry-leading technology portfolio and debut its 'Boating Intelligence' initiative at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Boating Intelligence is a comprehensive initiative to enhance Brunswick's ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified, and Shared) strategy by incorporating AI capabilities and features into its products to deliver simpler, safer, smarter, and more sustainable boating.

Radian IoT (innovator in using GPS and boat configuration data to deliver real-time predictive analytics to dealers, manufacturers, and their consumers) announced a partnership with Wave Marine Group to provide on-demand marine services with real-time vessel monitoring.

Stay in the groove.

Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media

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