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For Immediate Release

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

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MAATS 2006 Continues Successful Run During Sixth-Annual Event

Record number of attendees, exhibitors and buyers turn out for annual gathering

Chicago, IL

FROM:  NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
200 E. Randolph Dr., Suite 5100
Chicago, IL  60601-6528
312-946-6200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Lindsey Savin (lsavin@nmma.org; 312-946-6204)

CHICAGO, August 9, 2006 - - The 2006 Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), held July 19-21, experienced its most successful show to date, attracting 2,426 attendees to the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel & Convention Center. This represents the largest crowd since MAATS first began its run six years ago, with attendance growing steadily over the last four years. Largely considered the premier annual gathering for the accessories aftermarket, MAATS is owned and produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

This year, 372 exhibitors and 517 total qualified buyers attended MAATS, up from 360 and 455 (respectively) the previous year. The show also beefed up its international presence in 2006, with a larger Italian pavilion on the show floor as well as welcoming an expanded European attendee base.  A total of 285 international participants representing 30 different countries were on hand for this year’s event. This is up slightly from the show’s 2005 totals, which were 279 and 27, respectively.

“We have received a great deal of positive feedback from exhibitors and buyers alike, and we look forward to continuing the success of the event in the coming years,” says Kathleen Clickett, MAATS show manager. “MAATS has truly become the premier gathering for the marine aftermarket.”

For the first time in the event’s history, a Silent Auction took place as part of the opening night MAATS Welcome Reception on Tuesday, July 18, with all proceeds collected going to benefit the industry’s Grow Boating Initiative. The auction was a big success, raising nearly $8,000 for the effort. More than 50 items were donated by various industry supporters for the auction, including vacation getaways, fishing trips, electronics, dinner/event tickets, boating/water sport products and more. 

The 2006 MAATS New Product Preview Breakfasts were once again successful, with a record number of buyers and media attending the breakfasts each day. A total of 28 presentations took place over the three-day event. New Product Previews allow exhibitors to give a five-minute presentation describing their Innovation and Environmental award entries to a crowd of invited buyers and members of the marine media. This year’s show also featured a newly-enhanced New Product Showcase, a designated area of the exhibit hall situated in the middle of the MAATS show floor. All products entered in the Innovation Awards program—a total of 65 overall—were on display at this location, which allowed attendees hands-on access to the products.

“We elevated the look and feel of the New Product Showcase to give buyers and media a hands-on experience of the latest innovations in marine accessories,” says Clickett. “The enhanced showcase added a level of excitement around the Innovation Awards program as a whole.”

Once again, MAATS co-located with the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in 2006, taking place simultaneously at the Las Vegas Convention Center. MAATS also continued its long-standing association with the National Marine Distributors Association’s S.T.E.P. Conference this year, held July 17-18 at the Las Vegas Hilton.

MAATS will return to the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel & Convention Center July 18-20, 2007. The event will once again co-locate with NMDA’s S.T.E.P. Conference in 2007; ICAST, however, will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center one week earlier.

For more information on MAATS, visit www.nmma.org/maats, or contact NMMA trade events manager Kathleen Clickett at (312) 946-6252; kclickett@nmma.org.

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications