The Miami International Boat Show is Back With a Bang
Five days across five locations on land and sea
After a pandemic pause, the 2022 Miami International Boat Show is coming back bigger and better than ever. From live music to experiential boating lifestyle activations to unique culinary options, this year’s show has it all.
The marquee event is set to run five days across five locations, with the main event at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Other venues are One Herald Plaza, Sea Isle Marina, Museum Park Marina and IGY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens. For the convenience of showgoers, there will be water taxi services to and from the convention center to the other locations, allowing visitors to explore multiple sites in one day.
Local COVID-19 guidelines will be in place and masks will be required at the convention center. All venues will have no-contact registration and hand sanitizing stations at entrances and restrooms. In addition, each location will undergo a deep cleaning before, during and after each day’s event to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness.
As the event returns to Miami after a one-year hiatus – and to the convention center for the first time in seven years – the depth and breadth of exhibits and products available are beyond what any previous boat show has offered, says Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets.
“We are looking forward to delivering an unparalleled experience at the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show,” he said.
The show will be like nothing seen before, as the Miami International Boat Show, Miami Yacht Show, SuperYacht Miami and Discover Boating, a boating lifestyle brand, have joined to deliver a more family-friendly, immersive experience that promises to pique the interest of all ages.
The partnership was developed to create a dynamic and captivating experience for vendors, consumers and the marine industry as a whole. Through the collaboration, all major boating manufacturers and segment products are represented, so guests don’t have to visit all five locations if they’re only looking for one type of product.
One new and innovative component has been added to the show: The Boat Show Experience at Pride Park. Located right outside the convention center, it will feature interactive and educational activities such as an informational resource center, a conservation village, water sports and more.
Pride Park also will have food, beverages and a DJ to “create a little life on the outside to complement all the great products that are being displayed on the inside,” said Doole.
Last year’s boat show was put on hold due to COVID-19, but Larry Berryman, vice president of Miami Boating, says that actually worked in its favor, as the extra time allowed show presenters to reimagine what it could become in 2022.
The demand for recreational boating reached record highs in 2021 as consumers looked for pandemic-era outdoor activities, according to a recent report by The National Marine Manufacturers Association, owner of the 2022 Discover Miami International Boat Show.
Berryman believes many people have gotten into boating over the last two years because it gives them the opportunity to control their environment.
“Being on a boat is the ultimate social distancing,” he said.
Doole says that recreational boating is so popular, especially during these challenging times, because it’s “all about families.” Through boating, people can create their own experiences with whomever they want, wherever they want.
The 2022 boat show is expecting a large turnout now that demand is exceptionally high and the recent Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale shows had record attendance and sales, added Doole.
Given that the country’s borders are currently open, the international population that typically contributes to the show’s enormous audience can also attend. Many too are looking for an opportunity to attend outdoor events with their families after the recent surge of COVID-19 cases over the holidays.
Berryman also attributes the show’s popularity to its location in Miami, a multicultural hub with a high-profile global presence.
“It is one of the most significant boating events in the world,” he said. “That’s unquestioned.”
Miami International Boat Show
Feb. 16-20
Feb. 16, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Feb. 17, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Feb. 18-19, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Feb. 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tickets range from $15-70
Masks required in Miami Beach Convention Center