MINNEAPOLIS, May 8, 2017 — Dealer registration for the 2017 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo launched with great momentum in April, setting a new opening-month registration record for the December event.
With 193 total dealer registrations during the April Earliest Bird savings period, MDCE attracted a more than 15-percent increase in registrations compared to the same period in 2016, and momentum has continued since with dealer registrations already eclipsing the 200 mark. See who has registered. The event, which will be held Dec. 10-13 in Orlando, features industry-leading insights on trends, strategies and best practices designed to increase dealer success.
“With most dealers being busier than they have been in a decade, we’re absolutely thrilled that they continue to turn to the MDCE in record numbers to help them strengthen their businesses,” says Liz Walz, Vice President and Director of Education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “We believe that we’ve improved our educational line-up each year, encouraging more dealers to engage with the MDCE content, and 2017 will continue that trend.
At the 2017 MDCE, not only will the educational line-up feature all-new Pre-Conference Workshops, keynotes and track sessions, but it will also include an expanded line-up of Dealer-to-Dealer Roundtables, the most highly praised new offering of the 2016 event. These roundtable discussions, which put dealers face-to-face with other dealers to discuss challenges, opportunities and corresponding solutions for success, will be offered three times throughout the 2017 MDCE.
In 2016, 167 dealers registered for the MDCE during the month of April, and the event drew a record 640 marine dealers to the three-day event. The MDCE, which is co-produced by the MRAA and Boating Industry magazine, still offers $115 off of standard registration — that’s $75 off for MRAA members and a $40 early bird rate, good through Sept. 22, in honor of MRAA’s 40th anniversary of educational programming.
“It’s a great demonstration of the trust that we’ve built with the dealer body to see so many dealers register prior to the MDCE educational programming being introduced,” says Jonathan Sweet, Boating Industry Editor-in-Chief. “We’ve proven that we can not only respond to the needs of today’s dealers with outstanding courses, but also that we can share with them critical insights into the trends they need to know for success tomorrow.”
About the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo
The marine industry’s only dealer-specific educational conference, MDCE offers an in-depth lineup of educational sessions, a full-featured expo hall and a series of fixed networking opportunities, all of which are designed to help marine dealers connect with and learn from others who can foster their success. MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features four Educational Tracks, Pre-Conference Workshops, Keynote Presentations, a Learning Lab, Dealer-to-Dealer Roundtable Discussions, and an Innovation Spotlight. For more information, visit MarineDealerConference.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has been delivering powerful educational programs for marine dealers since 1977. At the MRAA, the team of professionals believes that for the marine industry to thrive, the dealers on the front lines of the industry must first find success. So MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by providing dealers with tools, resources and educational programs, such as its annual conference, and by representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com.
About Boating Industry
Boating Industry is the leading trade magazine serving the marine industry. From award-winning editorial to awards programs including the Top 100 dealers program, Movers & Shakers, Top Products of the Year and more, Boating Industry serves all aspects of the marine industry. For more than 85 years, boating professionals have turned to Boating Industry for market intelligence, product updates, best practices and industry news. For more information, visit BoatingIndustry.com.
