Connecticut Marine Trades Association Takes Home 2017 ABC Co-Host Marketing Award
The 2017 American Boating Congress (ABC), organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), honored today the Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA) with the ABC Co-Host Marketing Award, recognizing each year an ABC co-host who goes above the call of duty to promote the conference through various marketing initiatives.
“We’re proud to bestow this year’s Co-Host Marketing Award to the Connecticut Marine Trades Association,” declared NMMA President Thom Dammrich. “Their outstanding marketing efforts and achievements greatly contributed to raising awareness of the 2017 American Boating Congress, building enthusiasm for boating advocacy and driving attendance to this year’s conference.”
After a comprehensive nomination and review process, CMTA stood out as a marketing leader in 2017 for its immense efforts to endorse and raise awareness around ABC. CMTA launched their 2017 marketing strategy for the conference nearly a year in advance, reaching out to members, industry leaders and other stakeholders emphasizing the importance of attending ABC. Marketing initiatives included daily and weekly newsletters, emails and social media updates. Taking it a step further, during Senator Chris Murphy’s ‘walk across the State’ last September, CMTA met with him directly at a marina stop, encouraging Murphy to support the Boating Caucus and to welcome members during Hill visits in 2017. And finally, this past March during the General Session of CMTA’s annual meeting, the Association included a full presentation of ABC and its importance to the recreational boating industry, encouraging member participation.
25 organizations from the recreational boating industry came together in 2017 as co-hosts of ABC, spending months planning and promoting the conference to raise awareness and bring the industry together to present a unified front on Capitol Hill. Co-hosts sent emails to their network of contacts, included articles in their newsletters, provided ads on websites and in magazines, and included content on their social media channels.
“The American Boating Congress would like to thank all of our co-host organizations for their efforts in making this year's event such a success,” said Dammrich. “With our co-hosts help, ABC has evolved into the marine industry’s premier political and legislative event, effecting positive change in Washington for recreational boating.”