New Chicago in-water show catalyst for collaboration?

The inaugural Chicago International Boat Show made history with its in-water boat show at the city’s historic and iconic Navy Pier on Lake Michigan last week – a show that fills the void left by the industry boat show moving from downtown McCormick Place to the nearby suburbs – and the producers of both events may be collaborating on future projects.

Revel Republic, a lifestyle event production firm with two award-winning boat shows in San Diego and Newport Beach, California drew some 8,000 visitors to the lakefront with the lure of more than 100 in-water boats, luxury on-land exhibitors and the requisite VIP food and beverage experience.

“[Chicago] needed an in-water show for some of the bigger boats, Revel president and co-founder Hany Ghabour told IBI by phone on Monday. “When you do anything in a convention centre, it’s focused more on exhibitors. You’re limited to certain size vessels.

“We look at it as cross-collaboration between industries that make shows like this successful. So, we bring in the right sponsors, the right partners, the right boats.”

But the biggest news coming out of the show is the beginnings of a partnership relationship between Revel Republic and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the recreational boating trade group ostensibly based in Chicago.

“Revel Republic’s expansion in the Midwest represents new energy, creativity, and a shared vision for the future of our industry,” NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer said in a news release issued on the opening day of the Chicago event. “We look forward to building on our aligned missions and exploring meaningful opportunities for collaboration that will benefit boaters, manufacturers, and the entire recreational marine community.”

Ghabour, speaking with IBI, indicated Revel Republic has been seeking “stronger partnerships” as it looks to expand in the US Midwest and East Coast, both regions where NMMA produces existing shows.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with them. We don’t know what it’s going to look like just yet, but we’re excited to sit down and figure out what that looks like to do what we can to benefit the marine industry.”

NMMA moved toward a ‘lifestyle event’ format for its boat shows in 2021, most notably partnering with Informa Markets to merge the Miami International, Miami Yacht and Superyacht Miami shows into one citywide event.