MDCE




The MRAA's Annual Member Convention, the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo, is held every November. For a number of years, the annual convention was held in Las Vegas, but the last three years, the revamped and revitalized MDCE has been held in Orlando. The MDCE will once again be held in Orlando in 2012, and is scheduled from Nov. 11-14th at the Orange County Convention Center.

MRAA Members receive a $50 per-registrant discount when they register for MDCE.

The MDCE has seen significant growth in each of the last four years, in terms of both dealer attendance and exhibitor and sponsor support. In fact, dealer attendance, which has been close to 500 each of the past two years, has grown by 700 percent over the last four years.

Dealer education has served as the foundation of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo. The program offers three educational "tracks," which each offer seven specific sessions. The Sales & Marketing Track focuses offers dealers strategies and ideas on how to increase their boat and engine sales through sales and marketing tactics. The Service & Marina Track provides ideas and insights into how to increase the profitability of both of these two critical profit centers. And the Powering Profits Track, which is aimed specifically at dealer principals, offers attendees insights into best practices and strategies for strengthening their businesses through myriad avenues.

The other two pillars of opportunity offered to dealers at the annual convention are found in the networking and expo hall relationships that can be developed. For the last two years, the MDCE has featured more than 100 exhibitors in an expo hall that exceeds 100,000 sq. ft. From boat builders to aftermarket suppliers to service providers, the expo hall is filled with business opportunities that will increase dealer profitability. Within that expo hall, the MDCE hosts three networking cocktail receptions, two breakfasts, and an hour-long break (with refreshments) between each of the educational sessions. There are also two hosted lunches provided for event attendees.

With a focus on continued growth, a series of upgrades was made to the 2011 event, the most noteworthy of which was the incorporation of the educational rooms into the expo hall. Feedback from the 2010 event's dealers and exhibitors outlined a desire for greater traffic flow in the expo hall. With three modular classrooms set up throughout the expo hall, dealers and exhibitors will be able to maximize their time at the event through ongoing interaction.

The MDCE is produced through a partnership between the Marine Retailers Association of America and Boating Industry magazine.