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April 2017 | Boating Industry | 37 [ 2017 Miami ] www.BoatingIndustry.com egories. The judges chose 19 winners and two honorable mentions in 16 categories. The Marine Marketers of America also an- nounced the winners of its 2016 Neptune Awards for Marine Marketing Excellence at the breakfast. From a field of 99 entries, winners were se- lected in 16 categories in all areas of marketing, from national magazine ads and newsletters to video, product literature and diversity initiatives. "Marine marketers gave us their best for this year's highly competitive contest," said Wanda Kenton Smith, president of MMA. "There was a wonderful variety of submissions and participat- ing companies, from small businesses to global corporations, from in-house marketing teams to boutique and full-service agencies, representing all aspects of the industry." The complete lists of all CSI, Innovation and Neptune award winners are available at Boat- ingIndustry.com. Alan J. Freedman award Also recognized at the breakfast was former Do- metic Americas President Frank Marciano, who received the 2017 Alan J. Freedman Memorial Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who've made outstanding contributions to the marine accessories industry through leadership, creativity and personal motivation. "I am so honored to receive this prestigious award from the NMMA," Marciano said. "I love boating and have enjoyed the privilege of adding value to the industry for almost 26 years." Marciano started with Marine Air Systems in 1991 as the production manager. Under his lead- ership, the factory was divided into eight self-di- rected teams, which in turn worked directly with the sales team to satisfy customers. He participated with the ABYC standards committee for Marine Air Conditioning, assisted in teaching classes and, along with several indus- try partners, created the ABYC Marine Certi- fied AC Technician program. During his tenure, Marciano served on the NMMA Accessory Board from 2011 to 2014 and NMMA's main board from 2012 to 2014. He has supported the MIASF, ABYC and the MLA. "Frank Marciano's attention to detail and commitment to marine product excellence and customer service have helped paved the way for marine manufacturing's growth and innovation," Dammrich said. "The NMMA congratulates Frank on his exemplary work in the recreational boating industry and is proud to bestow upon him the Alan J. Freedman Award." Improvements make impact The biggest complaints about the 2016 show were around transportation, food and bath- rooms, which NMMA took pains to address and improve for 2017. While there were still long lines and waits in some places, especially with some of the popular food trucks, the improve- ments were noticeable on site. According to NMMA, the number of water taxis increased by more than 47 percent over 2016 and higher-capacity vessels were used. At the same time, the number of water taxi pick-up and drop- off locations was streamlined from seven to four. The shuttle bus operation was streamlined, as well, from six to five locations, boosting the frequency of trips at all five pick-up locations. The show counted nearly 90,000 water taxi and shuttle bus riders by attendees who went to or from the show from designated offsite locations. We learned important lessons as it relates to transportation during last year's show, and the resulting adjustments we made for the 2017 event not only made it easier for our guests to get to and from the show, but ensured we again kept traffic flowing smoothly on Virginia Key," said Ben Wold, manager of the Miami International Boat Show. "The vast majority of show-goers took advantage of our upgraded park & ride system, and we're particularly pleased with how well the water taxi system worked this year. At a time when Miami-Dade County is looking for mass transit solutions, the Boat Show is setting a great example for what can be done." The show also featured a revamped dining experience by Great Performances, which oper- ates concessions programs at events such as the Miami Open. The 2018 Miami International Boat Show will be held at Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, Feb. 15-19, 2018. "As we've done for 76 years, we're constantly tweaking elements of the show to ensure we provide a world-class experience for our guests and exhibitors, as well as the community," said Wold. "We're already making plans for things like improved lighting and air conditioning in the tents, ongoing enhancements to the transporta- tion plan, and working with exhibitors to create even more exciting displays." The show doubled its dock space this year to more than 3.5 miles of dock. 7% ยป Increase in 2017 Miami boat show attendance