For the second year in a row, the Seattle Boat Show conducted a social media ticket giveaway ad campaign designed to attract new attendees to the show. The campaign offered two free tickets and specifically targeted younger boaters ages 28–45 who had never previously engaged with the show on Instagram or Facebook, visited the show website, or purchased tickets online.
The campaign was a major success, resulting in 660 redeemed tickets and contributing directly to the show’s net attendance gain of 4,369 over 2025.
The 2026 show attracted 24% first-time attendees — a four-year high (up from 23% in 2025 and 22% in 2023/2024). Research conducted by GMA Research found that Gen Z and Millennial audiences made up the majority of first-time attendees, many of whom were new to boating, highlighting a key opportunity to grow the next generation of boaters.
The campaign was funded through NMTA’s Grow Boating Program, which since 2003 has invested more than $2 million promoting boating in the Pacific Northwest through marketing campaigns, sponsorships, grants, and public relations efforts.
“What a great Grow Boating initiative! We sold a Carbon Cat to a couple who came to the show for the first time because of the promotion.”
Nick Graf, Aspen Power Catamarans