Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, have announced that its annual State of the Industry Press Conference will take place on opening day, Thursday, September 12th from 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM in the Sunset Terrace on the show grounds. Open to the press and individuals attending the Newport International Boat Show, the press conference will feature keynote speaker Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufactures Association (NMMA), who will present information on the marine industry followed by a question and answer session. Brad Read, executive director of Sail Newport, will provide an update on the Newport stopover of the 2014 -15 Volvo Ocean Race. The event will conclude with remarks by Harry Winthrop, the mayor of Newport.

“We are pleased to welcome this year’s speakers to what is shaping up to be an exciting show,” said Tom Delotto, director of Newport Exhibition Group. “The Mayor’s participation and the Volvo Ocean Race’s interest in our town are a testament to Newport’s strong and significant ties to the marine industry. We are encouraged by the number of exhibitors and strong showing of boats, and we look forward to the hearing the latest from Thom Dammrich on the industry’s growth and what the future holds.”

Expected to draw tens of thousands to historic Newport, the Newport International Boat Show will take place September 12-15, 2013 on the Newport Waterfront along America’s Cup Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. One of the largest in-water boat shows in the country, the event will host nearly 750 exhibitors from around the world with an exceptional assortment of boats of every type and style from 15 to 85 feet, and a wide variety of accessories, equipment, electronics, gear and services for boaters.

www.newportboatshow.com