From Insight to Action: Charting What’s Next for Boating

Marketing leaders from across the recreational boating industry gathered in Tampa this week for the 2026 Discover Boating Marketing Leadership Summit-an exclusive event for NMMA and MRAA manufacturer and dealer members focused on how the industry can work together to reach and engage the next wave of boaters.

Attendees took a deeper dive into the progress made to date on Discover Boating's industry-led market expansion strategy and heard fresh perspectives from marketing innovators outside the marine industry. Interactive workshops and peer collaboration brought those ideas back to boating, giving manufacturer and dealer marketers an opportunity to exchange perspectives, challenge thinking and explore how we can collectively turn insight into action to grow boating.

The Summit featured marketing leaders from some of the world's most recognizable brands and organizations, including:

• Tom Salkowsky, Former BMW Group Marketing and Retail Executive, on lessons from automotive in brand building, customer experience and driving growth.
• Martin Nance, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Minnesota Vikings and Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, on building fandom and cultivating lasting loyalty.
• Pete Blackshaw, Co-Founder and CEO of BrandRank.AI and former global digital strategy leader at Nestlé, on AI, trust and navigating a rapidly changing marketing landscape.
• RoseAnne DeFreitas, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, on evolving marketing strategies to connect with today's and tomorrow's consumers.

Watch the highlights below for a look inside this year's Summit.