American Boating Congress 2025: Policy and market shifts in focus
The 2025 American Boating Congress (ABC) — an advocacy event encompassing all segments of the recreational boating industry — is currently taking place in Washington, DC.
The three-day event, which kicked off on Monday (12 May 2025) and runs until today (14 May 2025), began with a morning session led by Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). He was joined by Bryan Redmond, CEO and co-founder of Suntex Marinas, and Brett McGill, president and CEO of MarineMax for a fireside chat-style discussion.
The first session opened with a welcome and expression of thanks to attendees, followed by an overview of the themes for ABC 2025. Hugelmeyer, McGill and Redmond addressed some of the key issues affecting NMMA members, including current market conditions and the importance of strategic planning.
Some of the insights from discussions so far have included the need to navigate significant headwinds in the industry, address changing market dynamics and shifting demographics, with an emphasis on cultivating future boat owners.
Several speakers have noted that improving the customer experience through technology is seen as essential for building confidence, lowering intimidation and cultivating long-term involvement in the industry. The potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, is also being discussed in the context of modernising operations and attracting new boaters and buyers.
Speakers have also pointed to the importance of a “full-circle strategy”, rooted in targeted marketing and a clearly defined customer profile from manufacturer to showroom, for sustained growth.
Following the welcome session on Monday, a panel discussion titled “Charting the Course for a Shifting Regulatory Landscape” was moderated by Robyn Boerstling, NMMA senior vice president of government relations and chief advocacy officer. The panel included Braden Boucek, vice president of litigation at the Southeastern Legal Foundation, and Roger Nober, professor of practice of public policy and public administration and director of the GW Regulatory Studies Center.
The discussion focused on how federal regulatory policy is evolving in response to recent court decisions, including the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright case, which potentially alters how much authority federal agencies have when interpreting and enforcing regulations. Panellists examined possible changes to the regulatory environment, including opportunities to reduce compliance costs, clarify legislation and ease burdens on businesses.
On Tuesday, economist Dr Shawn DuBravac gave a detailed analysis of the economic trends influencing the current marketplace, emphasising that volatility has become a constant and exploring its implications for consumer behaviour, business strategy and the recreational boating sector.
