This upcoming February, the 75th Miami International Boat Show will bring over 100,000 visitors to the area for the five-day event. As you can imagine, a show of this size yields benefits to not only the attendees but the entire state. “The show is a tremendous economic driver for the state of Florida with an annual economic impact of $600 million annually, creating in excess of $30 million in sales tax,” says Cathy Rick-Joule, Vice President of the Boat Show Division for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

Rick-Joule has spent several decades working with the show and was kind enough to take a little bit of time out of her busy schedule to tell attendees what to expect and what’s new at the 2016 Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show — “the world’s premier boating event.” Not only is there a brand new location, there’s a lot of new features the show is bringing to enhance your experience. Here’s a list of our favorite new additions to this year’s event:

• Firsts: Large events have so many moving parts, it can be difficult to add new features and opportunities for attendees, but this hasn’t stopped the NMMA and event organizers from providing a whole host of firsts, including free events and activities. “For the first time ever, boating enthusiasts will be able to view boats directly in the water, take a boating course through Discover Boating Hands-On Skills Training or test drive the dreamboat they’ve been eyeing. Plus, they can get their feet wet at Try It Cove, a brand new area at the Miami Boat Show offering up free paddle boarding and more.”

• Fresh Tastes: What would a Miami show be without great food? According to Cathy, the whole family has something to look forward to when it’s time to eat. “This year’s show features a variety of exciting new food and beverage options and experiences, including a BBQ restaurant, beer garden, cigar and wine bar, on the go lunch options, and an interactive kids’ area where they can build their own pizzas.”

• Free shuttles: The show is partnering with Freebee to provide free rides on routes in popular, high-traffic areas, and are outfitted with mini HD televisions and audio systems.  To request rides select the “Take me to the Boat Show” button on the home screen of the Freebee Mobile App.

• MORE Parking: This year’s new location and the efforts of the show staff have resulted in seven times more parking spots than last year in Miami Beach. The additional parking will allow for attendees to easily venture in and out of the show and relax instead of spending hours looking for a spot.

Make sure to join Frigibar Industries at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show February 11 – 15 at the Miami Stadium Park & Basin. For more information, visit MiamiBoatShow.com.