MTI At 25—Perfecting The Owners Run
Starting tomorrow afternoon, locals in the Middle Florida Keys likely will notice an influx of striking MTI catamarans and center consoles—45 of them to be precise. That’s because the Wentzville, Mo.-based company is hosting its eighth annual Owners Run to the Florida Keys, which will take over the Hawk’s Cay Resort on Duck Key this weekend.
Guiding loyal customers to paradise is part of MTI’s winning event formula. Photos from the 2019 MTI Owners Fun Run by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
How popular have these events become with brand loyalists? They tend to fill the same day—strike that, the same hour—they open.
MTI didn’t “invent” brand-specific, group adventures to reward its loyal owners in the powerboat world. But company founder Randy Scism and his daughter, Taylor, MTI’s client relations manager, have mostly perfected them to the point where they’ve become selling points for the boats they build.
They’ve created a blueprint for event success, and one they’re constantly fine-tuning.
MTI owners events tend to attract some of the company’s most memorable creations.
“This year, we paired down the event to 45 boats to create more intimate, specialized experience,” said Taylor Scism. “And we offered also offered a New Year’s date to give more of customers a chance to go.”
MTI’s recipe for success is simple: Take clients to a beautiful location and give them lots of time to explore. For those want to strike out on their own in their boats, nothing planned is mandatory. For those who prefer something more social, there are planned group outings. On the night the fleet arrives, there’s a welcome party. The following evening is for participants to use as they wish. On the final night, MTI hosts a dinner celebration.
The beauty of all this? The only way to be invited is to be an MTI owner. And the only way to be an MTI owner is to buy one.
Thanks to former MTI 340X catamaran owner Bob Christie, the author had a first-person, helm-station view of the 2019 event.
Editor’s note: “MTI At 25” is a weekly series on speedonthewater.com celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary. A new installment will go live every Wednesday on speedonthewater.com through the end of the year.
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