Ballyhoo Media Launches Exclusive Advertising Partnership with Potomac Water Taxi, Bringing Large-Format Vessel Wraps to Washington DC

Ballyhoo Media, the nation's leading waterway out-of-home advertising company, today announced an exclusive advertising partnership with Potomac Water Taxi, operated by Hornblower Group. Beginning this spring, Ballyhoo will offer full exterior vessel wraps on the Potomac Water Taxi fleet, allowing brands to reach the Washington, DC metro area in a fresh, highly impactful medium.

Full double-sided exterior wraps, up to 88 feet in size, will move along routes connecting Georgetown, The Wharf, Alexandria, and National Harbor. Running up to 10 hours daily, the fleet passes the Pentagon, Kennedy Center, major convention centers, and high-value commercial, government, and residential corridors throughout Downtown DC.

Washington, DC’s strict zoning and historic preservation regulations have long made it one of the most difficult markets in the country for large-format outdoor advertising. This partnership directly fills that void, delivering the only OOH platform capable of reaching Georgetown, The Wharf, Alexandria, and National Harbor in a single buy.

"Talk about making a splash," said Tyler Zlatin, CRO of Ballyhoo Media. "Advertisers are constantly looking for ways to make an impression in this market, and until now, there simply hasn't been a solution like this. With this product, we're putting the equivalent of two billboards combined, floating past the most influential communities in the DC metro area, right in front of the audiences brands have been trying to reach for years."

Passing GW Parkway, I-395, I-495, and Memorial Bridge, arterials carrying a combined 550,000-plus vehicles daily, the vessels deliver large-format visibility at the heart of the region's busiest commuter corridors. Operating within approximately 100 feet of shoreline, the water taxis bring brands directly into some of the region's most sought-after waterfront neighborhoods across Georgetown, Arlington, and Alexandria, reaching audiences at offices, residences, restaurants, parks, and pedestrian-heavy shoreline destinations.

The Potomac Water Taxi joins Ballyhoo Media's national portfolio of waterway transit advertising, which includes Chicago Water Taxi, San Francisco Bay Ferry, Washington State Ferries, Staten Island Ferry, Fire Island Ferry, and Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi. Ballyhoo Media now reaches more than 45 million premium commuters onboard annually, with millions more along surrounding shorelines.

“Our vessels are a highly visible part of the waterfront communities we serve,” said Chad Barth, Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Region for City Cruises. “Through this partnership with Ballyhoo Media, we’re unlocking a dynamic new platform for brands to engage with residents, commuters, and visitors in an innovative way.” Vessel wraps are now available for the 2025 operating season, running March through December.

ABOUT BALLYHOO MEDIA

Ballyhoo Media is the nation’s largest waterway media company, specializing in ferry advertising, water taxi wraps, digital billboard boats, and experiential activations. With exclusive partnerships across major markets, including New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Miami, and Chicago, Ballyhoo partners with transit agencies and maritime operators nationwide to deliver high-impact campaigns for local, regional, and national brands.