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No London Boat Show in 2019 T
he organiser and owner of the London Boat Show, British Marine, has announced that the long-
running event, due to be held at ExCeL London, from 9-13 January, next year, will not take place. This decision was made after independent research by exhibition experts, Zing Insights, showed there was insufficient support from a large proportion of the marine industry to the London Boat Show in its current format, duration and location.
Zing Insights has carried out
personal interviews with over 67% of exhibitors. This revealed that whilst a number of marine companies supported the change to a five-day show, finding it preferable to a ten-day event, a large number of key exhibitors were not prepared to commit to exhibiting to a five-day show at ExCeL in January, 2019. Visitor research also showed that
consumer satisfaction with the 2018 London Boat Show was below acceptable industry standards. Visitor satisfaction was centred on the content of the show and specifically on the number and diversity of sailing and power boats exhibited. The research results showed a year-on-year decline in audience satisfaction, which would continue to fall if the show
proceeded in the same format and continued to fail to satisfy visitor expectations. Zing’s research findings were endorsed by British Marine’s exhibition sales staff who, despite intensive sales efforts, reported that an insufficient number of signed contracts of commitment to the 2019 Show had been returned. This was particularly significant amongst boatbuilders and boat retailers. Lack of signed contracts from this sector also affected confidence from other potential exhibitors, further reducing confirmed sign-ups within the deadline. Sales activity and support for the
London Boat Show is in sharp contrast with British Marine’s TheYachtMarket. com Southampton Boat Show, which attracts close to 500 exhibitors and more than 106,000 visitors and has the support of title sponsor
TheYachtMarket.com. The 2018 event is significantly ahead in terms of ticket sales and
exhibitor sign-ups compared to this time last year. TheYachtMarket. com Southampton Boat Show 2018, running over ten days from 14-23 September, celebrates its 50th year with a host of special events and activities scheduled to take place. The British Marine Boat Show
team is now able to put all its focus on ensuring
TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show 2018 is the most successful to date. British Marine is in talks with relevant landlords to increase the footprint of the event to meet exhibitor demands, both on land and in the marina. New and exciting content will include additional features, alongside new displays and attractions. “The decision to put the London
Boat Show on hold is naturally very disappointing for the British marine industry,” said David Pougher, President of British Marine, “but British Marine and its Board of Directors has a responsibility to its
members and we cannot commit to running a show, which is clearly forecasted in its current format to be commercially unviable and will not meet customer satisfaction levels. By contrast, TheYachtMarket. com Southampton Boat Show produces a positive contribution to the industry, is well-supported by exhibitors and visitors alike and is a highly successful event and we are now able to put all our energy, expertise and enthusiasm into this event”.
British Marine has said that making the decision to put the London Boat Show on hold now for 2019 enables the organisation to look at alternative options. “We are very aware that many companies in the marine industry look at a sales activity such as the London Boat Show in January as an excellent way to kick-start the year, but times change and we must do the same in order to offer events that are affordable, accessible, welcomed and supported by the industry and its customers, and are financially viable for all involved. This is now the task for the British Marine team, its Board, its members and valued advisors to seek new opportunities to support our industry,” concluded David Pougher. British Marine
info@britishmarine.co.uk www.britishmarine.co.uk
Two join committee for METSTRADE
Antoine Thomas, CEO of ENO (France), and Leo Stam, owner of Hydrosta (The Netherlands), have recently joined the METSTRADE Exhibition Committee. Both executives have extensive experience in the industry and strong ties with the show. The Exhibition Committee is an
advisory board – established in METSTRADE’s inaugural year of 1988 – that consists of seven to eight executives of exhibiting and visiting companies, who act as the voice and identify trends of
Antoine Thomas.
the global leisure marine industry. The committee is chaired by Irene Dros, Group Director, Maritime RAI Amsterdam. ICOMIA and its members are
MARINA INDUSTRY • EUROPE & MIDDLE EAST • JUNE 2018 Leo Stam.
represented via their Secretary- General, who has a permanent seat on the committee and, in addition, five to six exhibitors represent a variety of sectors within the
equipment manufacture and supply market. The term of membership is five to six years and each January, some of the committee are changed in order that new voices can be heard. The committee is convened three times a year to brainstorm, review and discuss those issues that are expected to have an impact on the next edition of METSTRADE and the future development of its proven and successful concept. METSTRADE
registration@metstrade.nl www.metstrade.com
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