FORT LAUDERDALE – This year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), held Oct. 27-31, was the best show yet, said Andrew Doole, president of Informa’s U.S. Boat Shows.
“From accessories to superyachts, there was an unprecedented volume of business,” Doole reported. A billion dollars in sales, to be exact, he added.
“Dealers told us they had never done business at this level at a boat show before,” he said.
There were more serious buyers at the five-day show than in previous years.
This year, the 62nd The annual FLIBS show is back in full force, with more than 1,000 boats on display after a scaled-down edition in 2020 due to the pandemic. The show is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets.
The world’s largest boat show, representing $1.3 billion in annual economic impact, impressed on every level, with some of the world’s most remarkable boats, yachts and superyachts on display.
Surprisingly, overall attendance was record-breaking this year, attracting over 6% more visitors than the previous record set in 2019. Quite a feat considering there were fewer foreign marine industry executives at the show due to the US-imposed international air travel bans that were still in place.
Health and safety were a top priority for all attendees, exhibitors, employees and others, who were required to adhere to AllSecure standards. Hand sanitizer stations were installed at show entrances and in restrooms, and deep cleaning was carried out before, during and after each day of the show.
Additionally, with over 80% of the show taking place in open-air outdoor spaces, FLIBS provided a safe environment.
FLIBS spans nearly 90 acres with 3 million square feet of exhibit space connected by a complex network of water and land transportation services. The heart of FLIBS was the Bahia Mar Yachting Center. Adjacent Hall of Fame and Las Olas marinas, Pier 66 Marina and the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center were also utilized. The Convention Center was a major part of the show, Doole said, and featured brands like Nautical Ventures and Aquazone, Robalo, Grady-White and many others.
The first phase of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center expansion – the 350,000-square-foot exhibit hall – opened on October 27, 2021, housing the indoor portion of FLIBS.
“Exhibitors and show attendees were extremely excited to bring the indoor portion of the boat show back to the convention center this year,” said Ed Simon, executive vice president of Visit Lauderdale. “The boat show is the Super Bowl of events for Greater Fort Lauderdale. Take 2019. It generated more than $1.3 billion in regional economic impact and more than $700 million in product sales, along with thousands of visitors and attendees from around the world.”
With demand for boating products and accessories at an all-time high, FLIBS provided an opportunity for consumers and exhibitors to meet in person and showcase highly sought-after products. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, more than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, sales figures not seen in the recreational boating industry since the Great Recession of 2008.
Work continues on the $1.2 billion expansion of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, including an east-facing expansion with waterfront ballrooms, meeting rooms and kitchens, a sprawling outdoor waterfront plaza and an 800-room upscale hotel connected to the convention center. Full completion is expected by late 2025.
Contact Andrew Doole at (954) 764-7642 or andrew.doole@informa.com