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FLIBS 2024 attendance?

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by YachtForums, Oct 20, 2024.

  1. YachtForums, Oct 20, 2024
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    YachtForums

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    On election years, snowbirds arrive late in Florida. I wonder if this will effect show turn-out?
  2. Trinimax, Oct 22, 2024
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    Trinimax

    Trinimax Senior Member

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    I dont mind if things are a bit quieter, less line at the bar. Main thing I am worried about is price of beers. Last year was $18 for a can of bud light.
    leeky and f3504x4ps like this.
  3. Yacht News, Oct 22, 2024
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    Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

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    I read that there is a 10% off General Admission and Windward VIP ticket prices, that's from Informa.
  4. YachtForums, Oct 22, 2024
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    YachtForums

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    It's about 200 miles round trip for me to drive to FLIBS so I looked into hotels near the show. Plenty of rooms available which is not a good sign. Room prices are likely contributing to availability. Most rooms are $500 a night. Bahia Mar is $750. No thanks!
  5. f3504x4ps, Oct 22, 2024
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    f3504x4ps

    f3504x4ps Member

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    Ouch, too expensive. Best Western in Cape Canaveral is over 350 a night.
  6. YachtForums, Nov 2, 2024
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    YachtForums

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    Interest rates, accessibility and boat prices that are disconnected from reality are all contributing to reduced show attendance. FLIBS costs marine manufacturers and vendors a boatload of money to display. Attendees can no longer buy a ticket upon arrival, they are forced to do it online so Informa can collect more information on you. Informa's nickel & dime attempt to recapture their investment benefits nobody. And while FLIBS used to be an International show, that contingent isn't as prevalent anymore. The dialect you're hearing is local.
    captainwjm likes this.
  7. ychtcptn, Nov 4, 2024
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    ychtcptn

    ychtcptn Senior Member

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    I thought the Convention center was empty on Friday, but the docks were a lot busier than Wed.

    Anecdotaly I was told 2nd hand that Informa is losing money on FLIBS and don't know how much longer they can keep it up.

    I wonder how much longer boat shows are really necessary? With social media and online presence are you still getting bang for your buck?
  8. YachtForums, Nov 4, 2024
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    YachtForums

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    Historically, a bellwether of the show was the number of private jets lining the tarmac at FLL and FXE. In the 2000's and part of the 2010's, you would see well over 100 jets between the two airports. The past few years, not so much.

    In somewhat related news, some airframers pulled out of the NBAA in Vegas earlier this month. With the marine industry being more vulnerable than business aviation, boat builders need accept and adapt to a changing market in the same way that digital has disrupted print. Nobody needs to attend a boat show to see the latest and greatest when online resources bring it to you in real-time.

    No doubt, boat shows are a spectacle for the senses and a great way to comparison shop, but business expenditures still need to make fiscal sense. For the amount of money spent on display space, they could have a presence on dozens of websites and reach FAR MORE people... every day.
    rocdiver, captainwjm and captholli like this.
  9. SplashFl, Nov 4, 2024
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    SplashFl

    SplashFl Senior Member

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    Buddy's wife, that does Title Work for several of the local boat sales facilities has been saying for a couple months business very slow. Since moving from Ft. Laud due to the out of control congestion down there, I avoid it, including the show this year.
  10. ychtcptn, Nov 5, 2024
    #10
    ychtcptn

    ychtcptn Senior Member

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    I presented the "are boat shows necessary" to a well known broker. He did not have the answer, but he did say one of his clients had the opportunity to see half a dozen boats he was interested in all in one day. For that reason, I think they still have relevance.
  11. Pascal, Nov 5, 2024
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    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    You can see 6 boats in a day outside boat shows here in Florida with a little planning.
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  12. Liam, Nov 5, 2024
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    Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    I think for the smaller sizes, but also for newer fresher brands boat shows makes a lot of sense.

    Yes probably all big Florida dealers are inventory-full, so if you live in that state, you do not need the Fort Lauderdale or Miami boat show to compare, let say a line up of 55 feet flybridge yachts.
    But for those in not so much boat centric states or countries, and with the issue of time (who does not have it) boat shows make a lot of sense if you do your home-work (or someone does it for you) before going well.

    For the bigger super yachts probably Fort Lauderdale is still the only show in North America really dedicated to the larger 50 meters plus size.
    So Fort Lauderdale and Monaco are your big super yacht shows to see of fifty meters or more. Is there a need for a boat show above that size.
    I am not so sure, but the growth of the Monaco yacht show, seems to remove much of the doubts.

    I love boat shows, and I think they are very important for the industry.
    Probably the scope of them has changed after Covid but I really do not see the industry moving forward without them, especially in the medium to large sizes (30-100ft).