Boat show organizers worldwide were watching intently as the United States and Europe announced a trade deal in late July. It was an eagerly anticipated moment, with global uncertainty creating challenges ahead of what is typically the biggest deal-making season in the boating industry.
“I think with the smaller-booth exhibitors, the tariffs are having an effect,” Andrew Doole, president of U.S. boat shows for Informa, said amid preparations for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida. “We’ve got the Italian trade association or the German pavilion, and they’re waiting to see where the tariffs land.”
The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference in Tampa, Fla., was dealing with the same dynamic, according to show director Mary Velline. “The North American space is sold, and we’re working hard on some international,” Velline says. “That’s where it’s been a little tougher.”
In Europe, the same phenomenon was occurring in reverse, according to Niels Klarenbeek, director of Metstrade. That trade show had some U.S. exhibitors pressing the hold button before committing to space at the convention center in Amsterdam. “There are still some vendors sitting on the fence,” Klarenbeek says, “but eager to participate once we have some more clarity on international trade.”
Overall, though, the organizers of these shows and others, including the Cannes Yachting Festival, were preparing to put on full-scale shows in the hopes that by the time attendees hit the ground this fall, there will be a real opportunity to start turning around the challenging business climate that has persisted across most market segments. “I think that product-wise, by October, people will be really excited to come out to a show again, and I think the amount of product on display will create excitement,” Doole says. “There will be a lot of new models from multiple manufacturers. The show will not be diminished in any way as a reflection of the economy.”
Metstrade
The Metstrade show, Klarenbeek says, is actually growing. Last year, it hosted more than 1,600 exhibitors. This year, when the doors open Nov. 18 in the Netherlands, there will be around 1,700 exhibitors, with an even bigger show-floor plan. “Metstrade is doing extremely well despite all the turmoil,” Klarenbeek says. “We are adding another hall. That is our last remaining hall in our convention center, so Metstrade 2025 will take all of RAI Convention Center.”
One reason Metstrade is powering through, he says, is the luxury and superyacht segment for boats about 130 feet and larger — a core focus of business that takes place at the show. “Most of the superyacht builders report filled order books, and this entire ecosystem of suppliers around them do very well. They have been wait-listed for space for the past few years,” Klarenbeek says. “We finally had the opportunity to open up another hall. Existing exhibitors are applying for larger spaces. New exhibitors are coming for the first time.”
The superyacht segment, he adds, is not experiencing the same headwinds as smaller-boat segments. “We see it currently booming, so those are not only suppliers to manufacturers of superyacht equipment of new builds, but we also have extended our scope of the show and included superyacht refits,” he says. “There’s a fleet of 6,000 superyachts out there. We at least need to overhaul or refit them every three years or more. So we now also included a program and reasons to exhibit and allowed refit yards to exhibit.”
New at Metstrade this year will be the U.S. and Canadian pavilions moving to Hall 12, which is also home to the Italian pavilion, creating a major overall attraction. There also will be a North American Stage for educational events organized in consultation with the National Marine Manufacturers Association, IBEX and others in the United States. “We worked together with NMMA and the organizers of the U.S. and Canadian pavilions, and with IBEX in Tampa and with Michele Goldsmith at Soundings Trade Only,” Klarenbeek says. (Goldsmith is vice president and general manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group.)
Metstrade is also seeing growth among exhibitors in the construction materials segment, he adds. “If you’re looking into composites, many players do aviation, trains, wind turbines and automotive. Many of them are considering, hey, why don’t we do yachts?” Klarenbeek says. “If you’re aiming at the yacht market and getting into a dialogue with yachtbuilders, then Metstrade is the place to be. We see a number of new players in the composites area.”
On the whole, he says, Metstrade has grown so large that it’s too much to see in a single day. “We now encourage every visitor to make sure they are booking in for a multiple-day visit,” he says. “The show is there for three days. There are plenty of things to see and do and discover.”
IBEX
The show, which opens Oct. 7 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., is bringing back its popular seminar series with a mix of technical topics that will include the American Boat & Yacht Council’s E-11 standard for AC and DC electrical systems. It’s at the forefront of many builders’ strategic thinking, with the standard, published July 31, to include new voltage-drop tables, including for 48-volt systems.
IBEX will offer attendees a chance to discuss that new standard in as much detail as they want, Velline says: “Our core seminar series is pretty technical. Naval engineers love it. It does get in the weeds.”
The IBEX seminar series will also delve into applications for artificial intelligence, she says. Discussions are expected to include ways that AI might be used in robotics, reshoring manufacturing and more. “I think right now, with the economy the way it is, there’s a lot of advancements that could be done, but will it pay off? That’s the real question,” Velline says. “What will consumers pay for right now? What needs to be tabled until market conditions change or consumers catch up?”
Also coming back to IBEX for the second year is the Startup Pavilion, organized by Yachting Ventures. It’s a Shark Tank-style pitching competition for companies seeking investors. Attendees also will be able to read the first print issue of Professional Boatbuilder published since IBEX bought the magazine.
NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer will present the Innovation Awards this year, and speaker Kevin O’Connor from This Old House will deliver the keynote speech. “The housing industry is going through a very similar experience as us,” Velline says. “He’ll be discussing how they’ve navigated it, and he’s very passionate about workforce development.”
New this year will be the Marine Ideas Exchange, or MIX, organized by Goldsmith. “MIX is exciting,” Velline says. “It’s unique to IBEX in that it’s broad. It will be management and leadership and business-type issues for the marine industry in a fast-paced format.”
Goldsmith compares MIX — scheduled for 7:30 to 10 a.m., Oct. 8 — to TedX talks. There will be five sessions, each running 35 minutes. Soundings Trade Only editor-in-chief Gary Reich will interview Correct Craft CEO Bill Yeargin about impactful leadership. Yeargin will then join Jason Lippert of Lippert Components to discuss culture and corporate leadership as a force for good. Leaders of Raymarine, Garmin and Watershed Innovations will discuss the next wave of technology. Top executives at West Marine, Viage Group, Galati Yachts and Chris-Craft will talk about the future of marine retail. And leaders of Winnebago Industries, Raymarine, Correct Craft and the Marine Marketers of America will discuss building a brand’s DNA.
“The idea came to me because I went to a nonendemic conference in New York, and I really liked the format where they had multiple theaters going on at once with shorter events and opportunities to gather, network and relax between sessions,” Goldsmith says. “I wanted to bring that type of format to IBEX. The topics are important. We’re all looking for ways to differentiate ourselves, to grow our businesses, especially in times that are challenging.”
FLIBS
Doole says the good news heading into the Fort Lauderdale show, which opens Oct. 29, is that boatbuilders already know how to create a strong display even if the tariff situation isn’t fully sorted out in time to import new product from across the pond. “The larger sector that is so important to the show for us is the Italian builders, and they’re front-and-center strong,” Doole says. “Azimut-Benetti, Ferretti Group, Sanlorenzo — they’ll be here in full strength. From the U.K., Sunseeker and Princess, they settled their tariffs awhile ago, so they’ll be there with strong showings.”
Models debuting at FLIBS are expected to include the Sanlorenzo BGM75, Princess F58 and 80S, Cruisers 38 VTR and 50 Fly, Moon Yachts 60, Steeler Bronson 65 and 67 Beach Club, and Valhalla V-55 Sport Yacht. “In some cases, the boat is already here,” Doole adds. “The tariff is paid on the product. There were some cases, especially during Covid, when there wasn’t product around, and they were borrowing boats from customers. All of these builders have the ability to do that, too.”
As of late July, Doole says, ticket sales for FLIBS were pacing well and that attendees would have options for brand-new hotel rooms at the fully reopened Pier 66 and at the Omni. “That adjoins the convention center, so the exhibitors can stay there and be right on-site,” he says.
This year’s show will overtake all of Pier 66 North’s marina space, Doole says, after using only two docks last year. Boats at that site can be more than 300 feet, and Doole says he’s expecting to see launches from the Benetti Group and other major yards. “I think we’ll have probably half a dozen boats that are over 200 feet at Pier North,” he says. “And at Pier South, there will be a similar number. Certainly, that will be a superyacht hub.”
The Windward VIP Lounge also will be at Pier South, with a smaller Windward Cabana at the Hall of Fame Marina. “Hall of Fame will be fully engulfed in construction right after the show, so anything upland won’t be possible at Hall of Fame next year,” Doole says. “This is why we made the decision to move the Windward Lounge.”
Another new twist this year will be the Honors Awards moving to Fort Lauderdale from Monaco, in cooperation with the Superyacht Builders Association and Superyacht Life. “They’ll be honoring three individuals who have made a difference through their involvement in the marine industry or with the yacht they own,” Doole says. “It’s breaking down the stigma of the big, white boat. Look at what it does, not only the jobs it creates, but also the good it can do.”
Cannes Yachting Festival
There will also be plenty of new models at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival when the gates open Sept. 9, including the Horizon FD80 and the Lazzara LPC 300. But perhaps the biggest industry-insider news is that this edition will be the final curtain for longtime show manager Sylvie Ernoult. “The 2025 edition is particularly symbolic for me, as it will be the last one I will have the honor of managing,” Ernoult says. “The last few years have been rich, demanding and exciting. I have been fortunate enough to support the show’s growth, see it develop, reinvent itself and open up to new challenges, such as innovation and the ecological transition.”
Constance Brément, who was appointed deputy director of the festival in February, will take over show manager responsibilities beginning with the 2026 edition. This year at Cannes, Ernoult says, there will be a new layout for the main entrances to the Vieux Port and Port Canto, and a reinforced sea shuttle service. Some 700 boats are expected to be on display, from small models and pontoon boats to yachts.
The show will also highlight an Innovation Route to feature exhibitors working on decarbonization through electric propulsion, bio-based materials, intelligent systems and more. “This Innovation Route is also a powerful tool for visitors, who can organize their visit around the most innovative and responsible products,” Ernoult says.
“Faced with the current economic and geopolitical challenges,” she adds, “the Cannes Yachting Festival continues to support the sector and highlight its excellence.”
