Thousands of recreational boating industry stakeholders from around the world this week descended on the RAI Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. This year’s event was the first time in two years the show was presented fully in-person. (The 2020 show was cancelled due to Covid-19 and the 2021 show was held as a hybrid virtual/in-person event with strict Covid-19 protocols in place.)
Compared with Metstrade 2019, the last pre-pandemic installment of the trade show, this year’s metrics were very strong. In 2019 the show hosted 26,984 visits by 17,792 unique visitor and was covered by 228 members of the press. A total of 1,670 exhibitors from 53 countries displayed products at the 2019 show.
This year, according to show organizers, a total of 1,400 exhibiting companies from 49 countries filled 10 halls at RAI Center between Nov. 15 and 18. The event welcomed 26,480 visits from 17,417 visitors and was covered by 160 members of the marine press.
“There has been an incredible amount of work happening behind the scenes this year,” Niels Klarenbeek, maritime director of Metstrade, said in a statement. “We wanted to ensure that Metstrade was completely fit for purpose in resuming its critical role as the epicenter for the whole global marine leisure sector during three very busy days in Amsterdam. The feedback we have received suggests those efforts have paid off, with exhibitors and visitors able to take maximum advantage of meeting up together again.”
Metstrade organizers made an extra effort to attract younger visitors and reported that 23% of all visiting professionals were age 18 to 35. The Young Professionals Club welcomed them with a meet-and-greet session and show tours. Additionally, the Australian International Marine Export Group sponsored the 2021 and 2022 Apprentices of the Year and named two Rising Starts from the United States and the United Kingdom.
“The partnership we have with METSTRADE gets stronger every year,” Sarah Anghel, president of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations, said in the statement. “We weathered the storm of COVID by working closely together and we have much to celebrate now with such a high level of quality attendance and business made at this year’s show.”
Metstrade 2023 runs Nov. 15-17 at RAI Center in Amsterdam.
