Metstrade organizers expect a strong show this year, with a record number of speakers, exhibitors and, possibly, attendees. Last year’s show had 16,716 visitors representing 115 nationalities. The show had more than 1,600 exhibitors from 50 countries, with 237 companies displaying for the first time.
More than 1,650 exhibitors, including 250 new companies, are registered for this year’s event in Amsterdam, which takes place Nov. 19-21 at the RAI exhibition center.
“One of the most pleasing aspects of these new exhibitor numbers is that they come from 35 different countries,” said Irene Dros, maritime director of the Metstrade Show in a statement. “This is a direct result of our strong partnerships with ICOMIA and its members. It also reflects the efforts of the RAI’s global representatives and project team, and the ongoing success of our co-ownership partnership of the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference in the United States.”
Dros said that working with associations such as SYBASS, its own exhibition committee, speaker and expert panels, and the DAME and Boat Builder Award juries also shapes Metstrade. “This is an event arranged by the people of our sector for the people of our sector, and that is key to its ongoing growth,” she said.
The opening ceremony at this year’s Breakfast Briefing includes a keynote by Feadship director Henk de Vries. He will speak about the “role played by family ties in the evolution of many yachting companies,” as well as ways to expand marine workforces. His keynote will be followed by the presentation of the Dame awards.
Dros said the record number of speakers across different platforms will touch on very different topics. The different venues include the Construction in Process Stage, E-nnovation Stage, Young Professionals Club Stage and I-nnovation Stage. There will also be a “Speakers Corner” where presenters will continue the discussions after the presentations. The I-nnovationLAB will host three panel discussions on sustainability issues, specifically on global biofouling, end-of-use boats and the latest environmental situation in the recreational marine sector as a whole.
The event has partnered with the Water Revolution Foundation, an organization that plans to increase sustainability throughout the yachting industry. This year’s Material District presentation focuses on bio-based and recycled raw materials. The E-nnovationLAB stage will focus on electric and hybrid information.
“The ultimate goal of our educational and knowledge-sharing program is to cover current and future topics which relate to the developments of the industry,” Dros said. “Over the past five years, we’ve been actively increasing the number of sustainability initiatives at three distinct levels: reaching out, networking and sharing information about sustainability-driven initiatives.”
The event will also have a new “Trade Counsellors Hospitality Lounge,” which will host more than 50 Trade Counsellors, as well as ambassadors from each country with a national pavilion on the exhibition floor. The Trade Counsellors will provide targeted advice on doing business in their countries.
Other events include NMEA education seminars and the Superyacht Forum. PIANC RecCom, the Recreational Navigation Commission of the World Association of Waterborne Navigation Infrastructure, will host a Marina Design Training Program. The Global Marina Institute will also offer a series on marina design.
