MIAMI BEACH — The Miami Yacht Show is wrapping up its last event on Collins Avenue after 30 years at the location.
Pending state and federal permits, the show is moving just north of downtown in 2019, next to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and Sea Isle Marina.
Organizers said the move was prompted by ease of access, ample parking, and proximity to the Miami International Boat Show, a separately owned and operated show that runs concurrently on Virginia Key.
“This is a collaborative move that is designed to make Miami’s boat show week an easily accessible, interconnected system of events,” said Informa general manager Andrew Doole in a statement. Informa is the Miami Yacht Show’s co-owner and producer.
The waterfront property of the new site, which is located between the Venetian and MacArthur causeways, is owned by Resorts World Miami LLC, a Genting Company.
The show’s product mix will continue to feature new and brokerage yachts, with the added benefit of more on-land exhibit space for luxury components such as exotic cars and private aircraft in the new location.
Ease of access and proximity to the Miami International Boat Show will make it more convenient for attendees to attend both events on one day than it has been since MIBS moved from the Miami Beach Convention Center to the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key in 2016.
Exhibitors on the docks at the Miami Yacht Show were chatting about the move on Saturday, with many praising the decision. Though too early to offer specific quotes, several mentioned the deep water at the new location and the proximity to MIBS as positives.
The new Miami Yacht Show location brings with it increased parking capacity, with approximately 3,500 spots.
In addition, water taxi transportation will connect the 2019 Miami Yacht Show to its secondary site, known as Super Yacht Miami, at the Island Gardens Deep Harbour marina on Watson Island.
“The show will be better positioned for growth with additional land space to enhance and expand VIP lounges and add entertainment and additional concession options, as well as benefit from the proximity to Island Gardens Deep Harbour for yachts up to 400 feet,” Doole said. “That being said, we are grateful for the many great years of support and collaboration with the City of Miami Beach and all the other entities that have contributed to the success of the show for the past 30 years.”
Added Paul Flannery, president of the International Yacht Brokers Association, which co-owns the show, “We are extremely excited about the future of the Miami Yacht Show and our partnership with Informa,”
He continued, “I firmly believe that the move to our new venue will provide combined vendor and customer services that are unparalleled in the boat-show world. Great displays, easy access and the energy of a modern and international city, combined with great hotel, dining and entertainment facilities, will provide a consumer experience that no boater will want to miss. It’s not just a boat show; it’s an event.”
“The Miami Yacht Show is a world-renowned display of the finest vessels and there is no better place to hold such an illustrious event than our Biscayne Bayfront property,” said Patricia Lawrence, president of the Hilton Miami Downtown and Resorts World Bimini. “We are proud to host the Miami Yacht Show, and we are excited to help bring this and other large-scale shows and special events to the cultural epicenter of Miami.”
