Have your say in the UK boat show debate
09 Mar 2010
Have your say about the UK boat shows
Boating Business has started a LinkedIn group to debate whether the UK needs two boat shows. Have your say now.
DEBATE: Following the articles in the February issue of Boating Business that questioned whether the UK needs two boat shows, BB set up a special LinkedIn group last week to discuss the situation.
The debate on everyone’s lips at the recent Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show was all about the future of the London boat show, with many exhibitors insisting they would not come back to another ExCeL boat show.
Since the first ExCeL show in 2004 achieved an astonishing 213,800 visitors, the attendance has fallen every year. This year’s show achieved just 102,655. That will net down to about 85,000ish, maybe 90,000 paying visitors.
So the problem now for the organisers National Boat Shows (NBS) is what to do to make the UK leisure marine industry want to go back to ExCeL.
Because while National Boat Shows insists the UK does need two boat shows, the trade tells BB they might well be Southampton and Liverpool.
So far the Boating Business group coments include: ‘My vote is is for a fabulous BOAT SHOW BONANZA, a festival of all things boating in Southampton – adjacent to and on the water at Mayflower Park in either March or September.’
‘I believe that the internet has changed the way boat buyers research boats and that the days of ultralarge boat shows are numbered. Why go to a show when you can research, compare and book a test sail online?’
‘Before the whole marine industry dons its (waterproof) sack cloth and ashes it probably needs to visit the Ideal Home Exhibition to see just how low an exhibition can fall.’
‘There's been much talk within South Devon Marine about this issue with the feeling being that one show in London in September might be the way to go.’
Have your say by joining the Boating Business LinkedIn group – sign up and add your comments at http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/2828157/
The debate on everyone’s lips at the recent Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show was all about the future of the London boat show, with many exhibitors insisting they would not come back to another ExCeL boat show.
Since the first ExCeL show in 2004 achieved an astonishing 213,800 visitors, the attendance has fallen every year. This year’s show achieved just 102,655. That will net down to about 85,000ish, maybe 90,000 paying visitors.
So the problem now for the organisers National Boat Shows (NBS) is what to do to make the UK leisure marine industry want to go back to ExCeL.
Because while National Boat Shows insists the UK does need two boat shows, the trade tells BB they might well be Southampton and Liverpool.
So far the Boating Business group coments include: ‘My vote is is for a fabulous BOAT SHOW BONANZA, a festival of all things boating in Southampton – adjacent to and on the water at Mayflower Park in either March or September.’
‘I believe that the internet has changed the way boat buyers research boats and that the days of ultralarge boat shows are numbered. Why go to a show when you can research, compare and book a test sail online?’
‘Before the whole marine industry dons its (waterproof) sack cloth and ashes it probably needs to visit the Ideal Home Exhibition to see just how low an exhibition can fall.’
‘There's been much talk within South Devon Marine about this issue with the feeling being that one show in London in September might be the way to go.’
Have your say by joining the Boating Business LinkedIn group – sign up and add your comments at http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/2828157/
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