Nov 20, 2017

The 58th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the largest in-water boat show in the world, attracted a world-wide audience of approximately 105,000 international buyers, sellers and browsers who came to see the latest that the global boating industry has to offer and to do business in the “Yachting Capital of the World.” Drawing visitors from more than 50 countries, attendance at this year’s event was up 7 percent over 2016.

Buyers had a larger selection to choose from, with an overall increase of 4 percent in the number of boats on display in the water, with a 9 percent jump in new boats under 100 feet and 10 percent growth in the number of brokerage (pre-owned) boats over 100 feet.

“Informa’s investments in the show delivered a superior visitor experience to previous shows,” said Andrew Doole, general manager of Informa, the show’s producer. “Excellent weather, a robust economy, realigned marketing efforts and a huge selection of new product offerings brought energetic crowds to the docks and exhibits daily.”

“We were very pleased with the traffic at this year’s show and the overall feeling of optimism among our brokers and clients when the show concluded,” said Sally Doleski, vice president of marketing for Ocean Alexander. “New docks, clear dock- markings for those trying to find their way through an incredibly large location, and increased variety for food and beverage options all added to the enjoyment of our guests at the show.”

The 58th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show spans more than three million square feet of exhibit space in-water and on land across seven locations including the Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel & Yachting Center, the Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Municipal Marina, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Sails Marina, Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Marina, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.