Yacht Business Improves – Boat Show Retrospective

Show Management believes turnaround in yachting business has begun from evidence of recent Palm Beach International Boat Show

There were signs at the recent Palm Beach International Boat Show that the much anticipated turnaround of the yachting industry has begun.  Compared to 2011, attendance was up 12 percent cumulatively the first two days of the four-day show. Show Management, the company which produces the boat show, reported more boats on display in several categories this year, including a 35 percent increase in yachts over 100 feet and 29 percent more yachts in the 80 to 100 foot range. 

Another criterion, exhibitor revenue, increased 5 percent, according to Show Management. This year’s show added 40 mega-yacht slips at Palm Harbor Marina at the show’s north end to accommodate growing interest in larger yachts. Many exhibitors reported news of sales and the overall observation that confident and qualified buyers have returned in greater numbers than the past several years.

The yachting company with the largest display was HMY Yachts, which brought 59 boats to the event, the largest number of boats by one exhibitor in Show Management’s history of producing boat shows. Ranging in size from 31 to 162 feet, the boats in HMY’s display are priced from $150,000 to $36.9 million.   

The Palm Beach International Boat Show is owned and sponsored by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc. (MIAPBC), and managed and produced by Show Management, the world’s leading boat show company.