After our recent feature on Valencia and the changes it is making within the superyacht industry it was an absolute pleasure to be invited by Valencia Tourism to experience the newly revamped Valencia Boatshow first hand. The last Boatshow in the Mediterranean calendar Valencia Boatshow is perfectly suited to welcome an increasingly international crowd of visitors and exhibitors. The facilities are second to none, the atmosphere is convivial, and the real estate that can be expanded into, is ready and waiting for that expansion.
As we go to press we have received exciting information at the conclusion of the 2019 edition. It was clear that the new commitment to combine the professional and open areas was a great success and the event had a record number of visitors with a total of 22,300 entering over the five days of the event.
Besides the increase in the number of exhibitors, the greater quality of the offering was also outstanding, and was confirmed by the companies themselves who were present in the Boatowners Area, that received visitors from Madrid, Murcia, Andalusia, northern Spain and the Canary Islands, in addition to a good number of international clients.
The show ended the 11th edition with very positive results: 94 exhibiting companies, more than 90 boats afloat and on the dry, 28,000 m2 of exhibition space and the aforementioned record number of visitors. “We have one of the best venues in the world to host a boat show. The first objective of this year was to strengthen the presence of exhibitors and to increase last year’s figure, which we have achieved, having almost reached one hundred exhibitors. I have to thank all the exhibitors who have believed in us. Their trust has allowed us to have the necessary resources for this event to go well,” said the director of the Valencia Boat Show, Nacho Gomez – Zarzuela.
For his part, the general director of La Marina de València, Vicent Llorens, emphasised the strong points of the show: “in addition to the exhibition pool, the possibility of testing boats at sea and the fact that it is the show that closes the circuit of the Mediterranean season, La Marina offers the city of Valencia, which is a very interesting destination to come with the excuse of the show, as it offers world class catering, hotels, shops and cultural and leisure activities.
The Valencia Boat Show 2019 achieved its twofold aim of confirming itself as an event of reference in terms of turnover for the sale of new boats and as a show that brings the sea closer to citizens. “We know that exhibitors have made good contacts this year and have closed sales and that there are operations underway. It should be borne in mind that an important part of the annual turnover of many companies is generated in this show,” said the director of the event, Nacho Gomez – Zarzuela. “In parallel, we wanted to convey to people that there are many ways to enjoy the sea. And thanks to a combination of collaborations we were able to offer nautical activities for the public,” added the event director.
Last Friday, during the exhibitors evening, the president of the Union of Nautical Companies, Isabel Gil, announced the 2020 dates: from the 28th of October to the 1st of November, again with the joint organisation of employer stakeholders and La Marina de València, and with professionalised management.
We for one are excited to witness where this delightful show’s journey takes it and how the expansion, with the introduction of even larger boats and the participation of more internationally renowned companies such as the big brokers, making it the place to end the Mediterranean superyacht calendar.
