Whether it was the good weather, the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines or the heightened demand for boats — if not all three — attendance at Thursday’s opening of the Palm Beach International Boat Show was better than expected for many exhibitors.
“It seems like it’s a historic high for the number of people here on a Thursday,” Kyle Langbehn, president of retail operations for MarineMax, told Trade Only Today.
The weather was straight out of a Florida tourist guide: clear and sunny, with temperatures hitting a high of 87 degrees.
Show producer Informa Markets had its AllSecure health and safety protocols in place. All in attendance had their temperature taken before being allowed inside the venue, and masks were required. Informa safety ambassadors were positioned inside the entrances to remind showgoers not remove their masks; however, during an afternoon spent walking the docks, compliance with that rule was inconsistent at best.
The full report from Louisa Beckett at Trade Only Today can be found here.
“It’s a phenomenal opening day,” Frank Ferraro, marketing manager for Nautical Ventures Group, told Trade Only Today. “In all the years I’ve been coming to this show, opening day was always a soft day. Not only is it busier than I’ve seen, but the quality of the [attendees] is high. They are active boaters looking to buy their next boat or toy.”
