CURRENTS NEW & NOTEWORTHYgoing into this year,” says Miami Boat
Show Manager Larry Berryman. “We’re
very optimistic. Consumer confi dence
is very high.”
The VIP experience has been available
since MIBS moved to Virginia Key in 2016,
but this year it will include space inside
the air-conditioned A Tent.
“The Marlows of the world, the Rivieras,
the big Sea Rays and Beneteaus, the high-
end manufacturers, they’re going to be
on Piers 8 and 9,” Berryman says. “The
northeast corner of A Tent has a glass
door and a patio, and you walk out, and
you’re overlooking those piers.”
In the past, food and beverages in the
VIP area were pay as you go; this year, the
$125 VIP ticket will include all you can
eat and drink options such as sushi, high-
end food stations, beers, wines and mixed
drinks (plus it covers the show entry fee).
“You can spend all day in there,” he
says. “You can have lunch and dinner
there. There will be food starting at
11 a.m. through 5:30. We’re really trying
to elevate that experience for our
attendees who want to step out of
the show when it really gets packed
on Friday and Saturday.”
Pier 9 will include the sailing yacht
and catamaran (power and sail) sec-
tion, with Strictly Sail Miami moving
from Bayside Marina to Virginia Key.
“There’s a lot of transitional buyers, a
lot of generational buyers that haven’t
considered sail or a catamaran because
they haven’t seen them,” Berryman says.
BOAT-SHOW MARKETPLACE: SHOP ONLINE
The Miami Yacht Show on Collins Avenue has created a digital platform called Boat Show
Marketplace that was scheduled to be online by the time you read this. Available 24/7/365,
the marketplace was developed with feedback from customers at other shows that Informa
Exhibitions runs. It is designed to help yachtsmen research models prior to the show,
schedule tours at the show and stay in touch with builders after the show to discuss existing or
new models. “It allows you to create a favorites list by clicking, and when they get to the show,
it creates a list for them by location, by exhibitor; they can have it on their mobile app, print it
or email it to themselves,” says Mary Bender, vice president of marketing for Informa.Multihull
Mania
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