The 31st edition of the Palma International Boat Show, which closes its gates today after 5 days of exhibition in the Moll Vell area of the Balearic capital, has been an all around success, both when it comes to the number of exhibitors and moorings, which have increased by 20 and 75% respectively compared to last year, as well as to the number and type of visitors, level of satisfaction by the exhibitors and business volume.
The show received around 32.000 visitors, increasing from last years figures, while the invited guests are still to be counted. The public holiday on the first of May was the busiest day, second busiest being the closing Sunday.
The director of the event, Chema Sans, assured that "the show has been more noticeable than ever in the city, but looking further than the figures, more importantly the visitor profile has been that of a yachting enthusiast, a potential buyer, while last year people came mainly to stroll around".
According to the information collected by the organization, this has resulted in increased business volume, not only when it comes to boats but also equipment and accessories. In fact, the complementary services benefited from the direct sales at the show, something that hasn´t happened for a long time.
On the other hand, more than 90% of the exhibitors are planning to return next year, in fact many of the larger companies have already reserved space. Out of those 90% more than half have requested more exhibition space, specially on the floating exhibition, which signifies a high level of satisfaction.
"In this edition we passed the exam, next year we have to aim for raising the marks. It is obvious that the show is viable and can be commercially attractive, specially because sales have taken place in all segments, from superyachts to accessories", explains Sans.
The exhibitors from the nautical sector have expressed their satisfaction with the 31st edition of the Palma International Boat Show. For the majority it has been a lively show, with an abundance of visitor interested in purchases.
In the area of superyachts showing up to 55 luxury yachts between 25 and 48 meters of length, the outcome could not be more positive. The president of the Balearic yacht Brokers Association (BYBA), Arne Ploch, assured that "the show went even better than last year". In fact, according to him "some of the companies exhibiting in this area have indicated that it is the best show they have participated in in the past ten years", which can be partially contributed to the renovation of the area, run by the company Amarres Deportivos.
In only two years, the event in the Balearic capital "has become a great platform to establish new contacts", which according to Mr Ploch will bode for increased participation of large yachts in the future editions.
The brokerage expert also emphasized the increased number of interested visitors and clients who came to the show this year, "even from far afield, for example United States. One of the richest people in the world - whose identity will not be revealed - visited the show yesterday".
Arne Ploch is convinced that "the show is about to become one of the best, without loosing it´s sympathetic and family orientated nature", and "special allure", which - according to Mr Ploch, is a great virtue and makes this event different: "It is not elitist, like Monaco, but open for all the local residents as well, and has besides turned into an important event for the sailing superyachts".
As the representative of BYBA affirmed, the Palma International Boat Show "has great potential of growth and could attract in the next edition up to 60 or 70 superyachts, with an increase also in the number of exhibitors".
Both the area of superyachts as well as the traditional boat show had their respective gastronomic areas as their principal focus of entertainment. In the area of the superyachts, the prestigious chef Marc Fosh offered a high level alternative of unaltered and profound aromas, while on the other side the seafood galore of Tapamar was organized again by PIMEM restaurateurs.
On the other hand, the 31st Palma International Boat Show has been the heart of various activities and related events, amongst them to name a few:
THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN
Queen Sofia visited the Palma International Boat Show to receive from the president of the Balearic Government, José Ramón Bauzá, the Trophy Marcial Sánchez Barcaiztegui awarded to the sailing regatta Princess Sofia Trophy, for the continuous work during 45 years in promoting the sport and the yachting in general on the island.
During a walk in the show area, Queen Sofia stopped to have a look at the stand of the port Calanova, previously called the National Sailing School, where her children and grandchildren have learned to sail. She also showed interest for the labour of Sebastiá Bennasar, one of the few master builders still active in the Balearics.
SUCCESSFUL SECOND "GETTING CONTACTS" RELATED TO YACHTING AND OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING
Around 70 companies related to the nautical sector and representatives of various banks got together in the second meeting of "Quality Networking - Nautical Getting Contacts", which gave opportunity to over 500 interviews between the participants of the session that took place in the Hotel Palace Atenea. The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and managed by Juanjo Villalobos, the CEO of Getting Contacts, was assisted also by Arthur Bretonnet, an expert in Google Glass. He organized a workshop related to the new device and its applications in the nautical sector.
Another activity related to occupational training was the presentation for captains and engineers about "Energy efficient installations", organized by Atlante Group and Astilleros de Mallorca.
With the collaboration of the nautical Trade Association of the Balearic Islands (AENIB), Miguel Angel Serra, a lawyer from the law firm Garrigues, gave a talk over the latest news regarding the matriculation tax in the charter sector.
The managing director of Servicios Técnicos Portuarios (STP), José Maria Campuzano, presented the initiative of organizing the first course of professional development for captains and crews of superyachts from 8th to 9th of May at STP.
NAVIGATION CLUBS, CARD FOR USING THE RAMPS AND GDS FOR YACHTING
The Balearic Ports presented at the show the new annual card for using the 15 ramps for haul out in the 13 port it manages. Directed to the owners of craft that is not moored, but towed on a trailer, this card costs 50 € per year, and allows an unlimited use of the haul out ramps in the ports managed by IB Ports in all of the islands.
The Majorcan company Portbooker, a leading online booking company for moorings, presented its Unimarina project: the first GDS (Global Distribution System) for tourist ports. It is a powerful and revolutionary tool in the online transaction system for products and services related to tourist ports.
Fanautic, like the Live Aboard Club, presented the concept of a navigation club, which gives an opportunity for its members to navigate any time of the year without having to lay out the expense of a purchase of a boat, nor worrying about the problems of a mooring, insurance and maintenance, the usual worries of a yacht owner.
Corte Inglés presented their yacht provisioning service, apart from organizing various wine tastings and samplings of local delicacies.
Mercanautic organized a demonstration of the products 3M related to production: sun protection sheets and fire protection, NOVEC 1230.
INITIATION TO YACHTING
Club de Mar of Mallorca organized daily excursions from 12.00 to 20.00 hrs for children and youth from 7 to 14 years of age visiting the show, to give them their first experience of the sea and navigation by sail.
The double olympic medallist Theresa Zabell, also the sports consultant of Club de Mar Mallorca, signed autographs for the fans who came to the stand of the entity.
A RAFFLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF JOVES NAVEGANTS
The Palma Superyacht Show supported the Foundation Joves Navegants by organizing a raffle with an aim to collect funds for some necessary repairs onboard Galaxie. The charity uses this vessel to get disadvantaged youth at risk of social exclusion involved in sailing, yacht racing and environmental programmes.
REGATTAS IN THE SPIRIT OF TRADITION
The Palma Boat Show hosted the presentations of two of the most sought after regattas on the nautical calendar: the XXVIII Offshore Regatta Rei en Jaume from 11th to 13th of September, promoted by the yacht clubs of Salou and Santa Ponça, and the Mare Nostrum Circuit, which will include the XX Illes Balears Classics, organized by Club de Mar Mallorca, and the XI PANERAI Trophy - the Kings Cup of the classic yacht, promoted by Club Maritimo of Mahon.
THE NIGHT OF THE SEA
During the show a lively "Night of the Sea" with diverse programme was organized: the Master Class "Gin Tonic-Suau", catwalk by the well known brand Helly Hansen, live music etc.
GAASTRA PALMAVELA
Parallel to the Palma International Boat Show one of the most important international regattas opened up the Mediterranean racing season - the Gaastra Palmavela 2014. Organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma, the competition brought together various types of keel boats, from the last generation maxis all the way to little dinghies with latin sails, from fleets with rating coefficients and various types of one designs to large classic yachts.
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