Letter from the President - April 2013.

We have noticed with satisfaction that over the recent weeks our sector and also AENB have figured prominently in the press, thanks to our involvement both in the organization of the Palma Boat Show as well as in the Nautical Sector Working Group along with the authorities. We also take the opportunity to remind our associates of the anual Nautical and Gastronomical Fair of the Cuttlefish, to take place this month in Alcudia. We would like to invite all companies to participate in this traditional event. The new Board of Directors of AENB had its first meeting in March. It was a very productive meeting, resulting amongst other things in formation of various working groups. Next week a very important event on a national level will take place in Madrid: The 1st Nautical Congress, organized by ANEN. 

The high season is about to start and some of our biggest challenges are coming to fruition. On one side the modernization of the Palma Boat Show, and on the other our participation in the working group at the highest political level, where the future of our sector is being discussed. Each and every one of you who trust AENB to represent your company has made fullfilling these objectives possible. We have written loads and loads about the new boat show: we have explained how it will be capable of attracting different segments of public and clients, how it will draw the attention of both the national and international press, bring in more professionals etc. And we will continue doing it because the project is really exciting. It is a project born from your ideas and your feed back over what did not work in the old boat show and how things could be improved. At AENB we would like to encourage you to participate in making Palma, and Balearics in general, the nautical capital of the Mediterranean, with the Palma Boat Show as the launching pad and the International Nautical Week with all its activities supporting it. Please don’t forget that as an associate of AENB you will get a 15% discount on the prices of exhibition space at the show. 

Letter form the President - January 2013

At AENB we work daily for your wellbeing. Up until December we have participated in136 events in total this year (meetings, working groups, boat shows etc.), a huge effort carried out with pleasure to make the Balearics a perfect place to do business with the least possible amount of administrative and fiscal obstables. 

We have forwarded your proposals, worries and problems to those with power to do something about them. In one voice, as a result of joining our forces, we have persuaded the Administration to recognize our potential and to listen to our claims. But the machinery works slowly and even more so during the crisis that we are grounded with, although our efforts and perseverance are slowly bearing fruit. 

We have achieved some good results this year, and none of that would have been possible without you putting your confidence in us. One of our biggest achievements together is the new Palma Boat Show. The proposals that you have passed on to us form the foundation of the project. A Boat Show planned by the entrepreneurs for the entrepreneurs, but bearing also in mind the public and the professionals, a colossal task rewarded by the Advisory Council by adopting our proposal for the 30th edition of the Show. On top of that an added bonus we can be proud of – the show will be able to finance itself. If we manage to do that with all the obstacles in the way, imagine what we would be able to do without them! 

Letter from the President - December 2012

Dear Associates,

This past November has been one of the busiest months of the year. With very short time in between the next Palma Boat Show has been presented and the Working Group of the Nautical Sector, consisting of the main associations of the sector (including AENB) and executives of the Public Administration had the first meeting.

In the middle of the month details of the next Palma Boat Show were revealed. The association has inverted countless hours in this project. Already before we knew the 2012 edition was not going to be celebrated, we started to work with all the proposals and suggestions that you passed on to us, searching for a formula that would allow us to créate a viable project, with a capacity to satisfy equally exhibitors, professionals, clients as well as occasional visitors. And above all for the Show to be able to finance itself. The Palma Boat Show will have 9 exhibition áreas; superyachts and brokerage, nautical tourism, marinas and ports, yacht chárter, local and traditional yachting of the Balearic Islands, diving, sea schools, repair and maintenance of boats, recreational fishing and second hand market. As you can see, the intention is to embrace the whole nautical sector. Besides there will be a very appealing programme of activities for the visitors and potential clients.

Letter from the President - November 2012

During these months the workload for the Association is considerable. Apart from the regular workshops we assist on we have now joined two new ones: the Sea Council of the CEOE (The Spanish Confederation of Employer´s Organizations) and the Working Group of the Nautical Sector of the Balearic Islands. We are also preparing for next year´s elections to choose the new board of directors for the AENB. 

ANEN recently unveiled the Market Report of Registrations, which states that the Balearic Islands remain one of the provinces with the largest market share of pleasure boats with levels similar to last year´s. 

A few days ago the National Association of Nautical Enterprises (ANEN) published the Market Report for Recreational Craft from January to September 2012. The report shows clearly that the Balearics remain one of the three provinces with the largest market share of pleasure craft with a figure identical to 2011. Amongst all the current pessimism I think we can agree that this is a positive development that could indicate a slowdown of the crisis in our sector. It depends on the activities to be carried out by the Administration in the coming months whether the nautical businesses can once again generate wealth for the community and create jobs. 

Letter from the President - October 2012

The Barcelona International Boat Show took place last week and AENB was there to support our businesses. It meant several days of intense work, meetings and constant promotion of our member companies. Though a bit lackluster due to the rain, this year´s show leaves room for optimism. And talking of something else, the new project for The Palma Boat Show will be announced soon. It will be a modern event, aimed at both the customers and the exhibitors and will appeal to all audiences. The proposals provided by AENB last May have had a considerable weight when drafting the project.

More than 50,000 people visited the Barcelona Boat Show during the past week. 700 boats occupied the Port Vell and the Spanish nautical companies were present in this most important exhibition in Spain. It couldn´t be any other way for AENB but to make the necessary effort to be present and give support to the Balearic companies. Barcelona is a show of great importance for the Balearic marine industry. Therefore, and despite not having been able to count on the support of the public institutions, the private sector joined forces to make it possible for our businesses to participate in the show. We expect more companies to join next year in this new initiative.

Letter from the President - September 2012

For many the month of August is synonymous with relaxation and recreation, but in AENB we have not ceased to work practically not one single day. For most of the month we have been preparing future meetings of the Council of the Sea of CEOE (The Spanish Confederation of Employers´ Organizations) and the next meetings of the Advisory Council of Palma Boat Show. We have also participated in the board of Maritime Cluster of the Balearic Islands and earlier this month presented a work plan with the deans of the colleges of Naval and Civil Engineers. We have also been in contact with different companies and organizations to prepare our presence in the Barcelona Boat Show.

During these past weeks we have been finalizing the details of a document to be presented shortly by FENIB to the Government, a list that includes proposals to promote the nautical industry in our region, for example a creation of a Working Group of the sector with a purpose to elaborate a plan to improve many aspects of our industry. In short we can offer you more information.

President's Letter - August 2012

Dear partners,

Recently in the waters of the bay of Palma the Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre Copa del Rey took place. An event not only for sports but also with high social and economic significance. Also recently published was the report of the Recreational Craft Market from January to June.The report, prepared by ANEN, notes that registrations are down 8.7% in the first half of the year nationwide. A report presented at about the same time the Barcelona Boat Show road show, which was in Palma presenting the attractions of this year.

President's Letter - July 2012

Dear partners,

Behind us is a pretty busy June and it is not yet high season. Today, as well as the heat, has not given us respite. This past month much has been happening, news about the moorings on seagrass meadows and the question of whether also charge for anchoring on sand (an outbreak of controversy quickly faded, as the whole sector to be positioned against) . Also this month is marked by the words of the president Bauza at the opening of the conference "The Future of superyachts", who said Madrid would lead to the proposal to eliminate the matriculation tax on charter boats.

It is good to start with what we believe is great news: that the regional president of our community to become engaged in public to fight a tax against which we fought so long. The news appeared on the "Future of the Superyacht VII Conference" in Palma. The president of the Government said about the problems of the marine industry in the Balearic Islands and Madrid announced that it would eliminate the proposed registration tax to charter boats, a tax that leaves us at a disadvantage against other competitors around us having more to offer. To say that this is a clear case of unfairness, and that neither the charter of aircraft or car rental this tax applies. Since we value AENB thus we expect to be treated in the same way and to eliminate this tax as quickly as possible for the sake of the Balearic economy and companies, because we will never tire of saying: this tax deters tourists and we lose much more money than it collects.

President's Letter - June 2012

Dear partners, 

Recently the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Planning submitted a draft directive which provides power to limit the areas where boats can anchor near Cabrera. If this goes ahead it will be a blow to the industry that keeps tourists away and other potential users as they are suspicious because of a tax and legal framework which is obsolete. Entrepreneurs are not the only ones who are worried.Recently the prestigious Financial Times criticized the registration tax in Spain. In another vein, a few weeks ago the Advisory Council of the Boat Show met (which we belong to) to begin preparing the edition of 2013. AENB presented a set of proposals necessary to move towards excellence and self-financing. A week ago the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Territory introduced a draft decree that would regulate the moorings on the Balearic Islands in order to preserve the seagrass. These occurrences continue to complicate the administration (even more) the legal framework for pleasure boats. This new measure will only do away with the nautical tourists in our waters and the wealth generated at all levels of our islands. 

President's Letter - May 2012

Dear members,

A week ago, The Sepia Fair was held in the port of Alcudia. It was an excellent opportunity for us entrepreneurs of the sea to exhibit our products and to make our services known to the public. Another strong initiative for the yachting business will be the Portals Nautical Weekend, from 26th to 28th of May. In another vein, a few days ago the Board of the National Association of Marine Enterprises (ANEN) was re-elected and AENB continues as a part of it. During the same meeting a report on the Economic Impact of Recreational Boating in Spain was presented. The figures clearly indicate the importance of the sector and what it could contribute to the spanish GDP as well as employment if the currently devastating fiscal situation was equal to that of other sectors and our neighboring countries.

Letter from the President - March 2012

About a month ago it was announced that the Palma Boat Show was postponed until 2013. From our position we support the decision of the Government. Our actions are marked by the general opinion of our partners and, in this case, most saw holding this year's as a problem, for economic reasons. Although, to be honest, we must recognize that there are some who are dissatisfied with the decision of the Government and so this was told to the Director General Pacheco. On the other hand, I announce that the National Association of Marine (ANEN) has asked us to remain on their Board. In a couple of weeks the "Nautical and Gastronomic Sepia Fair." will be held in Alcudia. This is a chance to speak at an event that already has a significant track record (this year is the seventh edition) and can attract many visitors and that is why AENB and FENIB support it this year. 

President's Letter - February 2012

Dear Members,

On February 23rd we celebrated the most important act of the year for our association: The Annual General Meeting. At the meeting you had the absolute protagonism and the power to decide our future. We, who have the honor of enjoying the confidence you have placed in us to run AENB, are happy to be amongst so many friends, amongst so many entrepreneurs. We are all part of this family.