FLIBS to Display 312′ Lürssen Yacht

The 56th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is setting a milestone this year by showcasing the largest boat that has ever been displayed at the five-day event. The boat show takes place November 5-9, 2015 in seven locations across Fort Lauderdale.

The 312-foot Lürssen yacht Kismet is represented by Moran Yacht and Ship, said Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III, president of Show Management, the group that produces the show. The Marine Industries Association of South Florida owns the show.

Show Management and Soundings Trade Only are part of Active Interest Media’s marine group.

“She’s a beautiful yacht. She’s there for charter bookings,” Zimbalist told Trade Only Today. “That’s going to be a real highlight.”

Also on display will be Rock.It, a 198-foot yacht from Feadship, the second-biggest boat at the show, Zimbalist said. “Both are fascinating and are big examples of the best in the world,” he said.

Covering seven locations, the show features more than 3 million square feet of space and six miles of floating dock. The show’s transportation network of bus shuttles, water taxis and riverboats allow visitors to navigate among its locations.

This year, the water taxi system will cost visitors $10 for unlimited rides during the day, said Brett Keating, vice president of consumer marketing at Show Management. Ground transportation remains free.

The show is also featuring new branding, a new logo and an intuitive website.

“We really wanted to create a unique, consumer-friendly site for each boat show” that Show Management organizes, Keating told Trade Only. “We also wanted to showcase our exhibitors in a much nicer way.”

A Blue Party will be new at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, giving exhibitors an opportunity to invite valued clients to attend, Keating said.

Organizers have also partnered with QuintEvents for a VIP Boat Show Experiences program, which will offer registered guests onsite valet parking, entry to the boat show and all-day access to the air-conditioned VIP lounge at the Hall of Fame Marina, which will feature gourmet food and a premium open bar.

Other perks include access to a variety of private boat show events.

QuintEvents organizes VIP experiences at myriad events, including the Super Bowl, NBA events, the Grand Prix, Formula One and the Jackson Car Auction, “so they draw a level of clientele that’s very similar to yacht buyers,” Keating said. “We’re looking to them to buy into their database of high-net-worth clients to get more people to come to the show.”

That gives organizers the opportunity to help people unfamiliar with boats and boat shows have a positive first experience, she said.

Source: Reagan Haynes, Trade Only Today