Preparations for the boot Dusseldorf 2014 are well underway. Bookings from the exhibiting sector of the economy give reason to expect good occupancy for the 17 trade fair halls, with their total exhibition space of 213,000 square meters. From January 18 to 26, 1,650 exhibitors from more than 60 countries will showcase their new yachts, new watersports equipment, as well as maritime services at this well known trade fair.

boot Dusseldorf 2013 - Photo credit to Messe Duesseldorf

Maintained great prior-year levels

“With this result, we’ll definitely be able to build on last year’s great result and strengthen our position in the international trade fair market. The next few months will show whether our expectation of a slight increase will pan out or not. One thing’s clear already: The sector is concentrating its budgets on boot in order to leverage the international clientele with strong buying power offered by Düsseldorf, the central marketplace in Europe” says boot Director Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel in a show preview. “We expect a top-notch event that will showcase everything – especially in boating and yachting – a sophisticated audience would rightfully expect, including a large number of repeat exhibitors.”

Each year, boot Düsseldorf attracts some 50,000 visitors from outside Germany. Moreover, there’s the potential of the German market itself, which is rather robust when compared to others in Europe and continues to offer a stable foundation for good business thanks to positive key economic indicators such as  growth and low unemployment.

Diversity of international brands

Visitors from Germany and abroad can expect a rich diversity of international brands in almost every segment offered in boot 2014’s halls. More than 650 exhibitors will hail from abroad, accounting for nearly half the exhibition space. The list of countries ranges from A to Z. The largest non-German exhibitor nation will be the Netherlands, with 135 shipyards, suppliers and service providers, followed by Italy, France, Poland and Great Britain.

Besides individual stands presented by exhibitors from abroad, country exhibits organised by major ship-building nations such as Finland, France, Great Britain, Poland and the Netherlands are also expected.

Boats and yachts: One-of-a-kind indoor presentation

Eleven of the altogether 17 exhibition halls at boot Düsseldorf will be dedicated to boats and yachts powered by sails, engines or even muscle power. A total of 440 shipyards, distributors and importers will show a range of 1,700 boats and yachts there, from canoes and dinghies to luxury yachts and even floating antiques, in a unique indoor exhibit that can’t be found under the roofs of any other trade fair.

A picture-perfect sailboat exhibit will be staged in Halls 16 and 17, featuring 150 international shipyards, distributors and importers. Oyster from Great Britain will bring the Oyster 825 yacht, the largest vessel under canvas at next January’s event.

The special multihull segment in Hall 15 has become a permanent fixture in Düsseldorf, with 20 exhibitors presenting catamarans and trimarans in all sizes, including big names such as Catana, CNB Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot. A Cat Lounge with food and beverage service will be available for exhibitors and visitors making deals or exchanging know-how. Information revolving around the topic “Sailing with catamarans and Trimarans” will be presented at the Multihull Forum, which offers a comprehensive, professionally organised lecture programme on each of the trade fair days.

A representative overview of motorised recreational boating will be offered by 250 exhibitors in Halls 4, 5, 9, 10 and 15. On 1,600 square meters of exhibition space in Hall 9 at boot 2014, U.S.-based Brunswick Group will stage an exhibit of famous brands such as Sea Ray, Bayliner or Quicksilver. The “Big Five” motor yacht manufacturers with their new models will be concentrated in Hall 4 of the show: Bavaria, Bénéteau, Jeanneau, Galeon and Nimbus. Steel-yacht building, a Dutch speciality, will be showcased as part of a group exhibit in Hall 15 entitled “Port 15.”

Upward momentum for luxury segment

More than 40 large and luxurious yachts as well as high-end boats and tenders will again lift up the quality level of the offerings in Hall 6 just a bit further. Be it Azimut, Ferretti, Princess or Riva: The world of luxurious yachts is counting on Düsseldorf! Around 30 of the largest yachts at boot 2014 will arrive at the trade fair by water and will be heaved on shore by the “Big Willi” lift.

Sunseeker and Princess will put forward broad model ranges in the very large yachts segment. Alpha Marine will bring the Performance, Marquis Yachts and Carver brands to Hall 6. Jeanneau will display its elegant Prestige line. Dominator from Italy – last year represented with an image stand – is planning on once again showing a live yacht, the Dominator 640.

The Brits are winning the race in terms of having the most highlight in their range: Princess is setting the standard with two motor yachts in the 30-metre class. Van der Valk from the Netherlands will showcase the 26-metre steel yacht Continental III.

The top-class customers of the sector will once again be able to use the blue motion Lounge in Hall 6, where they will find terrific food, a comfortable space for customer talks and negotiations and an opportunity to shop at exclusive boutiques.

The Düsseldorf Superyacht Show in Hall 7a will be well attended, with 70 exhibitors demonstrating their capabilities in the completion of exclusive yacht-building projects, presenting current plans and models at their info stands and providing details about sector-relevant services.

New: Refit Center

The supplier market at boot is benefiting from a trend to invest in the value-retaining maintenance of yachts and boats. In Halls 11 and 12, 350 international exhibitors will show everything that’s required and possible for refitting boats or making them more comfortable: on-board electronics, motors, accessories. Functional clothing and marina fittings round off the range of offerings in those halls.

The new Refit Center in Hall 11 will offer information and guidance concerning all aspects of retaining and increasing boat values. “Do-it-yourself is not always the best idea in this regard. What can you do yourself, and when is it more sensible or even necessary to hire a specialised provider? That’s the central question to be explored at the Refit Center,” says Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel as he explains the concept.

Trend sports, diving and more

Trend sports, diving, paddling and tourism on water and on shore will be the boot 2014 topics featured in Halls 1 to 3 as well as 13 and 14.

Even though Egypt, the pacemaker for the diving equipment market, will continue to be missed, the world’s largest consumer show for diving sports will be in excellent shape with some 350 exhibitors in Exhibition Hall 3. Direct sales bookings are increasing. The amount of stand space hired by manufacturers and exhibitors from the tourism sector is on par with last year’s. The Philippines, the Maldives, Indonesia, Italy and Turkey will participate in large group stands promoting their countries as diving destinations. Despite an instable political situation at home, Egypt will be represented with ten exhibitors at boot 2014. With PADI, SSI, the International Aquanautic Club (IAC) and the German Sport Divers Association (VDST), all major diver training organisations will be on hand.

The Water Pixel World serving the entire film and photography segment has become well-established in the adjacent Exhibition Hall 4. The presentation is very well-received not just by divers but also by watersports enthusiasts of all stripes as well as active amateur photographers. Minox, Gopro, Rollei, Sealux and Underwater Kinetics will be among the 25 exhibitors and brands introducing their imaging products and photo and film innovations.

In Halls 1 and 2, 70 exhibiting manufacturers and distributors will present the new products for the 2014 season along with an opportunity for visitors to get all geared-up in trend sports such as wakeboarding, stand up paddling, kite-surfing and surfing.

Those in need of a holiday will be enticed by the maritime travel market in Halls 13 and 14. Be it Turkey, Croatia, Italy, the Baleares or the inland waters of East Germany: Anyone looking for the right travel destination for next summer, or those who’d like to charter a boat or attend a training course, will surely find just the right provider among the nearly 300 international charter companies, tour operators, tourism organisations, clubs and associations.

The range of offerings for canoeing enthusiasts is getting broader. Held two years ago, the “World of Paddling” featured a canoe test course and was very effective in attracting new exhibitors, for example from the canoe touring sector. Everything paddlers require for their sport will be on hand at boot 2014, presented by 15 manufacturers and distributors.

“Experience 360° watersports” continues

Intense preparations are underway for boot Düsseldorf, the major watersports event with the “Experience 360° watersports” theme. Two additional experience and theme worlds will enhance the programme in 2014. Existing successful projects such as Beach World, Diving Center, World of Paddling and the relaunch of the Sport Fishing Center will be joined next January by the Refit Center and the boot Sailing School.

The Sailing School, set up in an indoor pool in the middle of Hall 14, will offer sailing fun in Optis and dinghies under the watchful eye of a professional trainer. Wind machines will deliver the necessary breeze. This experience world is primarily geared towards children and young beginners.

“Even though sailing plays a central role at boot, there have never been any explicit join-in activities. It’s high time we changed that. The new theme world will give us an opportunity to involve the numerous exhibiting sailing schools and clubs in order to actively and jointly promote this attractive water sport,” says Jungmichel.

Visitors coming to boot 2014 will have a chance to educate themselves in a total of 18 theme and experience worlds and to experience and try out virtually every type of water sport up close: wakeboarding, skimboarding, stand up paddling, sailing, diving, canoeing and fishing.

“Experience 360° Watersports” is Düsseldorf’s successful response to a future challenge facing the boating and watersports sectors: coping with demographic changes and generating excitement for watersports among new target groups, especially young people and families!

boot 2014 will be open to visitors from 18 to 26 January, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. Additional information and tickets are available on the Internet portal, which also hosts the Ticket Shop. Admission tickets can be printed out directly after the purchase and used for free travel to and from the event on public transport marked VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) within price level D, South region.