The ships sirens have sounded, signalling the end of yet another successful Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), this one, perhaps the biggest and best in the history of the event. The World’s premier superyacht show has, this year, celebrated its twentieth outing and has done so in great style.
2010 Monaco Yacht Show - Image credit Valeria Maselli
The Monaco Yacht Show represents the perfect forum for the global yachting community. In one magical place, for four days, 28,000 people from all over the world gathered to see and discuss superyachts, products and services. Enjoyable and entertaining, the Show is both, a Business-to-Business and a Business to Consumer event for the international yachting communities seeking out quality of content and contact.
Image from the 2010 MYS - Credit to Valeria Maselli
While the fun and excitement is non-stop, the Show offers yachting professionals a serious opportunity to engage in an intense exchange of information throughout the days and nights. In hotels and restaurants, at the Monaco Yacht Club, aboard superyachts and on 500 exhibitors’ stands, the process goes forward against one of the world’s most glamorous backdrops.
Monaco Yacht Show 2010 - Image credit to Pierre Pettavino
This year more than 100 superyachts from 25 to 90 meters LOA lined the docks inside the Principality’s impressive Port Hercules making this year’s show the superyacht calendar’s most prestigious events. As well as the yachts in the harbour there were over 100 more at anchor in the bay outside the breakwater each playing host to their Owners while they visited the Show. Maltese Falcon, Twizzle, Bluebird, Pearle Bleu, Idol, Ulysses and RS Eden were just some of the names that make superyacht spotters salivate.
The Monaco Yacht Show attracts sponsors whose quality products cater for the same elite international clients and benefit from association with this prestigious show. Returning for the second year as one of the two official sponsors, exclusive watchmakers Ulysse Nardin, used the Show to unveil their new limited edition ‘Monaco Y.S.’ 2010 Marine Diver watch. It was greeted with great enthusiasm and orders were received for three times more pieces than are available. Also recognising the value of its association with the Show, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority returned again as a leading sponsor.
Monaco Yacht Show 2010 - Photo credit Pierre Pettavino
With the help of partners many special services for exhibitors and visitors were available at the Show. When IT and office services were needed, the Business Centre sponsored by Eurocopter was available, while Transport Malta supported the Press centre and Lounge open to the world’s media professionals and visitors. During the day, the air-conditioned Parvis Piscine was the place to find a spot to relax in, refresh or hold a meeting. The Crystal Lounge created in partnership with Baccarat was an oasis of calm and the Champagne Bar, where Lanson poured beverages, bubbled with activity. VIP visitors were shuttled to and from the Show by BMW chauffeurs driving the latest in eco friendly luxury courtesy cars, the ActiveHybrid 7.
Nor did organisers neglect their social responsibilities. Again this year they donated 50% of all entrance ticket sales, equating to some €51,500, to the Monaco Association against the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies), a locally based charity supported each year by MYS since 2001.
Making a commitment against deforestation, the Prince Albert II Foundation launched the “Wood Forever” project during the Monaco Yacht Show. A € 37,000 donation was given to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco by the organisers during his visit to the Show. It will be used to better educate all those involved in the yachting market, to only use wood certified as originating from sustainably-managed forests and stop deforestation. Monaco Yacht Show have pledged they will continue to support the Foundation in future years.
Monaco Yacht Show 2010 Image credit Pierre Pettavino
While his Serene Highness toured the MYS, he boarded two of the superyachts that received special accolades at the Show. The first was Motor Yacht Exuma, a 50 metre vessel awarded the RINA Green Plus Platinum trophy for a building beyond the minimum levels required by international regulations governing environmental protection. He also visited SY Panthalassa a 56 metre yacht built by Perini Navi and winner of the Prix du Design 2010 for her innovations in naval architecture and interior design.
HSH Prince Albert II was himself the recipient of an honour receiving the 2010 SeaKeeper Award, exactly one hundred years after his own great grandfather and namesake, Prince Albert I, founded what is now the science of oceanography.
Top industry specialists were positive in their praise for the Monaco Yacht Show. Michael Bremen, Sales Director, Lürssen Yachts, Germany said, “I was cautiously optimistic before the show, and the good news is now as it draws to a close I am still cautiously optimistic.”
MYS 2010 - Image credit to Pierre Pettavino
Stephen Hills, Managing Director, Devonport Yachts, UK said, “We received more new leads than I expected at Monaco and that is a very good sign indeed.”
Visiting the MYS from the USA, John Dane III, President of Trinity Yachts, said, “The industry has seen a great improvement over the last 20 months, and we have seen many more potential clients here. The light at the end of tunnel might no longer be the headlights of a train.”
Fiona Maureso, the newly appointed Head of Charter Division, at YPI said, “This is not a charter show but it is one of the few shows that potential charter guests can get to see the yachts. Clients love to come to Monaco and it is much better than previous years.”
Exhibitors came from 37 countries around the world. Among the 500 exhibitors displaying their wares was Marco Foglizzo, of Foglizzo Custom Leather in Italy. He said, “Last year we got the impression people coming to our stand were dreaming, this year the enquiries are real. There is definitely a better quality of potential projects.”
Rene van der Velden of Rene van der Velden Yacht Design in The Netherlands had a stand at the Show as usual. He said, “It is 200% better than last year, spirits are up and clients are willing to commission things again. If in the past it was a 45 metre superyacht, now it might be a 38 metre boat.”
From the UK, a country that fielded no fewer than 78 exhibitors, was Bill Dixon the Managing Director of Dixon Yacht Design. He said, “It is more positive this year at the Show. I have had good news but it would be tempting fate to say anything else right now.”
Top International brokers were equally praising the Monaco Yacht Show and its ability to bring together vendor and buyer. Miriam Cain, Communications Manager, Camper & Nicholsons, UK said,
“The Monaco Yacht Show was for us one of the busiest on record and we welcomed a large number of existing and new clients. All our yachts on display received good interest, and the feeling is that the market overall continues, albeit slowly, to improve.” Toby Walker, Director of Sales, with the same company added, “We certainly have two or three pending negotiations from the show and the true result will be in the number of sales concluded and charters booked following last week’s display.”
Patrick Coote, Marketing Director, Fraser Yachts in Monaco was equally enthusiastic saying, “Wow, what a change from 2009, a truly upbeat and positive show with plenty of qualified buyers, serious discussions, realistic prices and positive negotiations. The real outcome will only be determined over the next few weeks but our whole team left the show on a high, enthused by the quality and quantity of enquiries.”
Burgess headquartered in London experienced high attendance levels of both existing and new clients from all geographical areas including a high proportion of visitors from the UAE. Alev Karagulle Director of Marketing and Communications probably best summed up the show when she said, “The acid test of the success of a boat show is never immediate and our detailed analysis of the show has yet to be conducted, but our large team of brokers were kept extremely busy with qualified client viewings and consultations throughout the four days. We have every reason to believe that the Monaco Show this year continues to be a key event in supporting our successful performance in this challenging market environment.”
With another successful Monaco Yacht Show over, exhibitions stands cleared away, additional docks removed and most of the superyachts departed it might be time for the Show organisers to have a break. Instead they are already planning a bigger and better MYS for 2011 when the Show comes of age and celebrates its 21st Birthday.
21st Monaco Yacht Show will be held from 21st to 24th September 2011, Port Hercules, Principality of Monaco
