Having closed its doors on Sunday, May 5, the 30th edition of the Palma International Boat Show hosted an impressive number of around 37,000 visitors. Amongst them was the King’s only son, Crown Prince Felipe, the first time in 30 years that a member of the Spanish royal family has attended.
Palma International Boat Show 2013
A keen sailor, even competing in the 1992 Olympics as part of the Spanish sailing team, Crown Prince Felipe paid a surprise visit to the Show to present the Marcial Sanchez-Barcaiztegui Award, the first of its kind to recognise those who promote sailing. Sanchez-Barcaiztegui was one of the most respected and loved personalities in the sailing world and played a fundamental role in the promotion of the sport throughout Spain. Having paid tribute, Prince Felipe spent more than an hour walking around the Boat Show, greeting both exhibitors and the public.
Director of the Palma International Boat Show, Chema Sans, was delighted at the event’s success, “This was a completely different Show from 2011. Most notably, it has grown a lot, the number of exhibitors was up 25% and the sea-based exhibition area up 76%, largely due to the crucial addition of a Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show – a venture that makes a good deal of sense for the Balearics. Last year Monaco reported a record attendance of 33,000, we know for sure that we have beaten this figure and certainly had many more sailing superyachts on display. In total 47 superyachts over 24 metres lined the quayside of Moll Vell marina and, based on this year’s runaway success, I envisage this expanding to 65 or more for 2014.”
Palma International Boat Show 2013 attended by 37,000 visitors
Chema continued, “All the exhibitors I have spoken with seemed to be happy having gathered quality contacts and conducted serious business. Those promoting smaller craft may not have sold ten boats at the Show, as could have been the case a decade ago, but have had their expectations exceeded considering the difficult economic environment. Many are already thinking about next year, discussing their stand and berthing requirements. And, with the all-new eight million euro Moll Vell due to be complete and open for business by spring 2014, the Show can only build in importance and quality.”
Palma International Boat Show 2013 hosted by the popular Mediterranean yacht charter destination - Palma
For the 30th edition, public and private sector worked together to remodel the Show into a nautical week with TapaMar gastronomy, the Gaastra PalmaVela regatta and Maremostra Ocean Film Festival running alongside the more traditional boats, accessories and services. The intention was to promote the Islands, in particular Palma, and confirm their strategic importance in tourism and yachting – giving impetus to the economy and job creation.
Speaking exclusively to nautical channel NTVE.TV, Jose Ramon Bauza, President of the Balearic Islands who declared the Show open on 1 May, said, “It is absolutely necessary for our economy, because now we want to improve our economy, we want to give opportunity for unemployed people and we want to be very proud of our industry in this nautical sector because they say we are the best all over the world.”
Luxury yacht tender builder Chris-Craft at the Palma International Boat Show 2013
Quotes from exhibitors:
Paul Allan, Portbooker: “This is the Show that Palma has been missing. The Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show in particular has given us a great platform to launch our brand new 40 metre plus website, and we’ve generated keen interest from marina partners and end-users over the past five days. We’re a global business but with strong local representation in the Balearics and we recognise these Islands as the leading nautical destination in the Med.”
Jimmy Blackburn, Fairline South Mallorca: “The weather has been fantastic and Mallorca is a great place for our customers to come and see us – a touch point to build relationships. We’ve gathered good leads, via previously known customers and new business, and it’s brilliant that we’ve been allowed to bring both new and used boats to the Show, priced between 200,000 and 1.4 million pounds. We will return in 2014.”
Stuart Bray, Bray Marine International: “At long last they’ve got it right. We’ve had a very productive five days, busy with customers. We will be back next year.”
Jamie Collins, Oyster Yachts: “Compared with 2011, the Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show has brought a new dimension to the Palma International Boat Show. Inter-broker cooperation is key to business existence on the Island and it has worked well. Footfall has been impressive, aided I am sure by three non-working days, a bank holiday and the weekend. Our Oyster 100 superyacht Penelope has been received well on her debut and it has been nice to see yachts of a similar size and usability alongside her. A large mix of nationalities from Russian to British, German to Italian, have come on board for a viewing and all been impressed. We’re very pleased and keen to participate again next year.”
Peter Franklin, The Islander magazine and NTVE.TV: “We were thrilled to have been awarded a contract by Show organisers to handle international promotion of the event. To then see it become such a great success has delighted the whole team. Part of our contract was to provide internet-based and local terrestrial TV coverage of the whole Show. To focus our programming we awarded ten ‘Captains Lounge Best in Show’ prizes which included six yachts across the size range – motor and sail – now viewable on our website. We look forward to being involved in an even bigger Palma International Boat Show in 2014.”
Marc Kelly, Palma Refit: “The revamped Show has been well received and feedback positive. Without the Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show we would not be here, as superyachts are our main target market, and in my opinion it’s been a long time coming. Not only have we been able to network and generate leads, but we’ve also been able to reinforce our image in the marketplace. We will be back next year.”
Salvador Sancho, Marina Estrella: “With last year’s Show postponed, it gave the event the opportunity to start again with a new format and of course the new agreement with the Superyacht Brokerage & Charter Show. Overall this has brought more international clients to the Show, many of them serious boat buyers. We have sold our motor yacht Azimut 88 to a Portuguese client who travelled from Vilamoura, our Minorchino 42 to a British client who will berth her in Torrevieja, a Hanse 415 to another British client, an Azimut 55S to its new owner in Cascais and finally a Cobalt 242. Many enquiries also came for the Hanse 630 and 575. Not bad given we were expecting a quiet Show. The emphasis was on quality rather than quantity which was a blessing as it allowed our sales team to invest time in their clients and conduct sea trials without being under pressure. Next year we will certainly return, with at least ten boats, and feel positive that we are with the best yachts and businesses that Palma has to offer.”
