London Boat Show 2019 Cancelled
British Marine, the British Marine Industries Association, has announced the cancellation of the London Boat Show scheduled from 9 to 13 January 2019 in the British capital. The oldest boat show in the world, the event held its first edition in 1955.
Exhibitors and boaters disenchantment
British Marine's decision follows many years of declining attendance. The association had considered reducing the duration of the show from 10 to 5 days in 2019. An independent expert report commissioned from Zing Insights, which questioned 67% of exhibitors, shows that professionals felt they were not ready to commit to this new formula. The difficulty of the London Boat Show sales department in validating the presence of the shipyards in 2019 confirms the analysis.
Visitor surveys also show an annual erosion in boaters' satisfaction with the variety of boats on display.
Find a solution to complete the Southampton Boat Show
The London Boat Show faces the significant growth dynamics of the Southampton Boat Show in the fall. The suspension of the 2019 edition of the London Boat Show should allow British Marine to find alternative solutions to propose a complementary offer to London, says David Pougher, president of the association. " We are very aware that many companies in the boating industry see a commercial activity like the London Boat Show in January as a great way to start the year. But times are changing and we must do so by offering events that are affordable, accessible, supported by the industry and its customers, and financially viable for all parties involved. "A problem that does not only affect London. The Nautic de Paris, a historical player, is also facing competition from floating shows.
