Busy time at IBEX for industry professionals - MarineBusinessWorld.com North America newsletter
by Peter Rendle 23 Oct 20:00 UTC
The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) © National Marine Manufacturers Association
The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) announced that this year's Show, which closed on October 3, saw three-days of quality traffic.
The docks and booths were busy, networking events and education sessions were well attended, and there were good concentrations of industry professionals. IBEX 2024 welcomed 7,500 industry professionals from 70 countries. In a refreshed layout, the show floor had 731 exhibitors on display, of which over 100 were new exhibiting companies, 12 emerging tech companies in the new Start-Up Pavilion, and an expanded outdoor display and demo area.
From the recreational fishing industry, last week, 200 leaders in the sportfishing industry joined the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) in San Diego for their annual Sportfishing Summit. The week-long event, aimed at growing their industry and recreational fishing community, included discussions on the current state of the industry, looming challenges to fisheries conservation and access, and highlighting successes from the past year. They were also joined by representatives from NOAA Marine Fisheries Service and guest speakers Toni Atkins, President pro Tempore Emeritus of the California Senate, and David Wasserman, Senior Editor and Election Analyst at The Cook Political Report.
Marinas play an essential part of our industry, and the 2023 Marina Outlook Report is now available. This survey, developed in 2019 by AMI, is designed to bring you information about the industry and is meant to be an update to their long standing Marina Trends Survey. Information in this report includes information about profit centers, revenues, and marina occupancy, and economic outlook. Data was collected in January and February of 2024, and reflects the 2023 boating season.
On the subject of marinas, Allied Strategic Partners, a Dallas-based private asset management firm, has announced the purchase of Prairie Creek Marina, located on Beaver Lake, in Rogers, Arkansas. As part of the acquisition, Blue Harbor Management, a subsidiary of ASP, will oversee the management and operations of Prairie Creek Marina.
Also, Suntex Marina Investors LLC, the largest standalone recreational marina owner in the U.S. by marina count and boat slips, announced the opening of Las Olas Marina. Reservations are now being taken for dock space available following the close of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
ComMar Sales Vice President Norm MacLeod is the 2024 recipient of the National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) Old Pro Award. The award was presented to Norm at IBEX in Tampa earlier this month. The Award recognizes a member who actively contributes to the association and the marine rep profession as a whole.
Further south, the Bermuda Tourism Authority has renewed its long-standing partnership with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to support the Bermuda Gold Cup (for the King Edward VII Gold Cup) and the inaugural Aspen Bermuda Women's Match Race Regatta, both events to run from October 29 - November 3. This year celebrates the 72nd edition of the Bermuda Gold Cup, a founding event of the World Match Racing Tour, the world's longest running professional sailing series since 2000.
In the same region, The St Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Association is excited to announce its partnership with Blue Life Yachting to deliver a groundbreaking "Introduction to the Yacht Charter Industry" program, aimed at empowering young people with skills in this lucrative sector. Funded by the French Embassy to the Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados and the OECS, the seven-month program attracted over 30 applicants.
More marine industry news at www.marinebusinessworld.com/NorthAmerica and updated daily.
Stay attentive,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media