Owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and produced by Informa Markets, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2019 and attracts a global audience of more than 110,000 yachting and boating enthusiasts from 52 countries.
The 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will unveil Superyacht Village, a new dedicated marina and on-land exhibition space that will display the most spectacular yachts in the show. Making its launch in time for the show October 30 – November 3, Superyacht Village will be hosted at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina at its new “Pier South” property, which is adjacent to the southeast corner of the 17th Street Causeway Bridge in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
“The growing number of large yachts exhibiting at the show continues to attract affluent buyers and superyacht charter clients,” said Andrew Doole, president of Informa U.S. Boat Shows. “Thanks to a large investment by Informa and Tavistock, we are able to create a new, unique destination for the superyacht community within this extraordinary boat show directly across from Port Everglades. We are excited to expand our partnership with Pier Sixty-Six as they embark on an exciting future to revitalize the iconic waterfront venue that has been part of the boat show history since its inception.”
One of the only venues in Fort Lauderdale that can host vessels up to 400 feet, the 3.5-acre Superyacht Village will be framed by a notable display of some of the world’s most spectacular superyachts and exhibits by renowned shipyards, along with helicopters, personal submarines, exotic and collectible automotive and other luxury items related to the superyacht lifestyle. Plans include a destination restaurant, reserved parking, valet and private water tender services.
As part of the show’s 60th anniversary celebration, the Superyacht Village will also feature surprise and delight experiences and areas of discovery with programming taking place both day and night. Examples include exclusive seminars dedicated to Superyacht ownership and lifestyle, fine wine and champagne tastings, luxury lifestyle pop-ups, automotive and superyacht toy interactives, award receptions, the second annual Sunset Soiree FLIBS Best Yacht Chef Competition, with more to be announced.
The Superyacht Village will be open to all general admission ticket holders with direct access by water tenders, water taxis and shuttle bus routes from the show’s other six locations.
“We are honored to host the new Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six’s new ‘Pier South’ property, which overlooks the Port and offers superyachts the perfect place to call home,” said Jessi Blakley, senior director of Tavistock Development Company. “Pier Sixty-Six is one of the East Coast’s premier yachting destinations, and the exclusive offerings of the Village align with our vision for the future of our iconic property as the social harbor of Fort Lauderdale.”
This exciting announcement expands on the impact of enhancements unveiled at the 2018 show, including a striking new main entrance that welcomes guests to the show. New technology at entrance gates and ticket booths, new security screening systems and an improved bus transportation route resulted in a faster flow of guest traffic. Creative food and catering options, along with an elevated Windward VIP experience contributed to heightening the overall show experience. A “Best of Show” award, featured in the one-hour FLIBS special airing on NBC Sports Network as part of the multi-year TV commitment, added to the excitement.
Generating a substantial annual statewide economic impact of $857 million, FLIBS features nearly $4 billion in product with show sales exceeding $508 million. The show’s seven waterfront locations include the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Municipal Marina, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, Pier Sixty-Six South, and the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
