WHAT THE EXHIBITORS ARE SAYING

The 60th Melbourne Boat Show concluded at Docklands on Sunday at 4pm and the initial signs are that the demand for boats, boating and boating lifestyle are very strong.

Record crowds have been reported, along with a boat hungry audience after more than three-years with no boat show in Melbourne. This has come at a time when the appetite for recreation, and boating, is on the rise. Family fun, connectedness and the great outdoors are all celebrated through boating, and that has been reflected at the Melbourne Boat Show in 2022.

A huge amount of exhibitor feedback has been provided and it has been overwhelmingly positive.

Specifically, Rachel Crook from The Yacht Sales Co commenting "We enjoyed a strong show with a consistent flow of visitors. We will be back next year and are definitely happy to have Melbourne Boat Show back on the calendar". 

Neil Stapleton from Runaway bay Pontoons added "Very good show and well organised. We sold our display boat and expect more orders to come through."

Chiming in also was Cameron Bow from Sportsman Boats with "Best Melbourne show for many years. Plenty of quality people looking to purchase. Loved being outdoors. Look forward to the next one."

BIAV VP and committee member Scott O'Hare stated "It's been a great show for us. Even better than hoped with all of our sales going to 'walk-ups'. So overall, a great success and an enjoyable event."

MY's Theo Rozakis was very upbeat also, noting "We're really happy, it had a  great vibe, a lot of buyers, and even on Saturday morning when it was raining they kept coming. The local businesses seemed to get a boost also. It looks like a good future model."

An enormous amount of other positive feedback was provided to the BIAV organisers with CEO Steve Walker commenting "It has been really pleasing to get this great feedback. Exhibitor satisfaction is KPI number one at the end of the day and this feedback makes me think that its been achieved, and maybe even exceeded."

The BIAV will complete an event review, consult with the industry and work towards a boat show plan for 2023 that will be best for Exhibitors. 

Steve Walker went on to thank every Exhibitor, as well as all of the fantastic event suppliers including an emphasis on the great job by Light and Sound. Also recognised were the great stage talent, the musical performers, the kids entertainers, BBV and Dunbier for the well received Welcome to Boating Hub, ET Andrew Ettingshausen, the Boat Owners Club, the kids from the Maritime Art Show, Charlie Micallef and Savage Seas, Adam Buchholtz and the Melbourne City Marina Team, GDJ Advertising, all of the food vendors, the State Government and City of Melbourne.

Finishing, he heaped praise on the central event delivery team including the unflappable Mark Turnbull of New Tack, and his fantastic BIAV colleagues in Katrina Muir and Mary Papantoniou.