Although the Newport International Boat Show opened two days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, its organizers are reporting an 18 percent sales increase over last year’s show.
This year’s smooth sailing will give way to an expanded show next year that encompasses a fifth location, according to the Newport Exhibition Group, the show’s organizer.
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“Considering we opened on September 13th, just two days after the horrible events of the 11th had occurred, we had no expectations and I don’t think the exhibitors knew what to expect either,” said show director Nancy Piffard,
According to the show’s post-event survey, sales totaled over $21.1 million, with boats sold at the show totaling $18.7 million. Piffard said only a quarter of those surveyed responded, so the number is actually a lot higher.
“One can only imagine the figure if we were privy to 100 percent of exhibitor sales and able to factor in future deliveries and follow-up leads from the show,” she said.
Although the mood of this year’s show was relatively somber in comparison to past boat shows, Piffard said the boat sales seemed to indicate some people had an attitude of: “life’s too short, why not buy a boat?”
Piffard also spoke of the tradition of the strolling band that makes its way around the premises of the boat show each day. And how one exhibitor asked for there not to be music on the first day of the show, as a sign of respect for the victims of the attacks on America.
According to Piffard the attacks were “absolutely on everybody’s minds, and we addressed it every day. If somebody didn’t want to hear music, we sent the band home and paid them in full anyway.”
Only 20 exhibitors could not make this year’s show, traveling from such distances as California, Seattle, Florida and abroad.
One participant from Florida who did make it up for the show was Jack Hartley, co-owner of Ultimate Products, based in Tampa. He said that because of the events of Sept. 11, this year’s Newport International Boat Show was the only show he has ever gone to without any expectations.
“Surprisingly enough we had an increase in business over last year’s show,” he said. “As always we were pleased with the outcome. This year was no exception.”
Piffard said 90 percent of the boats were already in the area on the day the attacks occurred, so there was no question the events would go on.
“We’re a platform for them and this is their livelihood, so if they’re there, we’re there.” she said of the sellers.
The success of this year’s boat show warranted an expansion for next year’s show, which will include an “official hotel” of the show, Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina on America’s Cup Avenue.
As a result of this lease agreement Newport Exhibition Group has blocked 133 deluxe guestrooms which will be made available to Boat Show exhibitors on a first come-first served basis.
Regarding a pairing which seems so obvious, and why it had not occurred earlier in the boat show’s 32-year history, Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina Director of Sales William Clarke said the show had to build up in order for a perfect match.
“For our hotel it was a natural fit and our marina lends itself to the show,” he said. “But they had to build up the reputation and growth of the show, and now they have and they have outgrown their facilities.”
The facility’s 60-slip marina will feature powerboats, including a trawler port of mono- and multi-hull boats, an expanded line of fishing boats and other marine-related products. An additional 14,000 square feet of land displays will also be gained along America’s Cup Avenue.
Piffard said the show had reached its limit as far as available space in the harbor, and when the Newport Exhibition Group learned that the annual brokerage show which had traditionally booked at the Harbor Hotel and Marina that week were seeking a new location, she jumped at the opportunity.
Clarke said the most important part of the arrangement is not during the boat show itself but the days before and after.
“The main difference is that we’ve generally been busy that week, Thursday through the weekend; however, this allows the hotel to hit peak occupancy levels the Tuesday before the show through the following Monday,” he said. “And it’s really a classic win-win business partnership because it allows the show to expand in size and scope and allows the hotel to increase occupancy.”
