FLIBS 2022 WAS A FIVE-DAY SMASHING SUCCESS

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (November 17, 2022) – The 63rd Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) was a five-day smashing success, as it welcomed back the international boating community into Florida's warm waters. The show welcomed back a global community of guests, with the lifting of all travel restrictions, bringing a boon to South Florida’s local marine and hospitality industry.

“The 63rd annual boat show was a fantastic way to kickstart our boat show season in South Florida,” said Andrew Doole, President of U.S. boat shows at Informa Markets. “Our incredible event marked the homecoming of the international marine community, allowing us to showcase the best our industry has to offer to our global audience. I want to extend my gratitude to the City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County for their support of the show, as well as to our incredible partners at the Marine Industry Association of South Florida and the Informa staff. We look forward to another great event in 2023.”

This year, guests were treated to the triumphant return of leading marine manufacturers and shipyards from Europe, after a hiatus from the North American Boat Show circuit due to travel restrictions.  Illustrating the latest models being developed by the world’s leading mega yacht developers, the lauded Best of Show recognition was awarded to Italy’s Overmarine Group’s Mangusta Oceano 50. The Oceano 50 debuted at FLIBS and wowed judges with its performance, design, technology, and sleek build. The elite panel of judges included Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez; former professional motocross and stock car driver, Ricky Carmichael; yacht captain and Bravo’s Below Deck star, Captain Sandy Yawn; champion race car driver, Kyle Kirkwood; West Marine Chief Commercial Officer, Stacey Renfro; and West Marine Vice President of Brand Marketing, Josh Horoshok. The FLIBS Best of Show awards presentation will be featured via a one-hour special on FOX Sports (FS1 and FS2).

“The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show has long been a critical component to the city’s economy,” said Mayor Dean Trantalis, Mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale. “Each year, FLIBS attracts people and businesses from around the world, bringing in an unprecedented economic impact and showcasing Fort Lauderdale to an international audience as an exciting, vibrant, and growing community.”

Following two years of astronomical growth throughout the industry, FLIBS hosted record-breaking performances with record sales and gains across the board for key exhibitors, serving as a barometer for brands to gauge dealer sentiment, consumer interest, and product trends.

“FLIBS continues to set the bar high for our industry, and we are thrilled to see visitors and exhibitors return every year with the same excitement we share for our boating and marine sector,” said Phil Purcell, President and CEO of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. “We would like to express our thanks to the Broward County Convention Center, Visit Lauderdale, and all of our other local community partners for working alongside FLIBS and producing an unforgettable event.”

A star attraction, the Broward County Convention Center hosted gravity-defying presentations at the Aquazone by Nautical Ventures, interactive experiences at the Kid’s Corner, and debuts from the world’s leading boat manufacturers such as Axopar Boats, Northstar Boats, MJM Yachts, LEKKER Boats, Islamorada Boatworks, Schaefer Yachts, and Invincible Boats. Serving as the show’s transportation hub, the Convention Center provided access to affordable parking, offering a seamless transfer to complimentary air-conditioned shuttles and ticketed Water Taxis. This was a standout element of the show, which granted a smooth experience when navigating between all show locations, including the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and SuperYacht Village at Pier 66.

Luxury components displayed the opulence available across the industry, offering guests of the Windward VIP Club a one-of-a-kind experience centered around five-star gourmet culinary offerings and a premium bar with mixed drinks curated by the masterminds behind Ketel One Botanical, Tanqueray, and Crown Royal. Rounding up the luxury component, organizers partnered with the automobile giant, Audi, to feature their latest electric “e-tron” cars at the show. This new lineup of eco-friendly vehicles produces zero direct CO₂ emissions whilst driving and rely exclusively on green electricity to charge.

“We could not have done this year’s show without the instrumental support from our sponsors. Whether providing extraordinary cocktails for the Windward VIP lounge, showcasing the latest in automobile innovation, to keeping our guests safe and secure with the show’s official fire extinguisher sponsor, Fire Ranger, these partnerships are a vital component of producing the world’s largest in-water Boat Show,” continued Andrew Doole.  

FLIBS also took extra steps to support the community through its charitable initiatives focused on bringing relief to victims of Hurricane Ian and building awareness for life-saving cancer research led by South Florida’s leading healthcare institution, the Moffitt Cancer Center and Memorial Foundation. Alongside Informa Markets, MIASF, Intrepid PowerBoats, Reef Runner Boats, and ICON Electric Vehicles, FLIBS raised over $30,000 to help this year’s philanthropic partners.

“For the past 63 years, the show has built its reputation as a world-class event and a prized platform that highlights the beautiful backdrop that is our local community, bringing visitors from across the globe to enjoy Fort Lauderdale,” said Dr. Hugo Fernandez, Chair and Medical Director of Moffitt Malignant Hematology and Cellular Therapy at Memorial Healthcare System. “FLIBS has used its platform and reach to bring awareness to the hard work that our team at the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation and the Memorial Foundation are leading to bring life-saving cancer research to our community. Thank you to Informa Markets, Intrepid Powerboats, Reef Runner Boats, and ICON Electric Vehicles for joining us today in our fight against cancer.”

The 64th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is slated to return on Wednesday, October 25^th through Sunday, October 29^th, 2023. As the largest in-water boat show in the world, FLIBS showcases more international and national debuts than any other boat show in the country, cementing the City of Fort Lauderdale as the Yachting Capital of the World. The event is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and produced by Informa Markets.

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About the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS)

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and produced by Informa Markets. The five-day boating extravaganza showcases more world and U.S. debuts than any other boat show in the country. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.flibs.com.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate, and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience, and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services, and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Boating, Pharmaceuticals, Food, Fashion, and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

About the Marine Industries Association of South Florida

The Marine Industries Association of South Florida is the largest trade organization in the Southeast United States dedicated to promoting, protecting, and growing the 121,000 middle class jobs in Broward County and 149,000 jobs regionally driving the economic output to $12.5 billion regionally. Created in 1961, the not-for-profit trade group is focused on the sound growth of the marine industry in the South Florida Region to benefit its members and their customers, communities, and the environment. The Association has over 400 members in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. For more information, please visit: www.miasf.org.