National Boat Shows plans to refresh one of its biggest events, as Fairline signs on for two more years
The organiser of one of the UK’s largest boat shows has announced plans to revamp and refresh the way it is run.
National Boat Shows (NBS) organises the London Boat Show and the PSP Southampton Boat Show, which attract a combined audience of roughly 200,000 showgoers per year.
However, in reaction to the 5.1% fall in visitors to this year’s London show, a number of changes are in the pipeline for 2015.
Next year’s London show will run for ten days (9-18 January), with NBS bringing back the preview day that has proved popular in the past for exhibitor premieres.
What’s more, the event has been shifted one week later in the year, a move that is expected to increase attendance.
Finally a complimentary event, the London Classic Car Show, is being launched at the Excel Centre to draw in the crowds on the first weekend (8-11 January).
Further changes are hinted at, but no more definite detail has been released so far.
Murray Ellis, managing director of NBS, said: “We’ll be putting the ‘Show’ back into the London Boat Show.
“We’ll inject the energy and excitement that’s been missing and create an amazing first impression.”
Fairline commits until 2016
These bold claims are backed up by Fairline, which has confirmed that it will be exhibiting at both NBS shows until 2016.
The boatbuilder is planning to publicly unveil the hardtop version of its Squadron 78 model (pictured) at the 2014 Southampton show and has thrown its weight behind NBS by committing to both shows for 2015 and 2016.
Kevin Gaskell, CEO at Fairline Boats, commented: “The two shows offer distinctly different opportunities;
“The London Boat Show provides an impressive indoor environment to showcase the best of the Fairline brand, whilst PSP Southampton Boat Show offers the kind of atmosphere that can only be created by an on-water show.
“As a proudly British brand, we are delighted to be building on our successful relationship with National Boat Shows and to be supporting the continued development of the leisure marine industry in the UK.”
