The Countdown to the 55th Sydney International Boat Show has begun

Sydney International Boat Show © David Clare - firstlightphotography.com.au

The Sydney International Boat Show attracted an attendance of almost 47,000 visitors in 2023, with crowds immersed in a spectacular showcase of hundreds of boats and marine products, world and national launches, ground-breaking marine technology and showstopping entertainment.

With only four months to go until the 2024 Show and consumer demand across the boating industry buoyant, there has never been a better opportunity to participate and connect brands with highly engaged, qualified visitors.

Presented by the Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) in conjunction with event delivery partner Mulpha Events, the four-day event will take place from August 1 to 4 2024 and will be set amongst Sydney's iconic Darling Harbour.

The Show will present the best of the Australian boating lifestyle. From the large fleet of powerboats and sailboats on the purpose-built event marina on Cockle Bay, through to a host of premium exhibitors displaying the latest trailer boats, personal watercraft, and marine technology in the exhibition halls of the ICC Sydney.

BIA President, Adam Smith said that following the opening of exhibitor registrations last month the 2024 Event is already off to a strong start.

"The interest for this year's Show has been positive with many previous exhibitors and industry already signed-up, including a cohort of international brands, plus new manufacturers and distributors joining in on the action. We have also heard some exciting national and world launches are in the pipeline as well," he said.

"If you are still thinking about exhibiting, there has never been a better time to showcase your brand and connect with the more than 50,000 highly engaged and qualified visitors expected this year," Mr Smith continued.

Hunts Marine will return for their 55th year exhibiting and said that the Show is now a permanent fixture on their calendar.

Hunts Marine, Director, Jon Hunt said "we see the Sydney International Boat Show as a non-negotiable element in our business strategy. The Show attracts a very high quality of buyer which in turn significantly helps us to achieve our yearly sales targets in a short amount of time.

"The Show is a great mix of exhibitors, experiential and entertainment, and this combination delivers the high foot traffic through the door. It's the perfect environment to achieve significant sales targets," Mr Hunt said.

Hannah Mason from Short Marine also believes the Show is a valuable platform to engage with the industry and consumers directly to find out about emerging trends and themes, so companies like Short Marine can stay ahead of the game.

"The marine industry is constantly evolving so for Short Marine to stay front-of-mind we need to have our finger on the pulse. We find the Sydney International Boat Show enables us to do just that, we can engage with industry, trade and consumers all at one time. It's a very busy couple of days but an event that we find invaluable for year-round conversion." Ms Mason said.

Key brands and marine businesses locked in to display in the ICC Halls include Blakes Marine, Club Marine, Evoke Yachts, Furuno, Garmin, Hunts Marine, Insinc Marine, Malibu Boats, Mercury, Navico, Savwinch, Volvo Penta, Webbe Marine and Yamaha.

The event marina on Cockle Bay will play host to some big names including Collins Marine, Ensign Yachts, Eyachts, Fleming Yachts, Horizon Yachts, Multihull Central, Pacific Boating, Raymarine, Sacs Marine, Short Marine, Sundance Marine, TMG Yachts and Yacht Domain.

After strong visitation last year, 2024 is set to be even bigger, with highlights to include an on-water display with more than 200 boats, 19,000sqm of indoor exhibitor space, and a host of popular entertainment and activities, such as the popular fishing masterclasses, watersports demonstrations, and boating and marine education, all aimed at appealing to both the novice boatie to seasoned marine enthusiasts.

This year visitors can also expect some exciting changes, including an expanded and reconfigured exhibition space at our purpose-built marina in Cockle Bay; expansion of the Discover Sailing & Paddling Hub?and entertainment stage on the Foreshore; and additional displays and activities throughout the show precinct to enhance the overall visitor experience.

In 2023 the Show attracted 46,919 visitors, 233 exhibitors, 220 boats on water, 424 boats in the halls across 19,030sqm and launched 68 new products.

The Sydney International Boat Show is presented by the Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) and Mulpha Events and proudly supported by Partner in Safety - Transport for NSW.

For exhibitor applications, register at www.sydneyboatshow.com.au/exhibitor

For exclusive announcements and the latest news, visit www.sydneyboatshow.com.au. General admission tickets go on sale in June 2024.