Monaco Yacht Show lures visitors, virtually

by Jeni Bone on 23 Jan 2011 This year, the organisers of Monaco Yacht Show – the world’s number one Superyacht event – have launched MYS 360, an innovative tool to bring new business to the show and ensure repeat visitation from exhibitors, industry and potential clients.

In this exclusive interview, Johan Pizzardini, media coordinator at MYS, explains the purpose of this new and dynamic facet of the website and other additions to the show.

According to Johan, the virtual tour – created by Nicolas Calluaud, French photographer and specialist in 360 degrees images – is suitable for 'anyone interested in the show and those who would like to ‘revisit’ the show'. The announcement of the new facility was sent out to the MYS professional and private contacts throughout the world.

'It’s useful for people to get onboard a selection of yachts and have the chance to have a view of them from the inside. It’s also useful to feel the mood of the show if you have never been there (or if you want to visit it again),' he adds.

From an exhibitor’s or brand’s perspective, the virtual tour showcases the best of the best on show, shot over the four days of the MYS.

For this year, the 21st show, 21-24 September 2011, Johan states they are confident around 500 exhibitors will attend, with 100 superyachts and around 30 tenders.

The real defining feature of the MYS is that it is exclusively for big boats – those 24m and above. It is also, by virtue of its location in the Principality of Monaco, an exceptionally exclusive event, open only to industry and selected visitors.

'It is the most outstanding meeting of exceptional superyachts in the world that the visitors can only see in Monaco during the show. The average size of vessels is 45m LOA and 65% of the yachts showcased are less than two years-old or presented as world premieres.'

This year, while most details are still under wraps, MYS can confirm that the Only Watch initiative will be hosted at the venue during the event. The fourth biennial of the extraordinary charity auction, Only Watch will be held 22 September 2011.

This will involve the auction of unique watches, prototypes, or the number one of very limited series, especially created by the world’s most prestigious luxury watchmakers. Only Watch is organised under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and all proceeds go to Monegasque Association Against Muscular Dystrophy to support research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

During 2009 and 2010, E3,500,000 was raised and distributed to 15 scientific partners, 90 researchers, clinicians and chemists in five countries, with the goal of supporting emerging therapeutic solutions for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

It is hoped that the added attractions this year, including Only Watch, will raise the visitation to the MYS, building on last year’s 28,000 B2B & B2C participants. 'For 2011, there may be more visitors (via Only Watch). We hope to be able to forecast the attendance in the coming weeks.'

More at http://www.monacoyachtshow.com/visite_virtuelle_mys/tour_en.html

and www.monacoyachtshow.com