boot Düsseldorf – entering the year 2015 with wind in its sails
Exhibitors are booking early and reserving plenty of space
Optimised hall layout for boats and yachts
Yacht and water sports enthusiasts can look forward to boot Düsseldorf at its best – from 17 to 25 January 2015. Registrations from the international yachting and water sports industry are showing excellent occupancy levels in the 17 exhibition halls traditionally occupied by boot at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre. Next January more than 1,650 exhibitors from over 60 countries – including some 800 suppliers from abroad – will invite visitors on an international voyage of discovery around the market for boats, yachts, maritime equipment and services.
Show budgets focused on Düsseldorf
“We had a great amount of wind in our sails when we started our trade fair preparations. Bookings have been plentiful and, above all, have been arriving at an early stage, as exhibitors are wanting to secure good places for themselves, while some are even expanding their space,” says Goetz-Ulf Jungmichel, Director of boot Düsseldorf. “The boat show has established itself well and truly as the leading indoor trade fair of the entire yachting and boating industry. The sector is increasingly focusing its budgets on boot Düsseldorf as a guarantee for good business in Europe – the region with the greatest purchasing power. The boat show attracts around 50,000 visitors from other countries, opening doors to high-calibre international customers.”
German Market remains stable
In a persistently difficult international climate the German market proves to be the driving force in the boating and yachting business. The manufacturers and dealers of maritime goods and services will be able to look back on a positive water sports season overall in 2014 – which according to the German Association of the Water Sports Industry (BVWW) Cologne should close on a 3% plus.
German boat builders managed to position themselves successfully on both the domestic and export markets. Explaining this development Jürgen Tracht, CEO at BVWW, said: “New models as well as low-cost entry versions make it easier in the new boat business and provide the necessary momentum on the market.” Bigger powerboats and yachts above 39 foot are currently in particularly high demand, he added. Interest in very large standard yachts beyond 45 foot was clearly increasing.
It is evident that demand for powerboats in Germany is being stimulated by a new regulation waiving the need for a licence for boats with up to 15 HP. Inflatables and smaller, open sports boats are particularly popular with customers.
Europe’s biggest Boating Market
At boot Düsseldorf 2015 boat buyers will be spoilt for choice. Nine out of Düsseldorf’s 17 exhibition halls will be occupied by boats and yachts at boot Düsseldorf – vessels driven by sails, on-board engines and even muscle power. 440 boatbuilders, dealers and importers will showcase a unique spectrum of about 1,700 boats and yachts, ranging from canoes and dinghies to luxury yachts and vintage vessels – all within the exhibition halls. Exhibitors are planning to come to Düsseldorf with a large number of premières and developments. Covering several halls, leading international boatbuilders will display their full ranges of models in all sizes and quality categories.
All Dutch steel yachts now in Hall 17
The hall layout has been optimised in parts. Exhibitors with sailing boats and yachts, who were previously in Hall 17 will now be positioned in Halls 15 and 16, with the exception of the Sailing Centre, its Regatta Boat Show and its stage programme. These will remain in Hall 17, close to the transition area towards Hall 16.
The central theme in Hall 17 will now be Dutch steel yacht construction. “In January this hall will accommodate the biggest Dutch indoor boat show. Motor yachts made of steel are a major specialism in the Netherlands. The repositioning of this segment will put a greater focus on it at boot Düsseldorf, while also creating a spatial association with the two motorboat halls 4 and 5 and their visitors,” says boot Director Jungmichel when asked to comment on the decision. The new layout policy is being received very well by Dutch customers. Leading exhibitors in this sector have already confirmed their participation, including De Boarnstream, Elling, Sturier, Aquanaut, Linssen and Jetten.
Multi-hulls still heading for growth
The sailing boat show is set to present a first-class line-up at boot. Around 150 international exhibitors will showcase their premières and developments in Halls 15 and 16. The multi-hull segment in Hall 15 is continuing to develop extremely well. Catamaran enthusiasts can look forward to a growing number of large boats. Catana, CNB Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Nautitech and Slyder will show their 215 models in sizes from 15 metres upwards at boot Düsseldorf.
All sizes and classes
Düsseldorf will have a wide range of motorboats and motor yachts, covering nearly everything that is available on the market, from inflatables with outboard engines, through open sports boats, day cruisers and cabin boats to luxury yachts. More than 250 boatbuilders, dealers and importers will be occupying six exhibition halls, giving a representative overview of motorised boating. Hall 4 will have a concentration of leading motor yacht series manufacturers such as Bavaria, Bénéteau, Cranchi, Jeanneau and Nimbus. For the first time at boot 2015 Bénéteau and Jeanneau will also have stands in Hall 9 where they will showcase models which allow motorisation, using outboard engines. In the same hall the US Brunswick Group will have its sport boat brands Sea Ray, Bayliner and Quicksilver.
Luxury segment on the rise
With around 60 large and luxurious yachts, boats and tenders in the high-end range of the market, the luxury segment is clearly on the rise again. The product spectrum has certainly been widening, especially for yachts between 20 and 25 metres in length. This coming January Bénéteau and its luxury line Monte Carlo Yachts will be in Hall 6 instead of Hall 4, thus following Jeanneau boatbuilders, who took this decision with their elegant prestige yachts two years earlier. Azimut, Sunseeker and Princess will have wide ranges of models among their extra-large yachts. The biggest yachts – about 30 in all – will reach boot 2015 by water from December onwards and will then be lifted on land.
New in Hall 10: Blue Tech – energy-efficient engines
The equipment market at boot continues to benefit from a general trend among boat and yacht owners to invest in the value of their vessels. 350 international exhibitors in Halls 10, 11 and 12 are showing everything that is either required or possible in order to freshen up a boat or to increase its comfort: on-board electronics, engines and accessories. Finally, you will find a wide spectrum of functional clothing and marine equipment in those halls.
A new separate exhibition area has been created in Hall 10, providing an overview of energy-efficient engines. This Blue Tech Innovation Centre will feature ways to equip motorboats with electric and hybrid engines or indeed with solar energy.
Scuba diving hall booked up
Hall 3 has good news for scuba divers. After several years of restraint, Egypt is now beginning to attract scuba divers among tourists again. Although the political situation at this most important scuba diving destination continues to be unstable, the Arab Republic of Egypt will have an official 240-square-metre pavilion at boot. As well as featuring the Philippines, Indonesia and Turkey, 2015 will be the first year when Fuerteventura, Greece and Jordan will be represented with pavilions as scuba-diving destinations.
The renting of stand space to trade and industry is proceeding very well indeed. Many well-known equipment manufacturers are expanding their presentations, such as Aqua Lung, mares, Oceanic and BtS Europa. The entire Hall 3 has been booked up by the world’s biggest consumer show in scuba diving, featuring some 350 exhibitors from all ends of the earth.
Trend water sports with new exhibitors
Halls 1 and 2 will have 70 exhibitors from trade and industry, showcasing innovations in trend sports such as wakeboarding, stand-up paddling, kiting and surfing, with good opportunities to find suitable equipment for the forthcoming season. This section, too, will have several newcomers from the equipment sector, such as Osprey Action Sports, Makani and CrosLake, who will be at boot with surfboards, SUP boards and water sports clothing.
Première at Cruise Pavilion: cruises to discover the world
It is becoming increasingly popular to discover the world through cruises and to combine such trips with relaxation, fun and entertainment – and indeed at any age. boot has picked up this development and would like to invite cruisers to the new Cruise Pavilion in Hall 14. TUI will be represented with some 300 square metres of exhibition space, offering all the ships and routes provided by shipping companies under its umbrella. TUI will even have its own booking centre in the hall.
And of course it is generally true to say that the maritime travel market at boot Düsseldorf in Halls 13 and 14 will offer a wide range of ideas and suggestions for holidays on the water and for boat renting holidays. Whether it’s Croatia, Portugal, Turkey, the Balearic Islands or the Canaries, the inland waterways of eastern Germany or Germany’s immediate neighbour, the Netherlands, 300 international charter companies, tour operators and tourist organisations will whisk away visitors to numerous international holiday and travel destinations for sailing and powerboat enthusiasts.
20 Theme and Adventure Worlds
Experience 360° water sports: This motto and hallmark of boot Düsseldorf is still at the heart of the trade fair! While it’s cold and wintry outside, this trade fair gives visitors a great opportunity to anticipate the joys of water sports in the summer. Visitors can look forward to 20 theme and adventure worlds, including a Beach World, a Sailing Centre and five action centres with indoor pools, scuba-diving pools and small and wide artificial rivers. Nearly all water sports disciplines can be tried out: sailing, diving, stand-up paddle surfing, wakeboarding, canoeing and fishing!
boot Düsseldorf 2015 is open daily, from 17 to 25 January 2015, 10:00 to 18:00 hrs. Further details and entrance tickets are available on the web portal www.boot.de.
