boot Düsseldorf records 214,000 visitors as show ends on a high
Mit mehr als 1.500 Ausstellern aus 68 Nationen auf 220.000 Quadratmetern in den Hallen 1 bis 17 ist die boot Düsseldorf vom 20. bis 28. Januar 2024 die größte Yacht- und Wassersportmesse der Welt. Sowohl Segler als auch Motorbootfahrer finden hier eine große Vielfalt an Booten, Jollen, Superboats oder Luxusyachten. Die beliebten Wassersportarten Tauchen, Surfen, Kitesurfen, Stand Up Paddling, Skimboarden oder Kanu fahren gibt es auf der boot in allen Facetten und mit dem entsprechenden Equipment. Attraktive Bühnenprogramme mit den Stars der Szene, aktuelle Trends und ein hochkarätiger Mix aus Workshops und Mitmachaktionen, sowohl für den Freizeitsportler als auch für Experten, machen die Messe weltweit einzigartig. Doch auch der Meeresschutz und innovative, nachhaltige Technologien stehen auf der boot 2024 im Fokus. In Zusammenarbeit mit der European Boating Industry (EBI) bietet das blue innovation dock ein einzigartiges Dialogformat mit politischer, wirtschaftlicher, technologischer und medialer Expertise in der Halle 10. Außerdem werden wieder zwei Leuchttürme für den Schutz der Ozeane an Bord sein. Der prestigeträchtige “ocean tribute” Award mit den Partnern Fürst Albert II. Stiftung und Deutsche Meeresstiftung sowie die “love your ocean”-Kampagne mit ihrem Stand in der Halle 11.
With more than 1,500 exhibitors from 68 nations on 220,000 square meters in Halls 1 to 17, boot Düsseldorf from 20 to 28 January 2024 is the world’s largest yacht and water sports fair. Both sailors and motor boaters will find a wide variety of boats, dinghies, superboats or luxury yachts. The popular water sports of diving, surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddling, skimboarding or canoeing are available at boot in all facets and with the appropriate equipment. Attractive stage programs with the stars of the scene, the latest trends and a high-caliber mix of workshops and hands-on activities, both for leisure sports enthusiasts and experts, make the fair unique worldwide. But marine conservation and innovative, sustainable technologies are also in focus at boot 2024. In cooperation with the European Boating Industry (EBI), the blue innovation dock will offer a unique dialogue format with political, economic, technological and media expertise in Hall 10. In addition, two lighthouses for ocean protection will again be on board. The prestigious “ocean tribute” award with partners Prince Albert II. Foundation and German Ocean Foundation as well as the “love your ocean” campaign with its stand in Hall 11.
After its nine-day run, boot Düsseldorf 2024 has closed its doors for another year and with 214,000 visitors turning out for the event.
Despite difficult conditions caused by poor weather and nationwide train strikes – which saw visitor numbers down on last year at the halfway point — Wolfram Diener, boot Düsseldorf CEO, and president of Messe Düsseldorf, says he is very pleased with the positive outcome of the trade fair.
“With 214,000 visitors from 120 countries, we have achieved a good result and can be more than satisfied in these challenging times,” says Diener. “Customers and exhibitors have a unique platform for networking here. It’s great, we were once again able to underpin boot Düsseldorf’s leading position with an inspiring business atmosphere in the exhibition halls. I wish our exhibitors a good business year 2024.”
boot Düsseldorf organisers say the show succeeded in increasing both its proportion of trade visitors (from 18 per cent to over 21 per cent) as well as the internationality of its customers (from 23.7 to 34.3 per cent).
The majority of visitors were interested in sailing yachts (42 per cent), followed by powerboat fans (38.2 per cent), divers (27 per cent), charterers (11.7 per cent) and surfers (9.8 per cent). However, boating apparel and travel were also in high demand at boot and proved very popular with 25.7 per cent (boat wear) and 19.4 per cent (nautical tourism). A high percentage (94 per cent) of visitors were extremely positive about the show programme, according to organisers.
In 2023, boot Düsseldorf registered nearly 237,000 visitors from over 100 countries and more than 1,500 exhibitors from 68 nations. It was the first time the show had returned post-covid following a three-year hiatus.
Exhibitor spokesperson and trade fair president Robert Marx delivered a positive verdict on this year’s fair. “We had many new contacts at our stands and were able to conclude numerous deals,” he says. “The right visitors ensured very good sales figures in the boat sector as well as for motors/engines, boards, diving equipment and accessories. boot 2024 provided the perfect start to the season.”
Simon Clare, executive director of marketing at Princess Yachts, comments: “boot Düsseldorf is the perfect kickstart to the boating year. The biggest show on the marine calendar, it is also one of the most compelling showcases for the industry, and we were delighted to contribute to that this year with one of the strongest line-ups we’ve ever had at the show.
“With four of our largest models on display in an eight-boat line up, we had almost 600 feet of Princess models on show. We were also very proud to have the largest vessel at the show, the X95, making her show debut. Being the first show of the year, boot is often a good barometer for how the market may perform for the rest of the year and we’ve certainly been encouraged by how busy we have been at the Princess stand and by the quality of the conversations we’ve been having. Both the sales completed at the show and the number of conversations to continue later certainly back that up so we are optimistic for the year ahead. It is always a spectacular event for visitors and exhibitors alike and this year has certainly been no exception.”
“One look at our stand says more than a thousand words! It was packed!” enthuses Hans Roeland of Sea Ray. “We did excellent business and gained new customers throughout the boot 2024 trade fair. We were able to get visitors interested in our stand and conclude many deals.”
Hanjo Runde, CEO of HanseYachts adds: “We were able to present many new products at boot Düsseldorf. We were overwhelmed by the rush of over 10,000 visitors to our sailing and motor yachts, and our visitors enjoyed boot just as much as we did.”
Michael Müller, CEO of Bavaria, says the stand received a high visitor footfall. “We were delighted with the high visitor footfall at our two stands in Hall 1 for powerboats and in Hall 16 for sailing yachts, especially at the weekends, but also on weekdays,” he says. “And even more so about the consistently positive feedback from visitors to boot 2024 about our yachts. We also used boot 2024 to exchange ideas with our suppliers and new contacts from the yacht industry. After nine days in Düsseldorf, we can now look forward to 2024 with confidence.”
Patric Polch, managing director of boote polch GmbH says the firm was satisfied with the outcome of boot Düsseldorf 2024.
“The mix of visitors to the trade fair fits in perfectly with our product range — in addition to many important domestic customers, a high level of internationality was also noticeable,” he says. “At the same time, we noticed that the expertise of the customers was extremely high and the quality of the discussions was first-class.
“We registered far more demand at boot 2024 than in the previous year. It was particularly busy at the weekends, but we also welcomed many well-informed water sports enthusiasts from Germany and many European countries during the week.”
boot Düsseldorf will return next year from 18-26 January 2025.
Images courtesy of Messe Düsseldorf.
