Writer: Gabriela Enamorado
2 min read March 2023 — The Palm Beach International Boat Show kicks off this week, aiming to continue the event’s economic success from 2022. The major marine event begins today and will take place up until Sunday, Mar. 26 — where over 800 boats will be on display with 600 vendors and an estimated 55,000 attendees.
The show will open its gates at noon and will be located 141 W. Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. Looking to replicate last year’s success, the boat show is a major economic driver. The 2022 Palm Beach International Boat Show generated over $1 billion for the State of Florida while sales for the local marine industry added up to $725 million. This resulted mostly from marine industry sales and travel/entertainment expenditure by exhibitors and attendees.
Throughout the state, 6,000 full-time and part-time jobs were generated by last year’s show. The event drew 55,000 visitors, with 36% of those visitors coming from outside of the tri-county area.
The event was a major improvement from the previous two years in 2020 and 2021. The boat show was virtual in 2020 and struggled to produce boats to display in 2021.
The show will be offering a nostalgic look at the 92-year-old Honey Fitz yacht. A treat for attendees and history buffs alike, this 93-foot wooden yacht was used by five former U.S. presidents: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and perhaps most notably, John F. Kennedy.
Other featured displays include a number of superyachts between 200 to 300 feet long. One of the most anticipated superyachts on display is the 220-foot Benetti “Calex” yacht, which is making its first-ever world debut at the show.
In October, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show drew success and buyer interest despite economic anxiety. Despite rising interest rates and fuel costs, there was still a strong buyer demand for boats.
“What we’re hearing from our members exhibiting at the shows, demand is still there,” Alyssa Freeman, executive director of Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, told Sun Sentinel. “They depend on these shows to sell boats,” she said.
“As we round out the 2023 winter boat show season, we are excited to return to Downtown West Palm Beach to celebrate the 41st annual Palm Beach International Boat Show,” said Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets, in a press release. “From the fan-favorite AquaZone to the Windward VIP Club, this year’s boat show will bring incredible fun and relaxation for the whole family to enjoy.”
The show this year will be filled with new and memorable activities, such as Windward VIP Club and Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary Art Fair. The Palm Beach International Boat show has remained a strong leader in South Florida’s marine industry and economic engine for the tri-county area.
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