Au revoir
The organising committee of the Gold Coast International Boat Show and Marine Expo has announced they are calling a halt to the show.
25 October 2017
Advertisement
Owing to escalating demand for new boats, shipyard re-fit, maintenance and repair works coupled with the inability to expand the current footprint of the burgeoning event, the show will be halted effective 2018.
“After lengthy consideration, the committee has reluctantly reached this decision, especially following the success of our 2017 show for both our valued boating enthusiast visitors and exhibitors,” said Emma Brown, the long-serving event and marketing manager of the Gold Coast International Boat Show and Marine Expo.
“The boat building factories at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct in Coomera are now bustling as a result of new boat sales and the hardstands and re-fit sheds are a hive of activity. Available space within the current site, together with the impact of the show on businesses in the precinct has become a significant consideration.”
The award-winning Gold Coast International Boat Show and Marine Expo has grown significantly through its seven years of operation, welcoming more than 140,000 people through the gates in that time.
Advertisement
“The show helped to cement the Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera as the boating industry capital of Australia,” said Mrs Brown.
“It is the only boat show to be held in the biggest shipyards and boat factories in the country, showcasing the marine industry in a truly unique and memorable way and assisted in creating exceptional sales for exhibitors over the past seven years.”
The Gold Coast International Boat Show and Marine Expo show was created by industry leaders in 2011 to help restore growth and stability to the GFC-affected marine industry.
The show has always held a strong sense of community as part of its ethos and has raised more than $100,000 for the Rotary Club of Coomera River, Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service, Sailability Gold Coast, Paradise Kids and Ronald McDonald House – South East Queensland.
Trenton Gay, Director of GCCM, reflected on the start of the Boat Show and Expo. “We are extraordinarily proud of what we have been able to achieve for the boating industry and the Gold Coast since the inception of the Gold Coast International Boat Show & Marine Expo. When we first took the idea for this event to our neighbours in the marine precinct 7 years ago, our aim was to breathe life back into the industry which was certainly impacted by the GFC.
“Look at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct today and there is absolutely no doubt that this is exactly what we achieved as a result of this event. The Gold Coast is certainly well recognised as the nations major marine industry hub, our shipyard is experiencing record growth and our onsite trades at GCCM are in expansion mode – the industry is buzzing, it’s exciting and we really believe that this event has been a major part of the recovery process”.
“At a time when the industry was on it’s knees we were all able to dig deep and work together to create an event for the industry, by the industry, which has since created enormous growth and employment opportunities – well beyond what we could have envisaged back in 2011. That is what this Gold Coast Marine Xpo was about and we are honoured that we could play a role by donating our resources and our facilities.”
From humble beginnings, the show developed to welcome more than 23,000 visitors in 2017, displaying more than 600 boats and 230 exhibitors.
“We would like to take this opportunity to publicly and sincerely thank all of our great supporters over the past seven years – our enthusiastic visitors, loyal exhibitors, steadfast event partners, stable suppliers and the generous land holders who have all given and contributed so much to the success of our show,” Emma Brown concluded.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
