The Düsseldorf Boat Show is an unarguable yachting success story in a sea of fluctuations and the odd fizzling-out.
The 2020 event continued this impressive trend with good attendance and sales figures, ensuring that the world’s largest indoor marine event will also be known as one of the best.
Global attraction
A show needs people to create a buzz and this truly world-class show enjoyed a genuine boost to its international visitor numbers, no doubt helped in part by the demise of the London show.
There was a noticeable increase in British accents throughout the halls, but there was also a healthy number of American visitors too, adding to the always strong pan-European, Russian and eastern contingents.
Positive waves
So the buzz was there, and so were the buyers. Düsseldorf is a selling show with the vast array of models on offer allowing buyers to often view the exact yacht they are interested in, helping decisions to be made.
But even with these expectations, the 2020 event felt very positive, with strong sales across the size and style spectrums and forward order books taking builders well into 2021 and beyond.
Perhaps even more importantly, this healthy 2020 sales activity comes off the back of a very successful 2019 Cannes Yacht `Show. One swallow might not make a Spring but two successful yachts shows might just be evidence of stable growth.
Motor yacht Mecca
Of course, a boat show also lives and dies on being able to showcase genuinely new and exciting yachts, and here again, Düsseldorf didn’t disappoint.
There were some standout world debuts to savour, but kudos must also go to the show for grouping the yachts in sensible size sections, making it easy for visitors to immerse themselves in their chosen yachting sector. It was great to see electric boats given their own area too, with some fun and notably accessible stands showcasing new build, design ideas.
Over in Hall 1 the mid-sector was truly alive with Bavaria, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Greenline, Sealine and many more shipyards delivering near complete model ranges. An incredible effort and one that allowed those new to yachting a chance to see how size and price transfer into tangible benefits.
Hall 6 saw the prestige yacht market in full swing, with Princess, Sunseeker, Azimut, Ferretti, Galeon, Monte Carlo Yachts and plenty more creating incredible yacht showcases. A special mention should also go to Sanlorenzo for an incredibly cool stand to go with some very impressive yachts.
You can read our show review article here, looking at the best yacht debuts for 2020.
