Attendance Up At Vancouver International Boat Show

Consumer attendance was up by about 2% year-over-year at the 54th annual Vancouver International Boat Show, held from January 20 to 24 inclusive at BC Place and Granville Island.

A total of 30,340 people visited the show this year, up from the 29,665 who visited the show in 2015. While pleasant weekend weather likely helped draw out the crowds – particularly at the show’s in-water venue at Granville Island – show organizers note that targeted efforts to market the show to prospective new boaters are also showing dividends.

“Our strategic marketing initiatives are introducing more new boaters to the boating lifestyle, which will help fuel future growth in the industry,” said show manager Eric Nicholl. “We think the trends we are seeing here bode well for the upcoming year in BC.”

As with the Toronto show earlier this month, questions about the potential impact of a steep US exchange rate left some exhibitors unsure of what to expect. “We came to the show without a clear understanding of how the value of the Canadian dollar would affect us,” said Mike Hudson of Port Alberni-based Cutwater and Ranger Tugs dealer, Port Boat House. “We’re excited to say that despite the uncertainty, we topped our results from last year and are up by 10 to 15%. This was our best show ever.”

“The 2016 show has been one of our highest quality shows ever,” said M&P Mercury president Bob Pappajohn. “We saw old clients and met new ones and we are thrilled with the results we’re seeing across all segments. We are optimistic about BC as a very strong marketplace for M&P and we can’t wait to see more people embrace the boating lifestyle.”

Owned by the Boating BC Association and produced by Canadian Boat Shows, the 55th annual Vancouver International Boat Show returns to BC Place and Granville Island from January 18 to 22, 2017.