Gulf Coast’s largest boating lifestyle event reports increase in attendance and exhibitor participation
St. Petersburg, Fla. – The 35th annual St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show® offered four beautiful days for boaters of all ages, with an expanded selection of products and activities encompassing the total boating lifestyle. Show organizers reported a 5.2 percent increase in overall attendance compared to 2011 and a 10 percent increase in exhibitor participation, including more sailboats on display than in previous years.
“The newly expanded show layout worked beautifully with the increased number of exhibitors and boats on display offering guests more great things to see and experience,” said Dane Graziano, senior vice president and COO of Show Management, the company that manages and produces the show. “Judging by the crowds of people and overall success of the show, many people seem eager to own boats and get on the water.”
More than 60 educational special events including marine seminars by Discover Sailing drew large crowds daily, and youth fishing clinics presented by the non-profit Hook The Future entertained the next generation of fishermen and their parents.
The show continued to meet the expectations of exhibitors such as Hacker-Craft, the Silver Bay, New York-based manufacturer of sporty, hand-built mahogany boats. “We came to the St. Petersburg Boat Show for the first time in 2011 and sold a boat, and we sold another one this year,” said Ken Rawley, director of sales and marketing with Hacker Boat Co., Inc. ”We obviously are very happy with the results of each show. Add the benefits of being in a beautiful city with a vibrant waterfront, culture and fine restaurants and you have a great experience.”
Largo, Florida-based Catalina Yachts, known for building sturdy, well designed sailboats, saw an increase in qualified buyers this year. “The show turned out very well for us and our dealers, who saw more people at the show than the past three years,” said Ron Frisosky of Catalina Yachts. ”Attendance on Friday was equal to last year’s Saturday, and Saturday was gangbusters. We saw people from around the country and got lots of quality leads that will turn into sales in the next three to four months.”
The St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show is managed and produced by Show Management and sponsored by Lincoln, SAIL Magazine, Hook The Future, Goslings, Budweiser, BoatQuest.com and Sail America. Like the St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show on Facebook at facebook.com/StPeteBoatShow, follow the show on Twitter at twitter.com/boatshowupdates and tune into Boat Show TV at youtube.com/showmanagement. For more information, call (954) 764-7642 or (800) 940-7642, or visit ShowManagement.com.
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