Following years of competing boat shows, organisers have finally agreed to go with quality over quantity.
Following boat show delays and pressure from the industry, two of the biggest boat show organisers in Southeast Asia have merged to put on one, united boat show in Singapore and one show on Phuket. Andy Treadwell, CEO of Verventia, owner of the Singapore and Thailand Yacht Shows, and Gael and Olivier Burlot, owners of Asia RendezVous, organisers of the Phuket, Penang and Singapore RendezVous events, announced at the end of May that they would merge their respective events in order to create bigger and better single events.
The move followed the news that the long-standing London Boat Show – considered the premier showcase for the British marine industry – would not take place in 2019. The organisers made the decision because there was “insufficient support from a large proportion of the marine industry”, according to media reports.
“The merger between Andy, Gael and Olivier to create one show in Singapore and one show on Phuket is great news for the marine industry,” says Paul Poole, founder, managing director and chairman of Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd., who has worked with both entities. “Now, the organisers can share their wealth of knowledge, resources and expertise to organise better and bigger shows that will support the industry and create ROI for everyone involved.”
Paul Poole and The Sponsorship Experts have advocated for a more sustainable setup of the boat shows for the marine industry in Thailand for some time. In December 2017, an opinion piece by The Sponsorship Experts about the sustainability of the boat shows in Thailand was widely distributed in Thai and regional media. In the piece, Paul Poole argued that the boat shows were satiated to the detrimental effect on both the organisers and the industry as a whole.
Paul’s argument was that due to the size of Phuket and the size of the marine industry, the island should only have one boat show, as several competing boat shows would stretch sponsors, partners, exhibitors and visitors too thin.
“We look forward to seeing this new show grow and support the flourishing marine industry on Phuket and in wider Thailand in a more meaningful manner. I expect great support from sponsors, partners, exhibitors and visitors alike,” added Paul Poole.
Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co., Ltd. is an independent marketing consultancy based in Bangkok, Thailand specialising in commercial sponsorship and partnership marketing, working with both rights holders and brands - acting as a catalyst by bringing them together and maximising the relationship.
We have packaged, sold and managed sponsorship and partnership opportunities for a number of Southeast Asia’s leading yachting events, including Asia Superyacht Rendezvous, Asian Yachting Grand Prix, Bay Regatta, Boat Asia, Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous, Neptune Regatta, Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show, Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX), Phuket Raceweek, Royal Langkawi International Regatta, Samui Regatta, Singapore Yacht Show, Top of the Gulf Regatta, and Thailand Yacht Show.
