Inland boating attractions were said to have been a success at LBS 2018INDUSTRY DATABASEBRITISH MARINEThe 2019 London Boat Show will not take place.Show organiser and owner, British Marine, says the decision was made after independent research by exhibition company, Zing Insights, showed there was insufficient support from a large proportion of the marine industry to the show with its current format, duration and location.“The decision to put the London Boat Show on hold is naturally very disappointing for the British marine industry,” said David Pougher, BM president, “British Marine and its board of directors has a responsibility to its members and we cannot commit to running a show which is clearly forecasted in its current format to be commercially unviable and will not meet customer satisfaction levels.”Lack of confidenceA statement from BM said interviews carried out with 67% of exhibitors found although a five-day show was preferable to a ten-day show, a large number of key exhibitors were not prepared to commit to exhibiting in January 2019.Consumer satisfaction was also found to be below acceptable industry standards, particularly the number and diversity of sailing and power boats exhibited.In addition, there is a lack of signed contracts of commitment to the 2019 show which affected confidence from other potential exhibitors.In contract, BM says it is in talks with relevant landlords to increase the footprint of TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, which last year had close to 500 exhibitors and more than 106,000 visitors and has the support of a title sponsor.Significantly aheadBM says the 2018 event is significantly ahead in terms of ticket sales and exhibitor sign ups compared to this time last year.“TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show produces a positive contribution to the industry, is well supported by exhibitors and visitors alike and is a highly successful event and we are now able to put all our energy, expertise and enthusiasm into this event,” added Mr Pougher.And he said new opportunities will now be sought to support the industry.“We are very aware that many companies in the marine industry look at a sales activity such as the London Boat Show in January as an excellent way to kick start the year, but times change and we must do the same in order to offer events which are affordable, accessible, welcomed and supported by the industry and its customers and are financially viable for all involved,” he said.SHARE THIS ARTICLEFacebookLinkedInTwitterNEXT ARTICLE FEATURED NEWS WILL THE FIVE-DAY LBS WORK?22/01/18 MORE THAN 75 NEW VESSELS AT LO…10/01/18 ROCKLEY BRINGS WATERSPORTS TO …09/01/18LATEST PRESS RELEASES

via Boating Business | 2019 LBS is cancelled.