The 2021 Genoa Boat Show, which ran for six days in September thanks to organisers Italian Marine Industry Association and Saloni Nautici, saw notable highlights including increased footfall from previous years and countless sea trials.
Between 16 - 21 September, the event saw more than 92,000 visitors – 30% up on 2020 – with an impressive 12% increase in contracts signed at the show.
There were 78 separate events during the 61st edition of the show, as well as 5,874 sea trials completed. Nearly 1,000 boats and brands featured, with Custom Line’s Navetta 30, Bluegame’s brand-new BG72 and one of Sanlorenzo’s latest addition, the SL90A.
“Genoa has been a good time for us,” a representative from Sanlorenzo said. “There’s been a high level of interest and we are following up nicely from the earlier Cannes Yachting Festival.”
Other superyacht brands represented at the show included Ferretti, Sunseeker, Arcadia, Azimut, Baglietto and Princess Yachts.
Speaking about the show, Genoa’s mayor Marco Bucci said: “Genoa has been an enormous success. The city is investing in the show and the industry.”
“It’s well represented both in the numbers of people recorded and those I have seen from among those working in the industry have had a great sense of satisfaction from the show,” he added.
The Boat Show exhibitors would have noticed a different landscape for the show, as the hosting Ligurian Sea Port is undergoing construction work. This year, the Show covered an area of over 200,000 square meters with 85% of the areas being completely open-air.
The exhibition area is set to be bigger and “zero-emissions” to make the Port a key competitor for yachting business in the Mediterranean, as is the addition of around 800 parking spaces and a new walkway. The new work is set to complete 2023 is the year in which all the work will be completed.
During the show, Italy’s golden year for sport was celebrated on Saturday 18 September, starting with a panel featuring the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team. Other speakers included Max Sirena, Team Director and Skipper, Gilberto Nobili, Operations Manager and Horacio Carabelli, Design Coordinator. The schedule continued with Max Sirena, Giancarlo Pedote and Gold Medallists from Tokyo 2020 Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti sharing their knowledge and expertise with show visitors.
The dates for the 62nd edition of the Genoa Boat Show next year are yet to be confirmed.