UPDATE, FEBRUARY 22, 2021: The city of West Palm Beach has issued preliminary approval for a scaled-down Palm Beach Show to proceed. A spokeswoman for the city confirmed this in statement to MegayachtNews.com. She adds, “Although recent COVID-19 trends are favorable, the city will make a final determination on or before March 1, 2021 as to the status of the event.” Since show organizers anticipate full approval, however, tickets remain on sale.
Read on for our original article.
The city of West Palm Beach should issue a decision this week about the annual Palm Beach International Boat Show. Barring safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the event will take place next month. Additionally, you should expect a different layout, for a scaled-down Palm Beach show.
Due to the pandemic, the city requires all event organizers to submit a COVID-19 mitigation plan. Informa Markets, which organizes the show with the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, did already present its plan. The strategy includes mandatory masks for all exhibitors, staff, and attendees, along with mandatory temperature checks on arrival. Additionally, four entrances, marked foot-traffic patterns, and other measures will be in place. Normally, the show combines open-air and enclosed-tent displays. This year, however, organizers are allowing only open-air exhibits. Plus, more cleaning and disinfecting will take place during show hours, with deeper cleaning overnight. (The show website contains a link to the list of measures.)
While it waits for the formal go-ahead, Informa is already promoting event dates of March 25 to 28. General-admission tickets and VIP Experience tickets—the latter for VIP lounge access and show entry—are already on sale, too. However, Informa will issue refunds if it cancels the show prior to opening day.
Attendees should anticipate a scaled-down Palm Beach show for a few reasons. For instance, due to travel bans and government lockdowns, European and UK exhibitors cannot attend. Those with American-based divisions, however, might still exhibit. These include Princess Yachts, along with Benetti, Mangusta, and Sanlorenzo, among others. The above-mentioned traffic flows and open-air-only exhibits add further to why a scaled-down Palm Beach show is in the works.
Despite the challenges, a few exhibitors and megayachts are already confirmed. In fact, Informa says the 238-foot (72.6-meter) Quantum of Solace will be the queen of the show. Turquoise Yachts delivered her in 2012, as Vicky.
Organizers postponed last year’s show, twice, due to COVID-19. Ultimately, the second postponement became a cancellation.
Palm Beach International Boat Show pbboatshow.com
Leave a Reply