The Newport Spring Boat Show will be suspended this year in order to make way for a planned superyacht show in 2011.
NEWPORT, R.I. – Bigger isn’t necessarily better, but when it comes to yachts, it’s certainly more awe-inspiring.
And as Newport becomes an increasingly popular port of call for luxury yachts and their well-heeled owners, Newport Harbor Corp. has announced that it will suspend its Newport Spring Boat Show this year in order to focus on the launch of a superyacht show planned for the summer of 2011.
“We really couldn’t focus our energies on both. It’s really not a bad time to suspend it. Things are looking a little bit better in the boating industry, but to give it a year off didn’t seem like a bad idea at this time,” show manager Nancy Piffard told Soundings Trade Only.
Piffard said she expected the spring show, which for many marks the unofficial start of the summer boating season, would be back in a year.
In an announcement made on the company’s Web site, Piffard wrote:
The Newport Spring Boat Show will be suspended in 2010 to focus on an exciting new business venture! Our parent company, Newport Harbor Corporation, is planning the launch of a Superyacht Show in the summer of 2011. Newport Exhibition Group, producers of the Spring Boat Show, will focus it’s energies on the implementation of this new event, and of course, our other boat shows;
While planning for the superyacht show is still in the early stages, Stuart Kiely, director of marketing, said he expects such an event would be well received.
“Newport as a town really would be a good host for an event like this,” he told Soundings Trade Only. “We think that being situated between D.C. and Boston, and having a show in season in Newport, that we can put enough value into this event … and that there’s enough wealth in this region that we can put together enough elements of the show to make it a worthwhile destination.”
The decision to suspend the Spring Boat Show will not impact NHC’s other shows. The 40th annual Newport International Boat Show is scheduled for Sept.16-19, 2010 and the Providence Boat Show, is slated for Feb 3-6, 2011.
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Newport, RI
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So first the used boat show goes away, now the spring show.
It never was a huge show, but at least the little guy in Newport could dream. Superyachts? What good do they do the town beyond a couple high priced meals and the Newport Shipyard?
Like most of us are ever going to get beyond polishing the side of one of these.
The Providence boat show is always a great time and a place where the average guy can dream or maybe even buy something. This new show that they are planning will bring in the big money visitors that the city needs. I think it is a great idea.