FLIBS Image Source: Flibs.com

 

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) 2019 is celebrating it’s 60th Annual Boat Show October 30th to November 3rd, 2019 in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

60th Anniversary Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show FLIBS LogoFLIBS Image Source: Flibs.com

 

Background of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS)

2019 marks the 60th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS).

FLIBS is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) and operated and produced by Informa Markets (a trading division of Informa PLC), one the leading exhibition and show organizers in the world.

 

Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF)

According to the MiaSF.org website, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF)  was created in 1961 and is a not-for-profit trade organization focused on the sound growth of the marine industry for the benefit of its members and their customers, local communities, and the environment.

About MIASF is comprised of more than 500+ members in Florida’s Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS).

As the largest in-water boat show in the world, FLIBS provides an annual economic impact of $857 million to the State of Florida, showcases about 1,500+ vessels, and displays approximately $4 billion of product throughout 7 boat show sites.

Due to the size, scope, and popularity of the boat show, South Florida has become known as the yachting refit and repair capital of the world with a global reputation for excellence.

 

FLIBS Video Explaining the Positive Economic Impact on Fort Lauderdale

 

Heiko Dobrikow, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Las Olas Company

“When you think about the two million feet of shoreline, the 24 miles of beaches and then covered with about 3,000 hours of sunshine, why would you not be in Fort Lauderdale and truly enjoy this amazing place with your yacht.”

“Just alone in the marine industry, it’s 117,000+ jobs that are created because of this FLIBS event and its industry.”

“It’s keeping the economy going. $8.8 billion dollars of economic impact. The spotlight that is being put on our Fort Lauderdale economy is a global spotlight, which is amazing!”

“It’s about the restaurants, the retail stores, the shopping, the art galleries, the jewelry stores. That creates the whole mecca for everybody to enjoy themselves.”

Heiko Dobrikow is the General Manager of the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale and Executive Vice President of Las Olas Company. Connect with him on Twitter @ZServantLeader or @ZServantLeader on Linkedin.

 

Greg Cook, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Well the FLIBS Boat Show is one of the biggest events that we have every year. It’s like the Super Bowl for us, it kicks off the season. It’s been here for I believe 59 years. It’s always been a part of Fort Lauderdale.”

“Now this is one of those events where all the waiters, the bartenders, the server’s, our bellman, they all look forward to it.”

“You get that introduction to the City of Fort Lauderdale with the FLIBS Boat Show that brings people back.”

Greg Cook is the General Manager (GM) of The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale. Connect with him @TeamFM on Linkedin or @RitzCarltonFortLauderdale on Facebook.

 

Elliot Wolf, Owner of the Be Nice Restaurant Group

“All year-round the yachting business in Fort Lauderdale is what drives the economic motor here. If you’re successful at the Boat Show you’re going to have a good year.”

“We let our people work. They want shifts, they get shifts.”

“It’s a great way to showcase Fort Lauderdale in a real small window of time. And we see those people come back throughout the year. Some people have bought boats that bring them back throughout the year.”

Elliot Wolf is the Owner of the Be Nice Restaurant Group. Find out more about his Fort Lauderdale restuarants at BeNiceRestaurants.com.

 

Thomas J. Murray, of Thomas J. Murray & Associates, Inc.

“In 2015 they were about 150,000+ visitor days of hotel rooms. All put together, the direct expenditure for hospitality and amusement locally from the FLIBS Boat Show exhibitors and visitors was about $42 million dollars in Broward County. That magnifies beyond hospitality and beyond the boating industry for a total economic impact of just under $100 million dollars just from the hospitality portion, and just in Broward County.”

“It goes beyond just the boat building, manufacturing and brokerages. It goes beyond the hotels and the food service. All of these business types pay wages, salaries and incomes to their employees, who turn around into communities and spend it on non-boating goods.”

Thomas J. Murray is Principal at Thomas J. Murray & Associates, Inc.

 

Bob Swindell, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance

“It’s just not the businesses tied directly to the FLIBS Boat Show, but there’s local businesses impacted.”

“This generates significant revenue for Broward County.”

“It gives us a great opportunity to let these people see firsthand, that not only how great a place Fort Lauderdale is to spend time, but a place to have your business.”

Bob Swindell is the President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. Connect with him on Twitter @BobSwindell or @Bob-Swindell on Linkedin.

 

Rufus James, Airport Manager at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE)

“Typically, during the annual FLIBS Boat Show we see an increase in traffic of about maybe 20% to 25% and we are seeing as much as 500 to 700 flights coming in per day. It’s sort of the ‘kickoff’ if you will, to the busy season.”

Rufus James is the Airport Manager at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). Connect with him on Linkedin or FlyFXE.com.

 

SuperYacht Village at FLIBS 2019

 

FLIBS on Facebook #FIBS2019

60 years and counting! #FLIBS2019 will be bigger and better than ever. Get the scoop from Ocean Drive Magazine.

Posted by Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on Wednesday, October 30, 2019

 

140′ Majesty Yacht from Gulf Craft Inc. Arriving at FLIBS

 

List of FLIBS 2019 Boat Show Exhibitors

FLIBS Exhibitors can be seen at 7 locations covering 3 million sq.ft. of exhibition space with over 6 miles of floating docks. See over 1500+ boats, yachts super yachts and 300’+ mega-yachts on display. 1200+ exhibitors and 110,000+ visitors from 52 countries around the world will be in attendance.

 

FLIBS 2019 Boat Show Dates and Hours

FLIBS Day 1
Wednesday, October 30th, 2019
12:00pm – 7:00pm

FLIBS Day 2
Thursday, October 31st, 2019
10:00am – 7:00pm

FLIBS Day 3
Friday, November 1st, 2019
10:00am – 7:00pm

FLIBS Day 4
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
10:00am – 7:00pm

FLIBS Day 5
Sunday, November 3rd, 2019
10:00am – 6:00pm

The main FLIBS Boat Show location is at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33316, with a total of 7 locations to see. View the complete FLIBS Show Map.

 

Attending FLIBS 2019?

To attend the 2019 Boat Show, purchase Official FLIBS tickets from Flibs.com.