Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) — Local services in Fort Lauderdale

This was our first visit to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. This is a MASSIVE event, and the website says over 100,000 attendances. This is also the (65th) SIXTY FIFTH YEAR of the event, so you would think the people putting on the event would have the attendee experience worked out from 65 years to be the best possible experience ever. If you thought that you would be wrong!

Great Event, Great Location, GREATEST Exhibitors, NICEST PEOPLE ATTENDED. However, with 1,000 exhibitors at over 7 different separate locations and 1,300 boats on display, we spent most of our 3-day attendance trying to figure out where we were, and where we were going, where the bathrooms were and where to get food.

THE DIRECTIONS AND KNOWING WHERE WE WERE AT ANY GIVEN TIME WAS HORRIBLE FINDING BATHROOMS WAS TERRIBLE FINDING FOOD WAS LIKE HUNTING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

It was a total failure on the part of the people putting the boat show on providing directions and for 100,000 attendees to know where they are within the map. What was needed is about 100 signs showing ‘You are here”, on the map of where everything is.

Absolutely no technology is being used by the Boat Show.

RESOLUTION: They should have a “Your Location APP”, that shows your GPS location superimposed on the Boat Show map. It would show where you are and which way to get to the areas you wanted to get to. You might want to see a vender and look that vendor up input that into the app and it gives you directions just like a navigation app directly to the location you type in.

Also they need more food trucks.

PLEASE ATTEND THIS BOAT SHOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN BOATING. IT IS GREAT EXCEPT FOR TRYING TO FIND YOUR WAY AROUND. Even if you wonder around lost for 3-days like we did it is...

Normal boat shows are a convention center or a marina but this one goes way beyond. The red carpet is rolled out for those attending and everyone gets into the spirit with hotels, restaurants, bars and transportation accommodating travelers. Once inside you will see all you want and typically have manufacture reps so you can ask the most detailed questions. Fun time but you need to plan on more than one day...

The Hull Doctor attends the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show every year, and it’s nothing short of amazing. It’s great to see so many of the boats we service on display and meet owners, captains, and vendors in person. Between the exhibits, new tech, and all the networking, FLIBS is always one of our favorite weeks of the year. Can’t wait for the next one!...