Sanctuary Cove show opens

By IBI Magazine

The 15th edition of the Queensland, Australia based four-day Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show opened this morning to blue skies and 399 exhibitors.

This year's event occupies 10,000 sq m of open air space, 6,500 sq m of temporary pavilion space and 221 berths. It has a target of 43,000 visitors and expects to see those arrive from 24 different countries. There is a strong Australian presence among the exhibitors but several key overseas builders are in the mix and the show also hints at an increasing focus in the region by incorporating a superyacht pavillion.

The show is based in the golfing, boating, residential and Hyatt Regency hotel resort of Sanctuary Cove. The location's Malaysian owner, Mulpha, is set to embark on a 7-10 year reinvestment programme costing AUS $250 million that, among other aspects, will see upgrades to the marina and the building of a new harbour front precinct. This in turn will further improve the show's infrastructure as the waterside restaurants and bars are integrated into the shoreside exhibits and are a real feature of it.

Sanctuary Cove admits that the show is close to reaching capacity but also states that it will remain one of three or four key annual events to raise the visibility of the resort in the years ahead. It does not expect future property development to impinge on available exhibition space.

(22 May 2003)