Places

Elliman Sets Course for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

by Elliman Editors

October 2021

Weigh anchor, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is returning to South Florida this week for a 62nd year and Douglas Elliman is back once again as an event sponsor for a sixth consecutive season. Running October 27 through October 31, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the epicenter of the yachting capital of the world. The 5-day show attracts more than 100,000 people, 642 exhibitors with more than 686 boats on display , making it the largest in-water boat show in the world. It has a banner year for yacht sales. A bull run on the stock market coupled with an increase in personal savings has led to a boating bonanza; the number of new boats sold in the U.S. in 2020 hit a 13-year high of nearly 320,000 vessels, up 13% from the year before, according to the LA Times . Nearly 415,000 Americans became first-time boat buyers in that same period. “The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show gives us the opportunity to connect with our clientele and visitors from all over the world that are drawn to the boating capital of the world this time of year.” – Douglas Elliman CEO Scott Durkin “Douglas Elliman is pleased to continue our expanded sponsorship at the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this season,” said Scott Durkin , Chief Executive Officer of Douglas Elliman. “As a national brokerage that supports the boating industry, The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show gives us the opportunity to connect with our clientele and visitors from all over the world that are drawn to the boating capital of the world this time of year.” Douglas Elliman is also the exclusive sponsor of the Windward VIP Club, an annual highlight of the show that will take over the Captain’s Lounge and Tower Building this year with outdoor terraces for shore and water views. VIP guests have access to a luxury premium beverage bar, featuring gourmet food offerings and concierge for booking appointments with manufacturers and yacht brokers elevating the Windward VIP experience and exclusivity this year. “The boating industry is a fundamental component of the Florida real estate market and it is a privilege to continue our support.” – Jay Phillip Parker, CEO Douglas Elliman Florida “The boating industry is a fundamental component of the Florida real estate market and it is a privilege to continue our support as the exclusive real estate partner and VIP Windward Sponsor,” said Jay Phillip Parker , CEO of Douglas Elliman’s Florida Region. “We look forward to welcoming clients, agents and colleagues to the largest boat show in the world.” The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show  is the largest in-water boat show in the world, the show spans across nearly 90 acres of multiple outdoor sites. Through it’s 62-year history the show has generated a positive economic impact in South Florida. In 2019, the exhibit produced $1.3 billion to the state of Florida and more than 8,000 full-time jobs were associated with the show. Find your next home in Fort Lauderdale.