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Andrew Doole: The Man Who Runs America's Biggest Boat Shows on What Makes PBIBS Special
On Saturday the 28th of March, Shari Liu sat down with Andrew Doole, the President of Informa Boat Shows US, onboard the sundeck of 72m CASINO ROYALE, who was at the show with Morley Yachts. Against this striking backdrop, they discussed the show’s rapid evolution, its growing global appeal and the expanding reach of Informa’s portfolio.
Palm Beach wasn't always the beast of boat shows, as we see it today. Doole points out during the interview that whilst the show has always had a presence, the show's growth really picked up after Covid. The location saw a trend of corporations looking to move out of major cities, and subsequently relocating in Palm Beach and building office spaces.
But today the show stands as one of the strongest boat shows in America. ‘We have 900 boats total in water and then 100’s more on land, so there' s a lot of boats and products to see’ explains Doole. Originally conceived as a smaller event, the Palm Beach Boat Show has retained its intimate charm despite its growth, ‘there's only one stop which is what makes this show unique, all the boats are right here…in one location’, which is now a rarity in today’s show landscape, and one that is highly prized by visitors seeking a seamless, easily navigable experience.
Informa, however, is not just the Palm Beach show. The portfolio of the company is nothing short of impressive, with ‘600 trade shows worldwide, in every continent and then in North America we have 200 trade shows…we are a little bit of a different animal from regular shows’ says Doole. Yet despite this global footprint, Palm Beach retains a special significance for the company. ‘we have 17 of the 22 seabass members here at the show and i think that number will go to 18 or 20 next year, so we are very happy with that.’ Bringing with them a unique base of clientele to the show, and the timing of the show itself couldn't be anymore apt, with the show being held right before easter, they are an easy stop to visitors who haven't yet gone back north for the summer.
The Informa portfolio doesn't stop there. With two more shows added to the calendar, Chicago and Toronto, this is a strong indication that the presence of Informa is only growing in strength and visibility, and is well placed for the future.
Watch the full interview above to hear more from Andrew Doole and Shari Liu on the future of Informa’s boat shows.
"There's only one stop which is what makes this show unique, all the boats are right here…in one location."
"There's only one stop which is what makes this show unique, all the boats are right here…in one location."
Andrew Doole, President, Informa Boat Shows US