The Palm Beach International Boat Show has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus, with organizers announcing on Thursday that the event has been postponed indefinitely.
“Effective immediately, we are postponing the Palm Beach International Boat Show and Superyacht Show Palm Beach until further notice,” stated Andrew Doole, President of Informa Markets U.S. Boat Shows and George Gentile, President of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, in a press release on the show’s website.
“In compliance with the recommendations from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James to halt all large gatherings due to health concerns, we fully support this decision, as the well-being of our visitors, community, exhibitors, employees, and vendors is our highest priority. We are currently discussing a new date with the City of West Palm Beach and appreciate the support from our city officials and the boating community.”
The event was originally scheduled for March 26-29. The decision to cancel came after President Trump announced a 30-day travel ban on visitors from Europe to mitigate the virus’s spread. The Palm Beach International Boat Show showcases center-console boats and superyachts, drawing buyers from across the globe to South Florida.
According to the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, last year’s show attracted 53,000 attendees. Attendance increased by 6.7 percent in 2019, and show organizers had introduced a new event called Superyacht Show Palm Beach to coincide with the show. All planned events during the Palm Beach International Boat Show have been called off.
Just four days before the cancellation announcement, organizers had expressed optimism about the event proceeding, stating there were “no plans to cancel, postpone or relocate the show.” However, the swiftly evolving health crisis, which has prompted state governments to temporarily prohibit large gatherings, rendered the show unfeasible.
Informa Global Exhibitions is collaborating with government officials and exhibitors to set a new date. The Palm Beach Boat Show is not the only event to be cancelled; the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have paused their seasons, and the NCCAA announced this week that the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments scheduled for March are also cancelled.