Cannes Conclusions
As the doors to the Cannes International Boat and Yacht Show closed, the show reports that yachting professionals find optimism increased, after two years of crisis. Murat Solak of CMB Yachts and Agostino Ascani of Canados gave SuperYacht Industry their views of the show. Show manager Eric de Saintdo is more than satisfied, and comments the show has generated valuable contacts for exhibitors.
One of the Turkish newcomers this year was CMB Yachts, with its new 46m motoryacht Mystic. Murat Solak of CMB Yachts explains: “The reason to be in Cannes is simple for us. All big companies try to exhibit at the Monaco Yacht Show and visitors think that Cannes is only for smaller boats. We however, will exhibit one of the largest yachts in Cannes. In addition, this event is well organised and the conditions for the show are better than in 2008 and 2009, because the market is getting better and better.”
Agostino Ascani, president of Italy based luxury yacht builder Canados, comments: “The Cannes boatshow is a very important show and also the first of the coming period. It is a good opportunity for us to meet our customers and potential clients coming from all over the world, but also to talk with other exhibitors to understand how the market is developing. The show has been growing intensively thus becoming one of the most interesting boat shows when it comes to the number of visitors and new boats shown. Some exhibitors miss the 2010 edition, but the show maintains its appeal anyway. It always met our expectations in the past. As we are confident the market will get better in the future, it is even much more than previously, important to be there this year.”
“No cry of victory, but real signs of hope,” confirms Jean-François Fountaine, president of the French Nautical Industries Federation (F.I.N.). “The foundations are healthy for beginning to restart the market, stocks are low, the new orders are now going to be translated into renewed activity”. The show organisers report that after six days of exhibiting, the quality of the contacts made reflect the beginning of recovery. A large number of exhibitors reported “fruitful contacts”, “promising enquiries” and orders that “make it possible to view the coming season optimistically,” says the show’s manager Eric de Saintdo.