Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) 2020- Attending Yachts

Renowned as the world's largest in-water boat show, the 2020 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) will be the first international yachting event to be held since the start of the COVID crisis, when it runs from 28 October to 1 November 2020.

Over 1,300 vessels will be on display across seven show locations, with boats ranging from shiny superyachts to sleek pleasure cruisers lined up along the six miles of floating dock.

The boat show also boasts 3 million square feet of exhibition space- the equivalent of 50 football fields - and will present almost 900 exhibitors from the marine and luxury lifestyle sectors to ensure there is plenty to see both on land and on the water.

COVID-19, Know before you go

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic enhanced security measures have been put in place to prioritise the safety of all attendees, exhibitors, crew members and staff.

The number of entrances has been increased to 14, and each entrance has been widened to disperse crowds. The six miles of floating docks have also been increased in width and ten key commitments have been drawn up to comply with hygiene and safety laws, these are:

• Temperature checks - these will be made at each entry point of the show and will be used throughout the event. A quarantine area is also on-site.
• Enhanced cleaning - there will be regular disinfection with close attention paid to high contact areas, including restrooms, door handles and catering areas. All show areas will be deep cleaned overnight.
• Personal hygiene - there will be hygiene stations across the show’s seven locations for hand washing and cleansing gels, all of which will be closely monitored.
• Non-contact registration - tickets will be pre-purchased online and scanned on a mobile device at show entrances.
• No physical contact - exchanging business cards and other material is discouraged, as is hand shaking.
• Social distancing - all customer lines will be spaced out with visual markers every 1.8m (6ft). One way systems will be in place.
• Food stations - small buffets will be replaced by pre-packaged food and disposable cutlery, with enhanced hygiene measures in place.
• Face coverings - all visitors, staff and exhibitors (aged two years old and above) will be required to wear a face covering.
• First aid - trained first aiders will be on site at every location.
• Trace and contact - Informa and local authorities will work in conjunction to contact visitors and exhibitors if needed.

All the show locations at FLIBS 2020:

• Bahia Mar Yachting Center
• Hall of Fame Marina
• Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center /Sailfish Pavilion
• Pier 66 Marina
• Las Olas Marina
• SuperYacht Village at Pier 66 South
• Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina

A water taxi is on hand to transport you between show locations at FLIBS 2020. To access the Superyacht Village, take the yellow water taxi from the Bahia Mar Yachting Center; the pick-up point can be found at the Sanlorenzo stand. 

The Superyacht Village

The FLIBS Superyacht Village was a huge hit at last year's yacht show, and it will be back again in 2020 to show off another stunning selection of superyachts.  The new feature aims to accommodate a growing number of superyachts at FLIBS and has the capacity to berth yachts measuring up to 400ft (121 metres).

The superyachts on display here will be some of the stars of the show- but alongside the boats on the water, the on-land exhibition space is a great setting for networking and soaking up the boat show ambience.

Over 1,300 vessels will be on display across seven show locations, with boats ranging from shiny superyachts to sleek pleasure cruisers.

Exhibitors will be on hand to advise clients and discuss their latest projects; many of which will be on display as full-scale custom models for attendees to admire.

The venue will play host to a range of luxury retailers and is expected to host the FLIBS Yacht Chef Competition, which will see a number of yacht chefs battle it out to be crowned with the prestigious Wine Enthusiasts' Award by an expert panel of judges.

While this is the only the second time the FLIBS Yacht Chef Contest will be hosted at the boat show, it is quickly becoming a popular component of the social scene and is not to be missed at FLIBS 2020.

If you are considering attending FLIBS 2020, you should get in touch with a yacht charter broker. They will be able to help you get the most out of your experience and ensure you are able to enjoy a smooth and seamless yacht show.

Take a look at the complete FLIBS 2020 superyacht lineup below.