HISWA Luxury Yacht Charter & Superyacht News

Calculated on top of the early bird discount (15%) for bookings made by March 31, with the general discount for members of the HISWA Association (15%), the HISWA Multimedia has presented today a structural reduction of 15% on rates for stand space as well as berths at the HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show 2012.

HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show Credit: Alba Fotografie

In addition, a collective volume discount will apply to the show depending on the total number of participating yachts. Exhibitors have already registered 200 yachts, and it is expected that this number will quickly increase thanks to the reductions in rates.

Stimulus
The discounts are a response to the economic downturn, which is still creating difficulties for boatbuilders and importers. “It is particularly important at a time like this to put on a high-quality show in order to give the watersport industry a real boost,” explains Farouk Nefzi, director of show organiser HISWA Multimedia.

“Although the outlook for the HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show was already very positive – with over 150 registered exhibitors and 200 boats – our goal is to represent the broadest possible range of vessels from both Dutch and international yacht builders. And our new location, the former NDSM yard in Amsterdam, gives us the capacity to do so. Additional discounts can be an important stimulus for first-time participants, and encourage existing exhibitors to showcase even more boats. We can provide this discount thanks to the expected increase in the number of participants and the fact that all exhibitors will benefit from it. The accumulated discount will easily reach 30% – and in some cases up to 60% – for many exhibitors. In this way HISWA Multimedia is making a sizeable contribution to the overall well-being of the industry.”

Volume discounts
The volume discount was introduced at the same time as the rate reduction in order to stimulate yacht builders and importers to participate in the HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show with as many boats as possible. If the total number of boats presented in the water ultimately reaches more than 450, all exhibitors will receive an extra 10% discount on the amount they paid for stand space or berths. If there are more than 500 boats, the discount will be as high as 15%.

Cut-price invitations
“With the move to our prestigious new location at the heart of Amsterdam, we have a lot to offer exhibitors this year,” continues Nefzi. “And the substantial price reduction on invitation tickets that we recently introduced is another example of how we are facilitating all exhibitors. This move was already implemented in response to reactions by participants during the meeting in late March. It will make it less expensive for exhibitors to invite their business partners and potential clients to the boat show. We have also introduced free parking for exhibitors. Well aware of the difficult times that our exhibitors are facing, we are doing our utmost to provide solutions that reduce participation costs. At the same time the show is becoming even more attractive to visitors thanks to our wider exhibition programme.”

HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show 2012 at the NDSM yard
The HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show is a must-visit event for people who enjoy sailing, love beautiful boats or are looking to find out more about an area of watersports. It offers a broad overview of the latest yachts by Dutch and international yacht builders, as well as an extensive range of nautical products and services. The exhibition programme will be framed by a lively programme of activities on and around the water.

This year will mark the first time the HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show is held at a new location in the centre of Amsterdam. The event will take place from Tuesday 4 to Sunday 9 September 2012, and opening hours will be 11.00 to 19.00 every day.

The city council of Amsterdam has given the green light to the arrival of the HISWA association in Amsterdam North. The piles for the breakwater will be the first to be placed, followed by the construction of the ‘yacht and event’ marina, then the office building as well as the marina office.

HISWA In-Water Boat Show 2012 at the heart of Amsterdam

“Our goal was to upgrade the HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show, which we have been successfully organising in Marina Seaport IJmuiden since 1995,” says André Vink, director of the HISWA Association. “Our ambitions exceeded what IJmuiden had to offer as a location, however. For example, there was very little for our visitors to do in the area outside of the show location. Moreover, the time was right to renew the exhibition concept and this required a different approach and a new location.

“Amsterdam was always the most attractive option. The NDSM wharf is a logical and nautical location, where we can bring the boat show and our offices together and centralise all our activities in one location. This will also result in considerable cost savings. And our international focus is in line with the style and appeal of Amsterdam as the capital of the Netherlands.”

With these impressive new facilities the organisation will be returning to its roots: The HISWA association was established in Hotel Krasnapolsky in the Dutch capital in 1932, and the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show used to take place on the Oosterdok, also in Amsterdam.

Breakwater
Rob Post, Chairman of Amsterdam North district council, and Rob Vooren, project manager at property developer Noordwaarts (developer of the City of Amsterdam for locations such as the NDSM wharf), immediately recognised the added value of HISWA to the area, and both were constructive and cooperative. In a local newspaper, Post says: “The district council recently signed an agreement with HISWA. As a result the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show will be held at the NDSM wharf starting 2012. The HISWA Association is also moving to Amsterdam North, bringing an actual marina to the area. A great asset!”

Installing a breakwater is an essential part of the realisation of the plans. This will be placed in the IJ waterway and provide the necessary protection to the marina. The 400-metre structure will be accessible during events and construction will get underway in February.

Amsterdam Marina
The Amsterdam Marina, as it will be called, will be constructed as a typical marina. Investments and operations will be in the hands of Fred Redeker, director/owner of Marina Projects BV. Redeker operates large marinas in Stellendam, Schokkerstrand and the Regatta Centre Medemblik. The marina, with permanent berths for around 340 vessels, will open in summer 2012. Facing south, it will catch plenty of sun and the fresh deep water (c. ten metres) will make it ideal for large yachts too.

HISWA Amsterdam in-water Boat Show 2012
The international Amsterdam in-water Boat Show will establish itself in Amsterdam as of September 2012. Amsterdam city council has already booked the clipper Stad Amsterdam for the event to serve as hospitality ship and crowd puller. “We will build a bridge between consumers and businesses by organising a range of activities,” adds Farouk Nefzi, director HISWA Multimedia and organiser of the boat show.

“These will gradually be introduced to Amsterdam not just during the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show but all year round. Our goal is to organise nautical events (alone or with third parties) such as meetings between specific yacht classes, expo platforms, and even seminars and conferences or study programmes. We will also host trade missions and media visits. And, over the past year we have been working on a new exhibition concept that is focused on enhancing the ‘visitor experience’.”

Office building
The HISWA offices will be housed in a building of around 2,000 square metres that will be ready in May/June 2013. Marina Projects BV has also invested in these premises. A contemporary design with distinctive terraces around the building has been developed by SeARCH Architecten. The building will also house the marina office and a restaurant, and there is still space for a maritime tenant, preferably one associated with HISWA.

HISWA Nautical Centre
The arrival of HISWA at the NDSM wharf will create a nautical centre with service providers such as watersport shops, brokers and dealers. Together with the HISWA main office, the marina and the marina restaurant, they will form the HISWA Nautical Centre. The centralisation of companies, events and activities in the watersport arena should attract (inter)national watersport enthusiasts, holidaymakers and tourists alike.

Accessibility
Although Amsterdam is not known for its wealth of parking facilities, there will be a major demand for parking near the marina during the Amsterdam in-water Boat Show. For this purpose five locations will be established at walking distance from the site in order to accommodate the thousands of visitors. The NDSM wharf is also easily accessible by public transport, including a free ferry that travels to the wharf from Amsterdam Central Station in five minutes.

Sidebar: The NDSM wharf
The NDSM wharf in Amsterdam North is creative, versatile, innovative and inspiring. NDSM is short for the Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (Dutch Dock and Shipbuilding Company). The area has a rich maritime and nautical history that is still visible on the site of the former shipyard. The premises had been left undeveloped for many years and are now being transformed into a multifunctional city district offering a wealth of new activities and initiatives.

The area project developer, Amsterdam Waterfront, aims to transform the NDSM wharf into an exciting contemporary area that combines working, living, culture and water and offers opportunities to businesses on the water, along the water and related to the water. The goal is to create the optimal cluster and mix of nautical companies so that all benefit from the economies of scale. Some 65 watersport companies are currently interested in locating at the NDSM wharf.