With a successful restart in their luggage, the Düsseldorf trade fair organizers are setting off in preparation for the 55th edition of the successful water sports fair boot Düsseldorf.
Exhibitor registrations for the upcoming boot from 20 to 28 January 2024 started on Tuesday, 9 May 2023. Interested manufacturers of sailing and motor yachts, canoes, houseboats, surfboards and diving equipment, dealers, associations, destinations and tourism providers can register directly online under the link http://www.boot.de/2330.
"boot is passion!" is how Wolfram Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, describes the world's most important event for the entire water sports industry and adds: "We put our heart and soul into our exhibitors. This year's boot has shown that it is the constant engine of the industry and drives the entire international market."
The figures for boot Düsseldorf 2023 speak for themselves: around 237,000 people were inspired by the comprehensive range of products and services on offer at the show and many acted on their purchase intentions directly in the 16 halls. 77,500 boot fans travelled to Düsseldorf from abroad over the nine days of the show. The almost 1,500 exhibitors, 64 percent of whom were not from Germany, came from 68 countries. The media coverage around boot 2023 and 1,861 accredited journalists ensured almost 1 billion media contacts. "This makes boot a real media giant and truly unique in the whole world," explains Petros Michelidakis, Director boot Düsseldorf.
No sooner had the emails to exhibitors and potential interested parties been sent out on 9 May than the first registrations for boot 2024 were received by the team. "The manufacturers are keen to secure a good stand for boot 2024”, says Arne von Heimendahl (HeimendahlA@Messe-Duesseldorf.de), Senior Project Manager for sailing and motor boats in the team. Lena Beckmann (BeckmannL@Messe-Duesseldorf.de), as Senior Project Manager, is in charge of equipment and accessories, diving, tourism, charter and houseboats: "Many companies and destinations that we didn't have on board in 2023 visited us at the fair and have already expressed their interest in participating next year in January." Her colleague Caroline Mühl (MuehlC@Messe-Dusseldorf.de), who as Senior Manager is the team's contact person for surfing, canoeing and kayaking as well as maritime art, is delighted: "From this year, boot is the main sponsor of the surf festival on the German Island Fehmarn and is a great partner in the top European event for surfers. This will further strengthen the presentation of surfing at boot. In addition, we are active in the promotional tour 'Paddling is Fun' for canoeing and SUP sports." The well-known partnerships with the regattas in Kiel and Travemünde, the North Sea Week and the "Rund Um" on Lake Constance confirm the fair's long-standing ties with sailing.
Petros Michelidakis emphasizes the plus points of participating in boot: "Our visitors are professionals, whether experts or hobby sportsmen. 70 percent have a sailing, motorboat or diving licence. 92 percent are very satisfied with their visit to the fair. And 94 percent would recommend a visit to boot to others." There is also great satisfaction on the exhibitor side. For example, 85 per cent of the companies state that they were able to acquire new customers and 75 per cent report numerous direct sales at the fair. Michelidakis: "Participating in boot 2024 is a worthwhile, sales-promoting and thus very promising marketing measure that will certainly have a positive impact on the start of the 2024 water sports season. We are very much looking forward to our small - 55th - anniversary next year."