Luxury halls fully booked: 35-metre yacht expected at boot for the first time. Attractive 90-metre “river” for paddlers. Appealing destinations, luxury resorts and cruises at Travel World. Trend: houseboat holidays. Prince Albert Foundation, German Ocean Foundation and boot Düsseldorf present “ocean tribute” Award 2018.
boot Düsseldorf, the biggest trade fair in the world for experiencing 360° water sports, is about to set new standards: with considerably more than 1,800 corporate participants, it will be equalling the current record, while the amount of exhibition space will be increasing again too thanks to Beach World in Hall 8a. This much became clear at a press meeting held in the Delta Hotel in Vlaardingen on the 8th of November. All in all, boot will be occupying Halls 3 to 7, 7a and 8a and 9 to 17 on the exhibition site by the Rhine in Düsseldorf when it is held for the 49th time from 20. to 28. January 2018.
Messe Düsseldorf Director Matthias Dornscheidt describes what the concept of experiencing 360° water sports means: “boot has everything on show that water sports enthusiasts want to see. It is the international trendsetter in the industry and will have exciting new attractions in 2018 too. boot is the leading destination anywhere in the world for everyone who loves sports in, by and on the water – surfers, divers, water sports holidaymakers and sailors or motor boat, inflatable boat or luxury yacht fans”.
SUP continues to be the mega-trend in the water sports field. Stand-up paddling is variable and can be enjoyed in practically any water and climatic conditions thanks to state-of-the-art neoprene suits. It is in addition easy for anyone to learn who knows how to swim comfortably. In view of this, boot 2018 is increasing the length of its activity pool to 65 metres. A particularly exhilarating version of SUP will be available there: the new foilboards make it possible to skim across the water very fast.
Protection of the world’s oceans and waterways has had high priority at boot for a long time. “love your ocean” has been the motto since boot 2017: it is a project launched by boot that has attracted plenty of public attention thanks to the partnership with the German Ocean Foundation as well as the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the environmental activist Emily Penn. Petros Michelidakis: “People are being galvanised by “love your ocean”. It presents the possible ways that the industrial and scientific communities as well as society in general can already protect the world’s oceans and climate today. The action stand in Hall 4 encourages anyone who is interested – including children – to get involved. I am very proud that boot is one of the pioneers in this field and provides a broad platform for it.” Companies and projects that aim to protect oceans, waterways and the climate or present activities and underwater photography at Water Pixel World will be clustered round the “love your ocean” stand.
Halls 9 and 10 are devoted to motor boats and yachts, boats with outboard motors and jetskis. They are already fully booked months before boot 2018. Von Heimendahl: “There was a real run on these two halls this year. Everyone who is anyone in the international motor boat market will be represented here. Both newcomers and experienced boat owners will find an attractive selection of vessels in both halls.” Newcomers will be able to obtain tips on the START BOATING stand in Hall 10. Initial insights under genuine conditions can be gained in the course of a virtual motor boat trip down the Rhine to the exhibition site, with experts on hand to give good advice.
Technical enthusiasts will think they are in paradise when they enter Hall 11. This is where motor boat owners and sailors can get the latest equipment and electronics for their ship. While experts from the boating community will be on hand at the Refit Centre to give advice about the restoration and renovation of second-hand boats.
Hall 13 concentrates on holidays by and on the water. A 90-metre “river” is available there to try out paddling and the most beautiful destinations for water sports holidays are being presented on the stage at the new Travel World. “Holidays on the Water” is an interesting new feature at boot. Hall 13 at boot includes not only houseboat suppliers but also charterers and well-known travel agencies where bookings can be made directly. Hall 13 also hosts the sportfishing center with daily presentations an lots of things to see and do.
Protection of the world’s oceans and waterways has been an issue of central importance to boot Düsseldorf for many years now. On behalf of his foundation, the German Ocean Foundation and boot, Prince Albert of Monaco for the first time called on the scientific and industrial communities as well as society in general to enter projects for the “ocean tribute” Award 2018 when he spoke at boot 2017.
Relevant projects can be registered at the address award@boot.de, with an outline presenting their concept on a maximum of two pages. What is important in this context is information about the objectives, the target group, the implementation methods and organisation as well as the results and the players making up the team. The jury will then choose the nominated projects; they will be presented to the public with photographic and video material at https://oceantributeaward.boot.de. The winners of the three Awards in the science, industry and society categories will be announced and honoured at boot Düsseldorf in January 2018.
About boot Düsseldorf:
boot Düsseldorf is the biggest boat and water sports trade fair in the world and is the place where all of the industry meets in January every year. More than 1,800 exhibitors, 900 of them from more than 60 countries apart from Germany, will be presenting their interesting innovations, attractive developments and maritime equipment again from 20. to 28. January 2018. This means that the whole of the global market will be coming to Düsseldorf, to provide an exciting insight into the entire water sports world for the nine-day exhibition in 16 different halls. The trade fair is open from 10:00 to 18:00 every day. Admission tickets can be ordered online at www.boot.de and printed out conveniently at home from mid-November onwards. As an additional feature, they entitle ticket holders to use the Rhine-Ruhr public transport system free of charge up to price level D / South Region.
Pictures by Rudy van Duijnhoven.