News
PRESIDENT CECCHI’S MANDATE EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS
PROTOCOL SIGNED EXTENDING INSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS FOR THE GENOA INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW TO LAST UNTIL 2034
62nd GENOA INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW PROVES TO BE THE GREATEST EDITION IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN TERMS OF BUSINESS EFFECTIVENESS
MEMBERS’ ASSEMBLY APPROVES THE ASSOCIATION’S 2022 BUDGET
NEW PROFESSIONAL TITLE PRESENTED FOR YACHTING TO RELAUNCH THE CHARTER SEGMENT, SOON TO BE OPERATIONAL
On 15th December in Rome, the General Assembly of Members belonging to the Italian Marine Industry Association was held at the Villa Miani, bringing together entrepreneurs at the forefront of the Italian yachting industry for a day dedicated to work opportunities, discussing today’s most pressing issues and providing the latest developments concerning the sector as a whole.
The first scheduled event was the private Assembly session, which approved the extension of Saverio Cecchi’s mandate as President of the Italian Marine Industry Association with an extraordinary 99.98% approval rate. “Last November,” commented President Cecchi, “the General Council asked me to carry on for another two years, in line with the exceptional provisions approved by the General Confederation of Italian Industry, and today the Assembly’s vote has confirmed my mandate will indeed be extended along with that of the presidential team. I am very proud of this opportunity, I am aware of the responsibility this office holds and I thank the Assembly for their renewed trust.”
In his report to the Members, President Cecchi announced the signature of a new Agreement Protocol between the Italian Marine Industry Association and the relevant Institutions, extending the duration of the agreement to last until 2034, the expected completion date of the various new developments to be added to the Eastern Waterfront project, and reinforcing the institutions’ commitment to consolidate and develop the Genoa International Boat Show, as organised by the Italian Marine Industry Association itself.
During the Assembly, the Italian Marine Industry Association’s 2022 budget was also approved. As illustrated by the Association’s General Manager Marina Stella, “our many completed and ongoing projects are indicators of a responsive and solid industry. We are registering positive results, a significant consolidation of our Association’s economic and financial position and a meaningful increase in membership, with a 29.8% increase over the last two years alone.”
A survey measuring the degree of appreciation of the 62nd Genoa International Boat Show was also presented, as carried out by GRS Research & Strategy, an independent analysis agency dedicated to large events and actively monitoring over 1,000 international exhibitions. The main KPIs included in the survey highlight how the 62nd edition was the most appreciated edition since 2016 – year in which the partnership with GRS first began – far exceeding international benchmark indicators. The quality of the visitors ranked first in the exhibitors’ satisfaction field, underlining the Boat Show’s exceptional ability to evolve and continue to accurately respond to the market’s needs.
Visitors also reported an enormous degree of satisfaction with regards to the range and breadth of products on display and the experience of visiting an area undergoing a profound evolution, characterised, that is, by the Waterfront project, which seemingly has developed a high level of expectation for one of the most interesting locations on the international boat show scene.
During the day’s afternoon round table, President Cecchi recalled how the Italian yachting industry is a sector that does not ask, it gives, producing wealth, exports, and jobs. “A sector with figures ever increasing despite the past three, notably complex years, one of the few in Italy that can say it represents 50% or more of the world market. This is why I am pushing for real political action that will allow us to continue growing, cutting red tape and permitting us to be truly competitive. Italy must become once again a country that can drive its own growth”.
Adding to this, Italy’s Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility Edoardo Rixi illustrated the content of a forthcoming decree which, after years of waiting, will finally update the regulations on professional titles within the yachting sector. “We are currently implementing a new simplified professional title, with the introduction of a 2nd class yachting officer, who will qualify via dedicated training, but which will also be proportionate with regards to domestic chartering, for which the major titles, first conceived for the commercial sector, are now unsuitable and oversized,” he explained. “We are also updating the major titles, bringing them in line with international competitors. The text will now have to undergo the scrutiny of the State Council of State and Palazzo Chigi before publication.”
The numbers announced by the President of the Italian Marine Industry Association were resoundingly confirmed by the data collected by the Association’s Research and Market Intelligence department, presented to Members by the head of said department Stefano Pagani.
2022 will once again close with double-digit growth, after an exceptional result in 2021. Specifically, the Superyacht segment confirmed an order backlog of two to four years, depending on the type of product and shipyard.
In the medium-high segment of the Sailing and Motor segments, 2023 production is already allocated and deliveries are being worked on for 2024. The European medium and entry level product market is following seasonal dynamics and has started its own relative production plans.
Positive signals also came from the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last October, where the analysis of the results following the end of the event, dispelled any fears that had emerged initially regarding the US market, which once again proved to be dynamic and responsive to Italian supply.
Over the course of 2022, a realignment of supply price fluctuations, as well as a reduction in delivery times, was observed, despite a continuing supply crisis in terms of raw materials.
