The first edition of the Versilia Yachting Rendez-Vous hosted from 11th to 14th May saw more than 18,000 visitors attend the event in Viareggio, event organisers have announced. A total of 72 Italian-built yachts were on show with 117 exhibiting companies.
“To have created an event of this level in such a short amount of time fills us with pride and satisfaction,” commented Paolo Borgio, exhibition manager of the Versilia Yachting Rendez-vous. “For a long time, the Italian nautical sector had been waiting for an event that could show off one of the sectors that best represents the Made in Italy label around the world, and we have finally done it. At Fiera Milano, we have provided all our professional abilities in organising and managing large scale trade fairs, in order to guarantee an event with the winning features we all expected. It was an excellent showcase for the Italian and international nautical sector, and a great festival for Viareggio, where the show was welcomed with great enthusiasm. The Versilia Yachting Rendez-vous has been a milestone in the Italian nautical sector, and has all the potential required to become an important international appointment.”
“For Nautica Italiana, the success of the Versilia Yachting Rendez-vous means three important things,” continued Lamberto Tacoli, president of Nautica Italiana, “the format that we offered proved to be the winning one: to create a new, outdoor, springtime event dedicated to high-end boats and the luxury nautical production chain. Involving brands and glamour Made in Italy in transversal manner proved to be a winning concept. And, finally, the third winning choice was to entrust organisation of the event to a professional third party. We are aware that the challenge for the next edition is a tough one: in fact, everything that was outlined this year must be developed for the coming edition.”
The Versilia Yachting Rendez-vous, significantly driven by Nautica Italiana, was organised by Fiera Milano, in collaboration with the Distretto Tecnologico per la Nautica e la Portualità Toscana, with the support of the Tuscan Regional Authorities and the Municipality of Viareggio, with the intention of involving the entire industry, as well as national and international associations in the sector. A great role, in terms of hospitality, was played by the territory of Versilia, with its municipalities of Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi, which were the stage and setting for the events that animated the days of the show.
The Versilia Yachting Rendez-Vous will be back in Viareggio in May 2018.