During these uncertain times, many questions have been asked concerning the status of this year’s yacht shows and in particular, the Monaco Yacht Show. With exhibitors having been granted an extension by which they are able to confirm their attendance, some have already declared that they do not wish to participate in the 2020 Monaco Yacht Show - namely members of SYBAss (Superyacht Builders Association) and LYBRA (Large Yacht Brokers Association). 
Photo: Charl van Rooy / SuperYacht TimesThe reasons outlined by SYBAss and LYBRA for withdrawing from this year’s MYS include uncertainties surrounding travel restrictions, the health and safety of their clients and how necessary social distancing will be difficult to maintain at the show. As two of the industry’s top associations, SYBAss and LYBRA also questioned the return on investment for show exhibitors and asked whether the global pandemic is instead an opportunity for the organisers to re-engage with its leading participants and an industry working group to formulate a more “satisfying” business model for the future. This information was addressed in a letter to the Monaco Yacht Show, a copy of which has been seen by SuperYacht Times. 
Photo: Charl van Rooy / SuperYacht TimesAs of 30 April, the Monaco Yacht Show stated that only 5% of the previous year's exhibitors had decided to cancel their participation in this year’s event. As a key panellist in the SuperYacht Times Webinar discussing the future of yacht shows, Gaëlle Tallarida, Monaco Yacht Show’s Managing Director outlined the plans that the team of 14 organisers have in place to decide the status of the 2020 edition: “I think we will know if we can go ahead by the end of August once we know how the COVID-19 situation will evolve over the next few months and the outcome of our planned meeting with the government in June.”
Photo: Charl van Rooy / SuperYacht TimesIn a recent poll involving 600 people from the industry, SuperYacht Times found that 47% stated that they believe that the 2020 Monaco Yacht Show will go ahead, with a slightly lower proportion (45%) saying that if the show were to go ahead, they would attend. 50% also said that they would be checking what safety measures were in place.
Gaëlle Tallarida provided assurance that the organisers are “working step-by-step to adapt our planning, especially taking client contact into consideration” and that the size of the show in terms of exhibits was, at the time, “stable” but would be adapted in case of fewer exhibitors. “Whatever is decided for September, it will be done to make sure that anybody attending the show will do so safely,” she added. 
Photo: Charl van Rooy / SuperYacht TimesSuperYacht Times contacted the Monaco Yacht Show and several key members of LYBRA and SYBAss for an update on their participation in this year's shows, but all declined to comment at this stage.