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NEWS
Gold Coast Marine Expo takes off
Organisers say more space needed to cope with record increased demandA massive increase in pre-sold and reserved exhibitor space has the Gold Coast International Marine Expo team now planning to create additional sites and infrastructure ahead of the biggest Expo in the growing event’s six years.
Leading international and Australian marine brands and businesses have been quick to secure their place at Expo at Coomera from 19-22 May 2016, over 95 per cent of last year’s exhibitor space is now sold or reserved for 2016 and interest from companies who have not previously exhibited at Expo accounts for over 15 per cent of the total to date.
"It’s an exciting challenge for us to increase the footprint of our massive marine showcase and maximise the opportunity to stage the largest Expo ever," said Event & Marketing Manager, Emma Brown.
“We’ll be increasing Expo’s free on-site car-parking in 2016 as well as the number of sea trial berths for people to try before they buy their boats," she said. "We’ll have more hard-stand space and more covered display space, and there are many more announcements to come.
"Leading marine brands from Australia and around the world will once again be represented at Expo 2016," she said. "Hundreds of exhibitors will display everything from luxury motor and sailing yachts to trailer boats and jet skis, kayaks to fishing equipment, engines to boating accessories.
Expo committee chairman Brett Thurley said it was part of the Expo charter to inspire more people to enjoy the rich and rewarding boating lifestyle and, at the same time, foster jobs, growth and opportunities in the broader Australian marine industry.
"People love coming here to the Gold Coast Marine Precinct and they love being a part of Expo – they are inspired by the fact Expo has both big boats and small boats and a vast array of equipment and accessory displays," he said.
The Expo is staged right in the heart of the Gold Coast Marine Precinct at Coomera – where the marine industry actually does ‘do business’ 365 days a year.
"Over 17,000 visitors streamed through the welcome gates for Expo 2015 and the official visitor survey revealed over 41 per cent of them resided outside the Gold Coast," said Brown.
"A total of 22 per cent of visitors spent more than two days enjoying the vast array of marine displays and family fun attractions on offer and 91 per cent of visitors surveyed also stated they would happily recommend Expo to their boating friends."
Capping off 2015, Expo continued its heritage of giving back to the community-based charities that have helped cement the event’s credentials as one of the leading boat shows in Australia.
The Expo has donated a total of $79,000 to charity since it was founded in 2011, and continues to assist a wide range of other worthy community causes in their fundraising efforts. This year’s beneficiary charities were the Rotary Club of Coomera River, Sailability Gold Coast, Ronald McDonald House Charities South East Queensland and the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service.
"To stage Expo each year we need over 100 volunteers and we thank these organisations for their continued support – without them, Expo wouldn’t have grown to be everything it is today."
For more information go to: www.gcmarineexpo.com.au.
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