GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: High profile Queensland businesses have been quick to back the first ever Australian Superyacht Rendezvous being staged on the Gold Coast on 19 and 20 May in a bid to tap into economic potential of the estimated 20 billion euro global superyacht industry.
The Australian Superyacht Rendezvous – aimed at showcasing the economic and tourism potential of superyachts in Australia – will assemble more than $100 million worth of superyachts. The event has attracted the support of some of the biggest names in the marine industry including Aqualuma, Aurora Global Logistics with Peters & May, Abell Point Marina, Marine Engineering Consultants, Ocean Magazine and Superyacht Solutions along with hospitality and retail backers such as Craggy Range.
Gold Coast City Marina CEO and Seal Superyachts Australia representative Trenton Gay says Australia with its beautiful safe waters, marine services and shipyards and local businesses is superbly positioned to capitalise on the lucrative global superyacht industry.
“The Australian Superyacht Rendezvous is about generating change to attract more of these superyachts to Australia to stimulate our economy and tourism,” Trenton said.
“Australia is attracting such a tiny proportion of superyachts internationally and missing out on a multi-billion dollar boom industry where individual vessels can spend millions annually on marine services or maintenance, tourism, hospitality and retail to name a few sectors,” he said.
MaryAnne Edwards, Chief Executive of the Australian International Marine Export Group, Superyacht Australia and the Australian Commercial Marine Group says the superyacht industry has enormous economic potential within Australia.
“Currently, we have around 65 yachts cruising Australia but this represents approximately 1.5 percent of the global superyacht fleet and the challenge is to attract more of these yachts to our pristine Australian waters and into our shipyards for repair and maintenance,” Ms Edwards said.
“The number of Australians buying superyachts is also on the rapid rise and we have around 135 domestic superyachts over 24 metres already here in Australia,” she said.
Aqualuma – a Queensland based global success story of underwater LED lighting – which originally started in the marine industry but rapidly expanded to commercial, industrial and sports stadium lighting has signed as one of the major sponsors of the event.
Aqualuma brothers, co-founders and directors, Carl and Grant Amor are staunch supporters of the superyacht industry because they know firsthand the economic potential this industry has for Australian business.
“Since our inception 12 years ago, our business has had firm roots in the marine industry but it is our passion for injecting new economic impetus into Australia for all warps of business that attracted us to being involved with the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous,” Carl said.
“We are proud to manufacture almost every component of our products within Australia and have that quality recognised overseas in the 53 countries we export to so with our marine knowledge and the magnitude of the international superyacht industry, we know Australian businesses have much to offer and benefit from if we can attract more of these vessels to our shores,” he said.
Some of the superyachts descending upon the Gold Coast for the two day rendezvous include Atlantic Princess, Aus Pro, Crystal Blue, Emerald Lady, Mary Rose, Mermaid Spirit, Patriot 1, Sahana and Spirit.
The Australian Superyacht Rendezvous will include a yacht hop event by day for tourism and events industry professionals followed by an invitation only glamour evening party for business, industry and media and will conclude with a superyacht crew party on the final day.
The rendezvous will be an exciting new lead up party ahead of the 2017 Australian Superyacht, Marine Export and Commercial Marine Conference at Sanctuary Cove on 22 to 24 May and the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
The host venue for the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous is the landmark Gold Coast City Marina – the largest facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere with a capacity for more than 24 superyachts at any one time. The marina is home to over 65 on-site trades and employs over 500 marine-related contractors.
Other event sponsors include Beautiful Structures, City of Gold Coast, Line 7 and Piquant Catering.
Further information about the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous is available by visiting www.australiansuperyachtrendezvous.com