IBEX Continues Post-Irma

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference closed September 21 with organizers predicting an increase in attendee numbers.

While the show lost some attendees and 11 exhibitors who had hurricane recovery take precedence over the show, about 639 exhibitors lined the halls and traffic overall was steady. There was an increase in foreign exhibitors this year, as well as additional educational sessions, and a new marina pavilion all of which attracted some newcomers.

Because Tampa was in the path of Hurricane Irma yet pulled together to allow IBEX to go on as planned, event owners gave a $5,000 donation to Feeding Tampa Bay to help in recovery efforts.

Hurricane Irma also sparked a last-minute decision by organizers to hold a special session for attendees on hurricane recovery. Professionals with experience in insurance, law, security, safety, permitting and more, provided the audience with tips and guidelines for recovery and repair. The session was recorded so those who were unable to attend can still benefit from the resource.