South Florida Ventures Acquires Newport International Boat Show

The Newport Restaurant Group (NRG) owner and producer of the annual Newport International Boat Show (NIBS) has been acquired by South Florida Ventures to expand and deliver enhanced value to participating marine industry businesses and a seamless experience for attendees.

With a 53-year heritage deeply rooted in the Newport community, the Newport International Boat Show occupies over 13 acres of historic downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Under the stewardship of Paul O’Reilly and his team, NIBS stands as one of the nation’s premier boat shows and the foremost event of its kind in the Northeast. Boasting a lineup of over 600 exhibitors and the largest in-water display in New England, the show showcases an array of power and sailboats, marine accessories, products, and services.

South Florida Ventures has seen rapid expansion over the past five years, acquiring and launching specialized businesses and brands catering to the luxury lifestyle sector, including most recently the Miami International Boat Show. With successful ventures like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Palm Beach International Boat Show, the St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show, and the Suncoast Boat Show under its belt, the team is well-positioned to propel the Newport International Boat Show to new heights. The partnership between these two entities has been forged through extensive deliberations, focusing on strategies to elevate industry standards and cultivate an unparalleled boat show experience.

The Newport International Boat Show will be the first Northeast addition for South Florida Ventures’ boating portfolio. The NIBS event will take place September 12 to 15 in the historic waterfront of downtown Newport, Rhode Island. Exhibitor and Sponsor space contracts are actively being accepted and tickets will go on sale to the public June 1.