How successful was last year’s show, considering the adjustments to the layout due to the renovation programme?
The 2024 edition was a real success, both in terms of visitor attendance and exhibitor satisfaction. Of course, the renovation of Vieux Port (Old Port) meant we had to make major adjustments to the space organisation and distribution, but we anticipated as much as possible to limit the impact on the overall experience.
Our exhibitors were really understanding and showed incredible collaborative spirit. As for visitors, they came in large numbers and were complimentary about how the route flowed despite the constraints. The show’s organising teams took up the challenge brilliantly and it will be the same again in 2025.
As the renovation and upgrades are continuing, how will the layout differ at this year’s show?
This year, there won’t be much change to the show’s layout, which remains organised by sector and by type of boat. The impact of this second year of work is in terms of the logistics we need to put in place to build the exhibition and its infrastructure, while also welcoming our exhibitors and getting their stands set up.
It’s a real challenge for us. We’ve had to completely rethink our organisation. The exhibition has been divided into large areas – which each have a logistics manager – to improve vehicle traffic flow and enable our technical teams and exhibitors to get as close as possible to unload their equipment. This new organisation has been made possible thanks to working closely with the City and the managers of Vieux Port and the works.
Do you still expect the usual number exhibitors and yachts?
Registrations are still being made, but we’re again heading towards an edition that’s very close to the show’s maximum capacity, with more than 600 exhibitors and around 700 boats expected at both ports. This is a strong indicator of how attractive the Cannes Yachting Festival is.
How are different types of boats being separated?
The show is still structured around two sites that complement each other: Vieux Port and Port Canto, each dedicated to well-defined yachting worlds. Vieux Port is still the home port for the motorboat industry and in the water we’ll have 350 new boats from 12-45m – monohulls and multihulls, with rigid or semi-rigid hulls – exhibited by the greatest names in French and international yachting. The in-water yachts are exhibited alongside boat equipment manufacturers and service companies.
Large in-water yachts will be moored in their usual locations at the Jetée and the Super Yachts Extension. All the motor multihulls will be grouped together in the Power Cat Village on Quai Max Laubeuf to showcase this type of boat, which more visitors are asking for.
The 12-16m motorboats of various types – including new generation fast and designer models, as well as various medium-sized open and flybridge motor boats – will be exhibited in the other part of Quai Max Laubeuf, on Quai Saint-Pierre and on the Pantiero.
Indoors, in the Palais des Festivals, visitors will find the turbine boats, large yacht equipment manufacturers, and discover all the different destinations of the marinas and flags presented.
Port Canto, to the east, welcomes the world of sailing with 120 new boats from 10-25m, and is also home to the show’s brokerage section, which has 50 or so pre-owned yachts from 25m upwards. Port Canto also has the dynamic Power Boat Marina, with 170 rigid or semi-rigid boats up to 12-13m.
This meets a sharply growing demand for high-performance, compact and versatile boats, often equipped with the latest technological innovations. On land, the quays will be occupied by sailing equipment manufacturers, engine manufacturers and many toys, as before.
This organisation enables visitors to easily find out about the latest trends, according to what they’re looking for, their needs or projects, while enjoying the backdrop that Cannes provides. Although we don’t have a specific sector dedicated to electric boats, visitors will be able to find several in Vieux Port as many boat builders are presenting their latest models with electric propulsion. In Port Canto, some models in the Sailing Area and the Power Boat Marina will have hybrid propulsion.
Are there any sectors or sizes of boats that appear to be increasing in popularity?
We’re seeing strong demand in the motorised multihull segment and in the 8-12m boats exhibited in the Power Boat Marina, as well as increasing interest in electric or hybrid models, reflecting the transition that’s underway in the yachting industry.
Also, despite the show having a similar number of boats to previous years, we’re having to increase the in-water exhibition area because the size of boats is increasing in most sectors.
How are you developing the entrances for this year’s show, as well as the sea shuttle services between Vieux Port and Port Canto?
Continuity in the boat show organisation and sectorisation remains a priority to improve the visitor journey, by promoting each boat category and the equipment associated with it. The aim is to ensure the best flow and a complete, seamless path in each of the two ports. We are changing the main entrance to Vieux Port, which will be located by the sea along the ‘Majestic beach’, allowing us to expand the area dedicated to onshore tenders.
As a result of customer feedback, the capacity of both the small and large sea shuttles has been significantly increased, by 25 per cent. We’ve also improved the smooth running of people getting on and off by having more staff on land. This makes it possible to optimise how full each shuttle is before it departs.
The improved transfers between Vieux Port and Port Canto will enable waiting times to be significantly reduced, especially during peak times, and will provide a smoother and more enjoyable experience for visitors.
Can you explain more about the Innovation Route introduced last year?
The Innovation Route highlights the most significant technological and environmentally-friendly advances in the yachting industry. Through specific signage, visitors will be able to easily identify projects that make technological breakthroughs for a more responsible and sustainable industry.
The yachting industry, like many other business sectors, is having to deal with major environmental challenges and the need to meet decarbonisation needs. As such, the Innovation Route brings together innovative solutions in the areas of engines, propulsion, waste management, eco-design, energy optimisation, recyclable composite materials and much more.
This initiative aims to highlight the efforts our exhibitors are making to build the future of the yachting sector. Visitors will discover innovations such as more environmentally-friendly engines, recyclable resins and work on composites, as well as designs optimised for aerodynamics and connectivity, ensuring greater efficiency. The Innovation Route is an unmissable part of the show for anyone wanting to understand how yachting is evolving towards a more sustainable and responsible industry.
What can you tell us about the show’s ongoing commitment to being increasingly eco-friendly and sustainable?
From the beginning to the end of the Festival, we make exhibitors as aware of ecological issues as possible.
As an organiser, we act in concrete terms by organising webinars in advance with reminders of the importance of responsible solutions, reducing printed media, selecting service providers who use recyclable or sustainable materials, vegetarian options offered systematically by caterers with local and seasonal products, and implementing a reinforced sorting plan for exhibitor waste during the build, show and breakdown.
This is a global, gradual approach that the whole team carries out to support the sector’s transformation. During breakdown, our partner GreenBee is at the show to support our exhibitors in managing their waste and to recover as much material as possible, which will then be donated to organisations for recycling. This includes all wood, the brushed cotton for the tents, the carpets on the aisles, and so on.
Beneteau plans to host several world premieres at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival, while the Lagoon Eighty 2 sailing cat will also be a major debut. How closely do you cooperate with Groupe Bénéteau, which usually has one of the biggest displays in terms of number of boats?
Groupe Bénéteau is one of the historic, unmissable exhibitors at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Across all its brands, the Group will be exhibiting more than 45 models this year. We’re in constant and constructive discussion with the teams to respond to their requests and accommodate their many brands and boats as best as possible.
Each year, the impressive presence – both in terms of number of boats and world premieres – demonstrates how strategically important the Cannes Yachting Festival is for the Group. We work closely together to ensure the best possible presentation of their new products and to provide a high-quality experience for visitors. We work closely with each of our exhibitors to best meet their expectations and offer them a suitable exhibition area.
Constance Brément spent 11 years with Groupe Beneteau before joining the Cannes Yachting Festival as Deputy Director earlier this year. How significant was her appointment?
The arrival of Constance marked an important transition phase for the Cannes Yachting Festival. Her appointment marks a strong desire to ensure continuity in the show’s management while also bringing new momentum to it. Constance has a thorough understanding of the nautical world, combined with a wealth of experience in strategic marketing and the customer experience.
Since she joined us, she has been actively involved in all aspects of the project: exhibitor relations, team coordination, managing key moments, and so on. We work in tandem, in a spirit of building the boat show together and handover. It’s a real pleasure to be able to work with her on this edition before I leave.
With the sun setting on your time as Director, how are you feeling about this year’s show?
The 2025 edition is particularly symbolic for me as it will be the last one that I’ll have the honour of managing. The last few years have been rich, demanding and exciting. I’ve been fortunate enough to support the show’s growth, see it develop, reinvent itself, and open to new challenges such as innovation and the ecological transition.
I’m proud of the journey I’ve taken with the teams, partners and loyal exhibitors, and I’m sure Constance will ensure the continuity of the Cannes Yachting Festival and that it will continue to have an extensive presence on the international yachting scene for many years.
For more infromation visit cannesyachtingfestival.com
This article was first seen on YACHT STYLE.
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