IFBSO

The International Federation of Boat Show Organisers represents the world’s leading boat shows and helps with the development of boat shows and marine trade exhibitions worldwide.

Who we are

IFBSO, the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers, was founded in 1964 to help the development of boat shows and marine trade exhibitions worldwide. Today IFBSO represents and works with and on behalf of many of the world’s leading boat shows whilst, at the same time, helping to establish new member shows via its candidate member mentoring scheme. 

What we do

IFBSO collates and disseminates information to and about its members as well as the general public with a view to furthering the interest in and passion for boating and all marine leisure activities. It helps its members stage successful and leading boat shows which comply or aspire to comply with the IFBSO Code of Excellence, thus ensuring that member shows provide a solid basis for business and ROI for their exhibitors.

ifbso.com is THE information portal for the leading boat shows and marine trade exhibitions worldwide with up-to-the minute information on dates, size, composition, costs of and quick access to all member boat shows.

History

IFBSO was founded in 1964. After an inaugural Congress in London in September 1963, the organisation agreed a title and elected its first officers at the second Congress in Paris in January 1964. At a subsequent meeting in October 1964 in Genoa IFBSO adopted its first Constitution giving form to the previous informal organisation. The Constitution has been through many amendments since that time. The 5th meeting in Barcelona in June 1966 saw the formation of an International Boating Trades Association which was later to become ICOMIA. Both IFBSO and ICOMIA have maintained close contact ever since and the Annual Meetings of both associations have been held simultaneously at Congresses in various parts of the world every year since then. At the 2017 Congress on Australia's Gold Coast, the members of both organisations also ratified the formation of a Joint Working Group which will report back to the joint membership on a regular basis.