ICOMIA World Marinas Conference 2016

Amsterdam RAI has announced that – for the second time in a row – it will organise the biennial ICOMIA World Marinas Conference (WMC). Hosted by HISWA, the Holland Marine Industry Association, the conference will be held during METS 2016 from 17 to 19 November in Amsterdam RAI. The RAI organised WMC2014 in Istanbul on behalf of ICOMIA

As the key initiative of its outreach and support programme, the ICOMIA Marinas Group organises and presents the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference every two years. This major industry gathering is aimed at marina owners, operators, developers, consultants, service providers, government officials, equipment manufacturers, nautical tourism promoters, and port and harbour operators.

The WMC is a travelling event, held every two years in venues around the world. “Having been impressed with the Amsterdam RAI’s ability to serve as a conference organiser in Istanbul last year, we are confident that the choice to now turn to Amsterdam RAI as both organiser and location for WMC 2016 is an excellent one,” commented ICOMIA Secretary General, Tony Rice. “Held from 17 to 19 November concurrently with the METS, and hand-in-hand with the METS Marina and Yard Exhibition, the symmetry of these events is certain to prove extremely beneficial to all attendees and exhibitors.”

The 1000-member-strong HISWA Holland Marine Industry Association will host the event. Established in 1932 as a boat show organiser, HISWA today lends its name to the two largest annual events in the Netherlands: the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show in Amsterdam RAI (March) and the HISWA on-water Boat Show in the Amsterdam Marina (September). “We will be delighted to welcome the WMC back to Holland next year,” says HISWA director Geert Dijks. “The first ICOMIA WMC was held here in 1993, reflecting the fact that watersports has its origins in our country. The first pleasure craft were built by the Dutch in the 1600s and the first marinas and yacht clubs were opened in Holland. The Netherlands is now one of the most developed watersports countries in the world. It has the highest density of marinas and marine companies within a 100km radius and an impressive variety of watersports, infrastructure, waterways and related facilities.”

About the ICOMIA Marinas Group

The aim of the ICOMIA Marinas Group is to provide international leadership and a forum for the exchange of relevant technical, environmental, and marketing information; to forge a partnership between marina interests and recreational marine equipment manufacturers for strength and unity in securing and preserving water frontage for boat access; to educate government to the economic importance and environmental compatibility of recreational boating facilities with a view to easing regulatory barriers; and to network with others in the recreational boating facilities field, pooling information for the common good.

Further information around WMC2016 will soon be available on the WMC website:www.worldmarinasconference.com. Over 400 marine professionals are linked in the ICOMIA Wold Marinas Conference group on LinkedIn.