The Barcelona Nautical Hall is the most important fair in the country.

The International Nautical Salon in Barcelona is heading for its 56th edition, which will take place from 11 to 15 October in Port Vell, bringing together once again the largest offer of the Spanish sports and recreational nautical industry with the participation of the main national and international brands. The competition, which plans to grow by 6% over the previous year, will expand its floating and ground sample, with a prominent presence of catamarans. The proposals related to innovation, entrepreneurship and business will also mark this call.

The good course of marketing three months from its celebration makes it possible to predict that the Barcelona Nautical Hall of 2017, organized by Fira de Barcelona, will grow in offer and activities, so it hopes to exceed 260 exhibitors and 670 boats in exhibition. So far, they have confirmed their participation by major companies in the sector such as Beneteau, Jeanneau, CNB-Lagoon, Marina Estrella, Sunseeker, Touron, Yamaha or Zodiac.

For the president of the living room, Luis Conde, "the competition this year consolidates its positive trend, thus reflecting the signs of recovery of the sector. It thus reinforces its role as the main commercial platform of nautical in Spain, as well as the best tool to promote a greater hobby for navigation and nautical sports. According to the study carried out by the living room to the exhibitors of 2016, the fair generates more than 50% of the annual sales of the sector in our country."

For his part, the Secretary General of the National Association of Nautical Enterprises (ANEN), Carlos Sanlorenzo, "the nautical market is growing moderately since January, with a good result in May and June, which makes it possible to forecast, one more year, a favourable season for the sector. In the first half of 2017, the registration of recreational boats has grown by 13% and the rent is consolidated as a tendency to enjoy the leisure navigation, with 35.4% more registration of boats for rental use than last year. It would be the right time for the Administration to promote some fiscal measures to support the sector and thus encourage both national and foreign nautical consumption in anticipation of the expected good tourism season."

Get out of the way.
The wide range of exhibition and activities planned for this year "further reaffirms the position of the Barcelona Nautical Hall as a leader in Spain and one of the main in Europe, the unique place to do business, know the latest developments and products, try boats and enjoy many activities related to the sea," says the competition director Jordi Freixas.
The living room, which will occupy the docks of Spain and the Fusta del Port Vell, will have a floating sample - where you will see boats from the 8 meters of eslora -, especially highlighting the large fleet of catamarans with 20 units in the water, the largest in Spain and the main in Europe. Small boats and pneumatic vessels will be displayed on the ground, as well as the latest in electronics, engines, paintings, sailing, trailers, charter and nautical services.

Innovation, entrepreneurship and business
From the success of the first edition, this year the Empress and Startup Days will be held again, which will be extended to all the living days. This initiative, which is carried out in collaboration with ANEN, will make available innovative projects applied to the world of water and includes networking sessions, an exhibition area and an investment forum.
Also in the professional field, a business meeting agenda will be planned to promote new contacts and business between exhibitors and visitors, and conferences, round tables, race and trophy presentations, awards, etc., will be organized in the Espai del Mar.

Play proposals for living the sea
The Nautical Salon will also again be a place of fun and experience for nautical fans and for those who want to start. This is why many activities are organized to show the different ways of enjoying the sea.

In the Fun Beach Area there will be a test area with access to the sea for light sailing, kayak or paddle surfing sessions. It is also planned to hold a new edition of the Barcelona SUP Festival, a meeting of paddle surf fans who will practice this sports mode in the waters of Port Vell. It also highlights the area of Marina Traditional with the exhibition of classic boats and where workshops and activities will be held for the whole family.

Another of the highlights will be the "Nautical Night" (Friday, October 13), which will include the "Swimnight & kayak" (an exhibition of swimmers, escorted by kayaks, in the port waters) and which will be threatened with the parties of the exhibitors, live music, fashion parades and tastings.
One more year, the living room will enhance the proposals related to gastronomy, so it will again have the offer of the restaurant OneOcean Club, the Nautic Food Plaza and the Nautic Village by TheCooluxury (chillout area and gourmet product tasting).

High rate of fidelity of exhibitors and visitors
The Barcelona Nautical Hall, supported by ANEN, is a founding member of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO) and an international reference point today. The report of the living room, made by the Department of Communication and Fira Studies of Barcelona, for 2016, gives value to the high rate of fidelity and satisfaction of exhibitors and visitors.

According to the study, 84.4% of exhibitors had already visited the living room in other editions, 68.8% ensure that their participation targets are met and 74.4% say they will repeat in 2017. As for visitors, 81% say they are satisfied with their visit and 90% want to repeat in the next edition.