GENOA INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW AWARDED ISO 20121 CERTIFICATION FOR SUSTAINABLE EVENT MANAGEMENT

GRS ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THE BOAT SHOW'S ROLE AS A BENCHMARK FOR THE BOATING INDUSTRY AND A PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPMENT TAILORED TO THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN.

During the Members' Assembly of Confindustria Nautica - the Italian Marine Industry Association - held on 11^th December at the Chamber of Deputies, Italy's seat of parliament, certifying body RINA awarded the Association's operational subsidiary I Saloni Nautici the ISO 20121 certification for the sustainable management of the 65^th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show.

"To achieve the ISO 20121 certification for the second year running is a tangible recognition of Confindustria Nautica's commitment to sustainability," stated Association President Piero Formenti. "To operate in adherence to international standards means to reduce the event's impact while also generating value for all stakeholders involved, ever focused on improvement and shared responsibility."

The Genoa International Boat Show is thus acknowledged globally not only as a showcase for international boating excellence, but as a cultural and industrial driver of sustainable transition, capable of accompanying the sector into the future.

The results achieved by the most recent edition of the Genoa Boat Show, as analysed in the Customer Insight Business Intelligence study carried out by GRS, an independent strategic consulting and global research company, highlight the Boat Show's ability to intercept market expectations and transform these into tangible value, consolidating itself as a multi-specialist platform supporting business development throughout the entire supply chain.

The study shows how last September's edition consolidated the event's relations with returning visitors: 79% had already visited the event in the recent past, confirming an expert and stable base of visitors and suggesting an increasingly consolidated community that is loyal to the Genoa Show.

The visitor experience met expectations, with overall satisfaction reaching a score of 3.9 (on a scale of 0 to 5), marking the highest score ever recorded for the six events surveyed and reaching the international benchmark value. There are still a number of areas in which improvement is possible in terms of accessibility and connections to medium- and long-haul destinations. However, these aspects are shown to not deter the public from wanting to come back the next year and admire the very best the global boating industry has to offer, with the probability of returning exceeding the international benchmark.

The exhibitors' experience is, in general, more than positive. The perceived importance of the Genoa International Boat Show is growing, exceeding the international benchmark, especially among new exhibitors and pavilions focused on a more experimental approach. The Genoa Boat Show confirms its status as a benchmark for brand promotion and networking, as well as for generating new business.

The importance attributed to the Boat Show is on an upward trend, also surpassing the average for international B2B trade fairs, confirming the central role of the event for business networking, with the probability of returning remaining very high and above average (4.3) for businesses as well: a sign of confidence, deep roots, a high degree of loyalty and return on interest. The best results come from the highest performing exhibitors and from pavilions dedicated to the world of outboard motors and the Tech Trade area.

"The satisfaction indicators and the event's relevance, as recognised by operators, confirm the Genoa International Boat Show as a key event for the boating industry and one of the main international stages for the sector," commented Marina Stella, General Manager of Confindustria Nautica - Italian Marine Industry Association. An authoritative show that attracts leading brands and that enhances the entire supply chain as a whole: to take part in Genoa means to position oneself on a global industrial platform tailored to innovating recreational boating. This analysis motivates us to continue with renewed enthusiasm as we organise the 66^th edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, taking place from 1^st to 6^th October."

The Genoa International Boat Show's appeal is reinforced by its institutional component, an integral part of Confindustria Nautica's work and an element that creates a centralised hub for meaningful discussion between products, technology, supply chain, market and institutions at both a European and international level, anticipating shifts, trends and transformations that guide the development of the sector globally, as well as the extensive media coverage concentrated throughout the week of the event.

In terms of business development specifically, the study also shows that exhibitors have benefitted from quality contacts and commercial opportunities with tangible results in terms of orders, collaborations and partnerships. The Genoa International Boat Show thus confirms its status as an effective environment for the dissemination of technological, industrial and process innovation, a platform where operators from all over the world establish effective collaborations throughout the supply chain, through targeted meetings and negotiations, capable of generating measurable results beyond visibility.