Fort Lauderdale boat show bringing jobs amid COVID

Each year, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat show brings in hundreds of souped-up yacht and watercraft models from the world’s most-renowned marine designers.

This year, the show is bringing something much more important: jobs.

Faced with the prospect of losing out on all of the show’s estimated $386.8 million annual economic impact on Broward County — and depriving the state of any of its estimated $1.3 billion impact and 8,000 jobs it supports — officials decided in September to green-light the annual show, which kicks off Wednesday through Sunday.

Numerous safety procedures have been put in place this year, including social distancing markers, temperature checks and hygiene stations. Mask-wearing is required and will be enforced, say organizers. Food and beverage consumption will be confined to designated areas.

Phil Purcell, president and CEO of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the non-profit trade group that owns the show, said show organizers were reassured that the event could be produced safely after the opening of Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando did not appear to lead to outbreaks. With international travel still constrained, there will be fewer exhibitors, and maximum daily capacity is being limited to observe safety protocols.

“[The boat show’s economic impact] is bigger than two Super Bowls’,” Purcell said. “We had to find a way to host this event, even if we knew it was going to be different...So many people depend on this.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said putting on this year’s show was a difficult call — but that officials ultimately decided a balance could be struck between safety and economic concerns.

“It’s important that we continue trying to save lives,” Trantalis said, “but it’s also important that we protect livelihoods, from sellers to workers on boats to restaurants and hotels to give them a chance to get on their feet, pay the rent and the mortgage and put food on the table for their families.’’

The disruption in the usual rhythm of the boating season severely impacted 2020 revenues for boat servicing companies like Ward’s Marine Electric in Fort Lauderdale.

“Boats weren’t being used,” said Ward’s COO Kristina Hebert. “And if there’s uncertainty about summer charters, or owners are not using their vessels, they tend to just sit.”

The boat show is giving Ward’s two months’ worth of additional demand for work, Hebert said: one month of prep beforehand as owners ready their boats for display and sale, and then the next month helping new owners with vessel surveys and refittings.