Only last Wednesday did the International Boatbuilders Exhibition (IBEX) management team decide that the annual trade show would occur on time. It wasn’t without considerable thought and feedback from its logistics teams, vendors, and education teams that despite the extent of torment hurricane Irma raged on the entire southeast US.
I’m running the educational tracks for ABYC again this year which so far haven’t been effected although many of my speakers call Florida home, so I’ve been anxiously awaiting at least marginal fall out. I do expect that attendance will be down for any of the possible factors: damage to personal property, damage to business property, or sans either of those; busy beyond belief due to the boating industry damage.
Many of our members have already been put into action by insurance companies looking to settle claims as quickly as possible.
Nonetheless, I’m hoping for a successful IBEX to fill educational track seats and make inroads with content partners and suppliers. I also hope that continuing on with the show helps the local economy and boosts the recovery of the surroundings.