Why everyone at ICE is booking meetings a month in advance?

Why Everyone at ICE Is Booking Meetings a Month in Advance

If you’ve been to a yacht charter show in Cannes, Miami, or Monaco, you know how it goes. The setting is impressive. The potential is high. But when it comes to scheduling meetings, it quickly becomes chaotic. Crowds, confusion, and inbox overload leave too much to chance.

Networking Should Not feel Like a Guessing Game

As ICE grew into the biggest B2B event in the yacht charter industry, one tool changed how professionals network. Handshake is a revolutionary meeting scheduling platform developed exclusively for ICE. It gives participants full control over scheduling their meetings, making it possible to plan in advance full schedule.

Why Everyone at ICE Is Booking Meetings a Month in Advance

Plan Up to 17 Meetings a Day in Just a Few Clicks

With Handshake, scheduling your ICE meetings begins one month before the event.
As soon as the platform opens, you can arrange up to 17 meetings per day. Each meeting lasts 30 minutes, giving you time to connect and stay on schedule.

You can search by company or by representative. Use filters to narrow results by category such as Fleet Operators, Brokers, Central Agents, Retail Brokers or Suppliers. Once you find the right contact, send a meeting request. Choose the day, select a time, pick a location (either booth or a lounge), and confirm.

One Platform for Chat, Meetings, and Your Agenda

Every confirmed meeting appears in your personal agenda. Your schedule builds automatically. There are no overlaps and no double bookings. You always know where you need to be. You can use the built-in chat to follow up, reschedule, or ask questions. A complete profile with a photo, company information, and contact details helps others find and recognize you easily.

Handshake also includes a layout, giving you a clear view of of the venue in one place. There is no wandering the venue, no waiting for replies, and no endless emails. Just a simple plan from the start.

Swipe to Match and Find the Right People Faster

Handshake also offers the Swipe to Match option. Found in the Personal Programme menu, this feature helps you connect with someone new who shares similar interests. It shows contacts you might not come across when searching by company or representative. It works like a business version of Tinder, giving you a fast way to network beyond your usual list.

 

What’s actually working for charter businesses in 2025?

Charter businesses at ICE'25

The 2025 charter season is proving tough. Bookings are down, there’s more competition, and clients expect more than ever. Under pressure, many companies turn to the usual solution, cutting prices.

But the truth is, in today’s market, that approach doesn’t work long-term.

The industry’s default reaction: more discounts, less value

When bookings slow, the instinct is to cut prices in hopes of filling the calendar. While this might generate short-term interest, it often undermines long-term business health.

Discounting:
• Erodes perceived value
• Attracts last-minute, low-loyalty clients
• Creates a cycle of dependency on price-based decisions

Ultimately, it leads to more work for less profit, without addressing the root problem.

Charter businesses at ICE'25

Strategic investment over reactive cuts

High-performing charter businesses in 2025 are taking a more deliberate approach. Instead of reducing prices, they are investing in brand positioning, marketing visibility, and strong B2B relationships.

A clear example of this is the International Charter Expo (ICE’25). Forward-thinking operators recognize that growth doesn’t happen by accident, it’s planned. ICE provides a platform for meaningful, in-person connections that directly impact next season’s success.

ICE’25: from seasonal pressure to strategic planning

While much of the industry is stuck in reactive mode, ICE’25 offers an opportunity to take control of the future. It’s not just a trade show, it’s where smart businesses go to align with key partners, identify emerging trends, and secure early contracts for the seasons ahead.

By participating, companies are no longer just hoping for a better season, they’re actively creating one.

Discounts don’t build long-term success

It’s tempting to believe that a few last-minute deals will turn things around. But in reality, price-cutting is a short-term fix with long-term costs.

Real growth comes from investment, into brand visibility, strategic networking, and ongoing value creation. ICE’25 is a proven platform where that investment pays off.

If you want better bookings in 2026, the time to act is now.
Don’t wait for the season to slow down, use this moment to build what’s next.