ICE’22 – Layout Guidelines

October 28, 2022June 1, 2022 by Info Yachtmaster

ICE’22 will be the biggest B2B yacht charter event ever, spread over 10,000 sqm and two floors. To make your days more comfortable and pleasant, our team secured enough space for networking, relaxing and enjoying drinks and food. There won’t be any ‘bad’ location to exhibit because we secured that all participants get the best experience from each location in the hall.

Ground floor: Exhibitor booths, B2B lounge, Business corner, Dutch and Balearic corner and Tavern.

First floor: Exhibitor booths, Crewed & Luxury sector, Investors lounge, B2B lounge and Restaurant.

The central part of the ground floor will host most premium booths, surrounded by double and single booths. In the corners of the ground floor, you will be able to find the Dutch and Balearic Corners as well as the new Business corner. The Business corner is a new addition to ICE’22 that will provide all visitors an area to leave their promo materials. As in the previous years, the Dutch and Balearic Corners will gather charter companies from specific regions. The ground floor will have two meeting areas: Lounge 1 where participants can enjoy free and unlimited water, tea, and coffee. The second lounge will be hosted by a local tavern where everyone can enjoy local Croatian products such as wine, seafood, and snacks.

The first floor will have a special dedicated area for the Crewed and Luxury sector, Investors lounge, one B2B lounge with a bar and a restaurant for lunch, and many exhibitor booths. The Crewed and Luxury sector is the newest addition to ICE’22, offering everyone the opportunity to meet new businesses in the yachting industry. The Investors lounge gathers international investors. Fleet operators will present their charter management programs, investors will get information from shipyards, have access to reviews of past booking statistics, and insights of all available yacht models. There will also be one lounge with unlimited refreshments such as water, coffee, and tea. We also took care of lunch, and you will have access to the indoor restaurant from 11:00-16:00 every day.

Don’t forget to schedule a break of at least 30 minutes to rest and eat once Handshake matchmaking software opens. We suggest you use this layout to plan your meetings in the Handshake software efficiently. Avoid running from one end of the hall to another as this is the biggest hall yet so plan smart & use our layout to help you with time management.

Ps: Participants will be able to choose their booth location after their MyICE registrations are confirmed, so if you want to have a specific location be sure to react fast.

CLICK HERE for detailed guidelines.

ICE’22 – International Charter Expo is back in Zagreb

October 28, 2022May 16, 2022 by Info Yachtmaster

International Charter Expo is returning to its physical form, from December 7 to 9, 2022, on the Zagreb Fairgrounds. Growing in size to 10,000 sq meters and projected 500 participating companies, ICE will again be the center of the global yacht charter industry.

ICE’22 will gather 200 Fleet Operators from Croatia, Greece, Turkey, the Caribbean, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Cuba and other worldwide destinations, 200 charter brokers and travel agencies, as well as 100 relevant suppliers to the industry, like shipyards, insurances and booking systems. A new addition to the expo is a sector of crewed-luxury fleets and mini cruisers.

ICE’22 is the first trade show to announce full Covid-19 insurance, guaranteeing full refund for participants’ expenses on the expo, travel and accommodation.

The proprietary Handshake matchmaking software will again allow businesses to schedule meetings in advance using company profiles, maximizing the efficiency of the event.

ICE has partnered with Hilton Hotels to ensure quality accommodation at below market prices. Additionally, to add to the ICEperience, a Christmas village will be prepared by the Garden In Hilton, to host ICE participants.

From the founder:

“Zagreb will give us flexibility in this transitional year, after Covid, to ensure a long awaited, full-size, physical event, to the satisfaction and benefit of all participants. Our team is wholeheartedly looking forward to seeing you again.” – Tino Prosenik

Registrations open May 23rd!

Why ICE went digital?

March 21, 2023March 2, 2021 by Info Yachtmaster

When the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the world, the yachting industry was put on hold as well. Businesses could not meet; boat shows were cancelled one after the other, and the future was uncertain. That is why ICE, the biggest B2B yacht charter expo in the world went digital. It was the only logical and safe solution. ICE’20 digital was well accepted, as more than 300 business representatives from more than 35 countries took part. Many ICE partners requested a new digital event in April, just before the season begins.

Of course, the success of digital ICE’20 was not guaranteed, and people had their doubts as it was something completely new and unknown. However, doing our best to connect fleet operators, suppliers, and brokers from all over the world, our team made it work. Our partners were very happy with the overall event and the meetings they had.

“This is not the first year we have been participating in ICE, but for the first time in an online format. I would like to say that the effectiveness of the negotiations was almost the same as ICE’19 in Vienna. This is incredibly interesting and useful for our business. Thank you for bringing us together and making our communication better. It is very important for us to feel that we are not alone in this field and there are hundreds of great companies that are going through this difficult year with us and making the yacht charter industry even better!” – Max Terbov, Sea Radar, Estonia

“Great digital experience by ICE! The event was a success, and it gave us the opportunity to meet industry professionals and attend interesting presentations, in an efficient way. Our company will definitely attend again!” – Andreas Georgatsos, Cavo Yachting, Greece

See what ICE’20 looked like from our partners’ perspectives

What did ICE’20 look like?

ICE’20 featured seven halls with 112 digital booths where businesses could present themselves and visit other businesses and new partners. Demo of the halls can be seen here. Digital booths looked like real-life booths, with TVs, brochure racks for e-brochures, and 2D avatars. With this set-up and possibility to prearrange meetings with the Handshake matchmaking software, time was used more efficiently. Without the hassle of travelling and booking accommodation, businesses save both time and money. As a bonus, they hold meetings from the comfort of their home or office.

“Being able to meet with my present and potential partners without traveling to a different continent saves a lot of time and effort while delivering the same results”. – Silvia Vlakancic, Anchor & Wine, U.S.A

We had some technical issues which happened the first day of the expo, after worldwide Amazon Web Services crashed for a few hours, and ICE team was on full support helping businesses manage to connect with other solutions. This year technical issues will be non-existent, as servers will also be backed up.

Apart from 30-minute B2B meetings, several premium suppliers had the opportunity to present their products/services to all ICE participants during 30-minute presentations. No one could have meetings during these time slots, and many businesses who attended the presentations were very active in the Q&A. Businesses needed to discuss some topics as well and give their opinions.

At ICE’20 there were more than 300 participants, from more than 35 countries, who held more than 3,500 meetings. We hope we will see you again this year in an even bigger number, so we can connect the yachting industry digitally once again before summer begins.

This year we turned the impossible into the possible! – Tatjana, Adria 4 Deluxe, Germany

Want to meet with new and old business partners? Register here.

Business in the yacht charter industry left without boat shows

March 21, 2023February 15, 2021 by Info Yachtmaster

Why boat shows are a must

Boat shows around the world have been cancelled for almost a year now. The largest and most important boat shows in the yacht charter industry such as Boot Dusseldorf, Austrian Boat Show in Tulln, Cannes Festival and many more have all been cancelled. As a result, businesses in the yacht charter industry had no physical place to meet in person. Meeting with business partners is crucial for the success of yacht charters, brokers, agencies, shipyards, and other suppliers. Everyone knows that going to boat shows is a must. Introducing your new brand, presenting products and services, meeting old partners and new ones, learning about the novelties for the upcoming season and in general networking with the whole industry.

What do businesses lose without boat shows?

Not only do businesses in the yacht charter industry meet, they also make very important purchases and client bookings. The Multihull Boat Show in Le Grande Motte, France, is important for those who are keen to order the first slots of a new catamaran model and those who build their multihull fleets. At Boot Dusseldorf charters can see and walk-through new boats and purchase the newest models for their fleet. The Austrian Boat Show is the perfect place for charters to make direct bookings with Austrian guests. Businesses in the yacht charter industry are now in huge losses as one of their main channels of communication and sales is closed – no one knows for how long.

What awaits yacht charters and agencies?

All these boat shows together make up for more than 30 days per year where businesses could have met: a grand total of more than 4000 exhibitors and 450,000 visitors from over 100 countries. In these uncertain times, every piece of new information, each new business partner and booking is more important than ever. It is uncertain of how the charter season 2021 will unfold. Early bookings which were a very big and important part of yacht charter and agency bookings are still very rare today. Everyone is waiting to see what will happen. If borders do open during the summer, we can expect many last-minute bookings with very high discounts. Completely opposite of how all other charter seasons were until know. Will the majority of yacht charters, agencies and brokers in the yacht charter industry survive, we can only wait and see.

Digital meetings: 5 tips on how to get the best from the ICE’20

September 3, 2020August 21, 2020 by Info Yachtmaster

We’ve seen a lot of changes in the yacht charter business since COVID-19 hit the globe. The biggest change for most of the companies is digital transformation. You know that you have to go digital but you don’t feel comfortable in the digital environment? We have your back.

If you are not sure how to prepare for digital meetings or you want to know how to get more from it, read our 5 tips on how to get the best from ICE’20:

1. Use a laptop or tablet, not a smartphone

For most of us, smartphones are the fastest way to communicate. However, we suggest that you use only a laptop or tablet at ICE’20. That way you can navigate the event easily and see brochures and videos at digital booths. Also, it will be easier for you to have meetings while reading PDF files. We suggest you use the same device for all three days of the expo.

2. Test the technology

When you are attending a digital event you need to make a few steps of preparation. First, take a look if your laptop battery is low. You don’t want your laptop to shut down in the middle of your meeting. Second, test your mic, earphones, and sound before the event starts. Find a quiet place where you can listen carefully and be able to focus on the meeting. If you will need any help, you will always be able to contact us and our IT specialist will be here to help you.

3. Use your background as brand promotion

Look for a place with a professional background. If you have anything distracting in the background it will deconcentrate your business partner. Think about your background as a possible advertisement! If you have banners with the logo of your company we suggest you place them behind or next to you.

4. Be prepared

For prearranging and arranging digital meetings at ICE’20, participants will use Handshake matchmaking software. Make sure to check name and company information of the business partner before the meeting starts. Prepare all the necessary materials for the meeting or presentation. Explore the booth of your business partner and check out promo materials. There you will be able to read PDF brochures or watch promotional videos on digital TV screens.

5. Be on schedule

At ICE’20 each representative has 30 minutes for presenting. It is enough time to connect with the new business partner and to exchange ideas.

Don’t be late for the meeting. You will have a timer on the screen so you can always know how much time you have until the meeting is over. In case you will need more time, you can ask your business partner if he has a free meeting slot. If so, you can arrange one more meeting slot with the same person.

While you have a meeting, you will be able to take notes from it and use it later for further communication.

Click here to register for ICE’20!

Top 10 reasons why participate in ICE’20

December 23, 2022July 24, 2020 by Info Yachtmaster

More and more upcoming yacht shows are called or postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. As it is impossible to organize an event that brings together more than 1500 people from more than 5 continents, the ICE’20 team decided to organize the first digital B2B event in the yacht-charter industry!

International Charter Expo – ICE’20 will start online on the 26th of November 2020 and will last for 3 whole days. Although no personal contact and the usual networking will be possible, ICE spirit won’t be lost! ICE team is preparing a lot of surprises for the participants of the first digital B2B expo with the aim to keep the positive and stimulating environment for the yacht charter companies.

As this year is very challenging for the whole industry, now, more then ever, we must stay connected. So why connect at Digital ICE?

1. Save money

This year, ICE participants will get 80% of the value for 20% of the cost! You will not have to spend money on accommodation or plane tickets. Also, since ICE’20 is digital, exhibitors will pay only for the upload of their graphics. There are no additional costs such as graphics print and transport, booth furniture, or decoration.

2. Stay safe

In 2020 every form of social engagement that includes a large number of participants is not recommended. As your safety comes first, ICE’20 will be digital. In that way, you will be able to have a lot of meetings and meet international brokers, fleet operators, and suppliers from the comfort of your home. 🙂

3. Save time

Time is money, therefore ICE’20 is an opportunity to take! No time-wasting on traveling or planning. Prearrange meetings via Handshake matchmaking software and meet the whole yacht charter industry in 3 days. Relax and attend ICE’20 from the comfort of your home or office.

4. Meet new business partners

ICE’20 will be more accessible and affordable than ever, meaning fleet operators, brokers, and suppliers who have never been to International Charter Expo before, will participate this year! Take this opportunity and connect with new business partners from all over the world.

6. Arrange 72 meetings in 3 days

A new and improved business event matchmaking software – Handshake will allow you to prearrange meetings at ICE. When digital expo starts you will be able to see the agenda with all the meetings that you have arranged.

7. Combine business with education

Keep up with new trends! Digital Conference is a great opportunity to combine business meetings with education! Register for ICE Conference and listen to the best online speakers talking about the news in the yacht-charter industry, latest trends in marketing and sales, and other industry-specific topics.

8. Have a tree planted in your name

For 450 companies that participated at ICE’19 Vienna, the ICE team planted 450 trees in Zagreb, Croatia. This year, ICE Forest initiative continues which means that all participating companies will contribute to the fight against air pollution with trees planted in their names.

9. Engage

Use live chat, video calls, conference streams, and downloadable resources such as notes from all scheduled meetings! All you need is to have a tablet or laptop and you are ready for arranging meetings from your home or office! You can simply login on your computer and have access to a large number of companies that you can contact via video call or chat. Fleet operators, brokers, and suppliers are just one click away!

10. Get a discount for ICE’21

Every ICE’20 exhibitor will get a discount for ICE’21 booths. Discount will be applicable to all booth types.

See more about International Charter Expo.

Check out who’s coming!

Meeting Efficiency: Stop wasting your time.

December 23, 2022July 24, 2020 by Info Yachtmaster

Arranging meetings with more than 1500 people seem impossible. However, Handshake matchmaking software will make it real for all participants of the first digital B2B event in the yacht charter industry. It is a proven way of making time more efficient. No time-wasting on planning, scheduling, making invites, and organizing notes.

International Charter Expo (ICE’20) will have 30,000 meeting slots and 400 meeting rooms. That means 72 meetings per person will be possible via matchmaking software in only 3 days of the digital expo.

How one person can have 72 meetings in 3 days of expo?

Handshake matchmaking software has all the key contacts from the yacht charter industry. Evey broker (travel or charter agency, charter broker, tour operator, and sailing school or club) will be able to visit digital booths and have meetings in digital meeting rooms with international fleet operators and suppliers of goods and services like booking systems or insurance companies.

Every person at ICE’20 can choose a time slot for the meeting and search the people with whom they would like to meet. The handshake search engine allows searching by sector (fleet operators, suppliers, brokers) or by country making arranging meetings faster. It is easy and intuitive so the process of pre-arranging meetings is very simple. All you need is to have a tablet or laptop and you are ready for arranging meetings from the comfort of your home.

One month before ICE, every participant is notified by email that the Handshake account is ready for arranging meetings. Then, meeting slots will start to fill up and new business partnerships will begin.

Engage with your business partners

ICE’20 participants can use video calls, share screens, and download notes after the meetings. When the meeting is about to start, a person will automatically be placed in front of the digital booth of the business partner who sends the meeting invitation.

Self-promotion via Handshake profile

A good first impression is vital! Handshake profile is just Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Your profile photo and company information can be the breaking point for someone who is searching for a new reliable business partner.

This is why the ICE team always recommends uploading a photo of you. Make your profile more visible by entering the main info about the company (web address and short description) as well as the contact info (phone number and email address).

Click here to register for ICE’20!

See you this November at the first digital B2B expo in the yacht charter industry!

Investors in the yacht-charter industry

June 13, 2020October 9, 2019 by Info Yachtmaster

Why are Investors in the yacht-charter industry coming to Vienna?

The future of the charter industry is fueled by investors and charter management. This is why from 8th to 9th of November all investors who are interested in new investments and ones who know how to profit from the yacht-charter industry will come to the ICE’19, Vienna.

There is no place on the planet where an investor, private or corporate, can find all the relevant shipyards and nearly all fleet operators in the world. Each of them will be at ICE’19, offering different business models of asset management, i.e. charter investments. Here, investors can find assets and proper management to ensure a safe and productive investment.

How the yacht-charter industry is becoming more interesting for investors?

Out of 100 million tourists who visit the Mediterranean every year, less than 1% are sailing on charter boats. The yacht-charter industry has been growing for 50 years and still does not meet demand. The value of the charter yacht, though depreciating, is held high by the unyielding demand. The steady returns and high re-selling value after 5-7 years generate yields up to 8%!

Investors lounge at International Charter Expo

The Investors lounge at International Charter Expo – ICE’19 is special area for investors where they can get:

• Portfolio of 50+ investment strategies
• Personal meetings with fleet managers
• Review of past booking statistics
• Review of all available yacht models
• Personal advisors on the spot

Your personal ICE advisor will present a range of investment plans by international fleet operators as well as various yachts in various countries, available in 2020. At your request, personal meetings will be organized with the charter operators and/or yacht suppliers.

It is time to add charter investment to your portfolio.

Contact us to reserve your place at ICE’19 Vienna: investors@yachtmaster.hr, +385 1 3377 978
ICE is accessible by invitation only.

35+ new Fleet Operators

June 29, 2020September 25, 2019 by Info Yachtmaster

Already 35+ new Fleet Operators registered!

ICE brings the first batch of NEW charter companies for you to meet in person and make some business!

Ask new partners everything you ever wanted to know about the destinations where they operate, about boats they own.. you will immediately get answers to all your questions.

At the top of it all, they will provide you with content and promo materials that is original and straight to the point.

Adria Catamaran – Croatia
Aquanaut – Netherlands
Balearic Yacht Club – Spain
Barcando Charter – Italy
Blue Dream Charter and Service – Italy
Boomerang Sardinia Sailing Charter – Italy
Carloforte Sail Charter – Italy
Chillax Yachting – Greece
Christianna Yachts – Greece
Clipper Stad Amsterdam – Netherlands
Crystal Sea Yachting – Greece
Discovery Yachting – Greece
EOLIAN SAILING – Italy
Euroyacht – Croatia
Exadas Yachts – Greece
Feel Yachting – Croatia Charter – Croatia
Gulet Holiday – Croatia
imbat yacht – Turkey
Iris Yachtcharter – Spain
Magic Sailing Charter – Italy
Mistral Sailing – Italy
Naveda Colombia – Colombia
Navigate Travel – United Kingdom
Olympic Yachting Shipping – Greece
Omegasail – Greece
Phoenix Yachting – Austria
Puresailing Yachting – Greece
Q-Yacht – Croatia
Sail and Experience – Italy
San Blas Sailing – Panama
Stadler Yachting – Croatia
Solis Charter Group – Greece
South Aegean Yachting – Greece
The Catamaran Company – USA
Ximula Sail – Singapore

and many more to come very soon…

List of all Registered Fleet Operators >

Turnover in Billions for Agents

June 12, 2020September 5, 2019 by Info Yachtmaster

Crewed and luxury yacht rentals have spiked in the last few years, as the world’s rich and corporate clients queue up to enjoy the yacht chartering extravagance.

The bareboat charter market is booming as well; the number of sailing yachts, motor yachts and cruising catamarans has exploded.

Yacht rental market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2015 to 2020, according to the research carried by Future Market Insights. Furthermore, crewed and bareboat yacht rental market, which was worth €35 Bn in 2014, will be worth € 51 Bn by 2020.

By Future Market Insights, in bareboat charter in 2015 for agents turnover was 400M, and predictions are that turnover for 2019 will be 514M!

ICE is focused on the bareboat segment; including the whole bareboat fleet and parts of the crewed and luxury segment. This bareboat segment is responsible for only a part of the world’s yachting turnover but, at the same moment, it includes about 90% of the yachts and the workforce in this industry.

Because ICE is B2B, companies are not represented by hostesses and hired help, but by owners and upper management.

This makes it a unique gateway to a new market for any visitor or exhibitor; a large and growing industry ready to be accessed.