RAI Amsterdam Purchases 50% Stake in IBEX as Co- Owners of Event with NMMA
During this morning’s Industry Breakfast at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), taking place in Tampa, Florida this week, RAI Amsterdam, owners and producers of METSTRADE (The Marine Equipment Trade Show) announced that they have purchased a 50% stake in IBEX from Professional BoatBuilder magazine. Starting on October 7, 2016, RAI Amsterdam will partner with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) to produce future IBEX events. While IBEX and the METSTRADE Show will continue to maintain their unique focus and identity, IBEX will be powered by METSTRADE to foster international growth in exhibits and sponsorships from companies looking to reach the North American boatbuilding industry.
“Working alongside Professional BoatBuilder we have made IBEX the best marine trade event in North America. Through our new partnership with the RAI, we will build on that foundation to create the best marine trade event in the world,” said Thom Dammrich, President of NMMA. “The RAI brings a wealth of event experience that will allow us to further our international efforts as we continue helping our members grow their business around the globe.”
“We are looking forward to partnering with the NMMA to bring together more industry resources for recreational marine businesses and professionals globally. As the new co-owners of IBEX, we will work together to grow an international presence of marine manufacturers and technology at IBEX while giving European businesses more access to U.S. professionals,” said Ids Boersma, Executive Vice President of Amsterdam RAI. “Together, IBEX and the METSTRADE Show will be more collaborative to ensure all of the latest worldwide industry developments, training and products are being brought to the professionals attending each event.”
“We are excited to enter into this new stage for IBEX and to work with RAI Amsterdam, a professional and highly skilled show management company, whose expertise will continue to help us to service the global marine marketplace,” said Anne Dunbar, IBEX Show Director.“Over the past several months we have been working closely with the IBEX team and are excited about the tremendous cooperation and teamwork we have experienced during this transition. Our team, along Rens Jan van Vliet, who will be starting within the IBEX team as Global sales and marketing manager, will work together to best serve the international marine industry,” added said Irene Dros, Manager Maritime – METSTRADE.
“We at Professional BoatBuilder magazine, the company that founded IBEX, have sold our ownership in IBEX to the RAI. We’ve had a longstanding respect for the RAI, and we’re confident they’ll sustain the level of excellence we’ve achieved for the show since 1991,” said Jim Miller, Publisher and General Manager, Professional BoatBuilder magazine. “Our entire team is extraordinarily proud of the positive impact we’ve made on the boatbuilding and repair industry by launching IBEX 26 years ago. Our goal has always been to deliver the critical technical information and updates that international professionals need to advance their businesses and our industry. IBEX is a premier resource annually for new product information and expert seminars and we look forward to supporting IBEX under the ownership of the RAI as we continue to be a technical education partner, as well as an exhibitor.”
