History of the Festival: What can you tell us about the history of the Cannes Yachting Festival? When and how did the festival start?
The Cannes Yachting Festival has been organised for over 45 years now, starting out with just a few boats at quai Max Laubeuf, in 1967. Year after year, it has expanded substantially in the Vieux Port, and then in Port Canto. The Cannes Yachting Festival has become an unmissable event in the world of yachting, and this has been the case for the past 15 to 20 years, I would say.
Today, as the event that gets the sailing season underway, all the major names in yachting get together in Cannes to open the season and exhibit their new products and world previews. And we support them to ensure they benefit from best possible visibility. The Festival is a true showcase of the jewels of the sea, showcasing unique boat-building expertise and presenting a wide selection of innovations in the industry. Creativity and new product design are key to business and brand growth in this sector, as in others. Each year, the Cannes Yachting Festival gives the industry the means to launch and present its new products.
This year’s theme: What is the theme or aim of this year’s festival? What are its innovations and highlights?
There are two main areas we are focusing on in 2024. The first one, as mentioned earlier, is the creation of the new Power Boat Marina. We are proud to inaugurate this new marina in Port Canto, which will accommodate motor boats up to 12/13 metres long. This new marina will bring together around 170 motor boats, enabling interested visitors to find most of the motor boats on the world market. Around thirty boats from 6- to 8-metres long will be exhibited ashore over 2000 m², and about 140 boats 8- to 12/13-metres long will be presented in water. This new area being occupied means visitors will be able to visit the entire port, without encountering any interruption in the circuit.
Our second focus is the Innovation Route I mentioned previously, with two main objectives: to help exhibitors promote their innovations and to help visitors find these innovations in the show. The idea is to identify innovations that convey a break from nautical technology and are environmentally-friendly: engines, propulsion, waste management, end-of-life, eco-design, optimisation, innovative materials, services… All the projects and initiatives implemented to support a more sustainable industry will be highlighted with special signage.
Participants’ profile: How many participants and visitors do you expect this year? Which countries have the highest participation
We don’t focus on how many, even if we can be proud that the show attracted more than 55,000 visitors from around the world last year. Our primary concern is, and has always been, both the quality of visitors, in terms of purchasing potential and, in turn, the quality of the content. With more than 700 boats exhibited, the visitor experience is paramount, and our choice of segmentation stems from this requirement. It is a considerable challenge for us to organise the exhibition in categories so that visitors can first find what they are looking for and then discover other products and boats. This enables everyone – those who love the sea, yacht enthusiasts, experienced visitors or simply those who are curious – to explore a universe in an idyllic setting, emblematic of the Côte d’Azur. With the content of the 2024 edition, we should attract approximately the same number as last year!
Regarding the exhibitors present this year, we are still in the sales phase and cannot provide exact figures at the moment, but we expect about 600 exhibitors, as was the case in 2023. Historically, we have always welcomed 1/3 French, 1/3 Italian and 1/3 international exhibitors. Last year, the trend was very Italian, especially in the mid-range, the 20–45 metre range, where they have a large offer. In sailing, most boat builders are still French, but the large yachts are becoming increasingly international, with exhibitors from Italy and South Africa taking part.
Green approaches: What measures does the festival take to promote environmentally-friendly yachting and marine conservation?
We are just a setting for products from the nautical industry. Nevertheless, our Green and now Innovation Routes are our way of doing our bit by accommodating and promoting exhibitors who are setting the course for ecology with increasingly environmentally-friendly boats, products and services.
This journey of change starts with the event itself, as a show organiser we also seek to reduce our environmental impact and we are taking steps to do so. We have reduced our printed materials; we work with service providers that are committed to using more sustainable and recyclable products and raw materials. We have a “bin plan” to encourage exhibitors to sort their waste during the set up, exhibition and break down periods.
In line with the “Clean Ports” certification and “active biodiversity” commitment in the Vieux Port and Port Canto, we also monitor water use and wastewater treatment during the show, with a target of 0 discharges in the ports. In addition, we have been recycling the show carpet for several years now and are raising our exhibitors’ awareness of waste management and recycling right from the design stage of their stand and not just when it is broken down! In 2023, 7.4 tonnes of carpet were recycled (turned into polypropylene microbeads) or recovered (burned to generate energy), with 54 tonnes of wood and 3.5 tonnes of glass being recycled. For 2024, our ambition is to achieve better results than last year with the help of Green Bee Upcycling Event, which we have been working with for the past year. Finally, our caterers offer at least one vegetarian option in all restaurants, giving preference to seasonal, local and/or organic products as much as possible.
Electric and hybrid yachts: What do you think about electric and hybrid yachts? What do you think about the future and the impact of these technologies on the market?
For several years now, boat builders have been making great efforts to develop new ranges of more environmentally-friendly boats. Yachting does not escape this movement towards more environmentally-friendly engine redesign, and in pursuing this, all-electric or hybrid propulsion is developing in the marine industry. Solar technology has improved significantly in recent years and has become more accessible, cheaper and more sustainable. As most boat owners prefer to use their boat in good weather, it is clear that adding solar panels to a boat is a solution. Hybrid propulsion is another avenue, and just like solar panels, battery technology has made huge advances thanks to the automotive industry in particular. These “green” options are more systematically included in boat builders’ catalogues, and for some involved they constitute the essence of their offer, when they are not simply the main reason for theme being created. As a show, we’re here to help, but be mindful that issues for the sea are different. The number of electrified boats in the yachting park is still very low (probably less than 3%) and mainly consists of small pioneering boat builders that have cleared the way because the technology is complex and navigation habits must adapt to this new mode of propulsion.
Economic impact of the Festival: What is the economic impact of the Cannes Yachting Festival on the city of Cannes and the region in general? How does the festival contribute to the local economy and tourism?
Like all the shows held in the city, the Cannes Yachting Festival generates many financial benefits in terms of hospitality, dining and jobs created for the occasion; it is one of the most prolific events for the city and the region, after the Film Festival of course. The impact on the local economy is undeniable and generates several million euros in turnover for service providers involved in organising the event, or who serve exhibitors. Many players in the city confirm they get a lot of benefits from it. They appreciate our international, affluent visitorship it can be said!
