2025 ICOMIA World Marinas Conference Addresses the Future of the Industry

Approximately 645 delegates from more than 44 countries gathered in Venice, Italy, this past October for the 2025 ICOMIA World Marinas Conference. The conference brought together top leaders from around the world and from all aspects of the recreational marine industry, including the financial, design, operations, environmental and technical sectors.

For the first time ever, the CEOs from the largest marina and shipyard chains in the world were brought together under one roof. Alberto Galassi of the Ferretti Group talked about what customers desire; Baxter Underwood, CEO of Safe Harbor Marinas, spoke about the future of the marina industry and providing greater value; Oliver Dörschuck of D-Marin covered the marine industry from the Med and UAE perspective; while W. Brett McGill of MarineMax, Bryan Redmond of Suntex Marinas and Mike Ward of Marina Projects Ltd. discussed marinas and the future.

Marina associations from around the world were also well represented. Joe Lynch, president of ICOMIA, Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), Suzanne Davies, CEO of Australia’s Marina Industries Association; Jon White, general manager of The Yacht Harbor Association; Piero Formenti, president of the Italian Marine Industry Association; and Roberto Perocchio, president of the Italian Marina Association, were in attendance.

Addressing Top Issues
There were general themes throughout the conference, including the need for better cooperation between boat manufacturers and suppliers of components. Alberto Galassi, CEO of the Ferretti Group, noted during his presentation on marina services and the need for manufacturers and marinas to work better together to provide a better boating experience, that it doesn’t make sense for a yacht to have five different plugs for shore power. He pointed out the need for standardized basic parts, which would eliminate needless multiple connections for similar functions.

Underwood provided a brief statistical review of the marina industry’s growth and performance over the last 20 years. He also forecast what is anticipated over the next 20 years, including trends that continue to show more people moving towards the waters, what people are seeking and their spending patterns. The talk included not only the outlook, but also the meaningful role chains will have in increasing the level of boating hospitality experience. He called for better communication and sharing of information within the industry as well as undertaking more partnerships.

The need for better cooperation between the chains as well as others in sharing data, more partnerships, helping the industry and moving forward on a cooperative basis were clear themes reiterated by many speakers. CEOs kept stressing this theme as well as the contributions that chains and large organizations can make in helping to raise the bar and expand the industry, meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

Another major theme resonating in the conference was the industry’s role as a steward of the water. Efforts continue on many fronts aimed at preserving and/or improving water quality, removing flotsam and jetsam, training people to appreciate and enhance the environment, encouraging catch and release programs and ensuring boating safety.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will not likely be replacing most marina jobs, but will provide better productivity, resulting in a better hospitality experience through increased understanding of trends and customer concerns/wants, as well as allowing for faster reaction times and the ability to better reach prospective customers, speakers on the software panel said.

State of the Industry
The conference presented an around the world panorama of the current state of the industry as well as key trends in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North and South America, including new marina developments and associated statistics.

It was clear from the geographically diversified panelists that both the charter and boat club industries are growing as meaningful additions to marinas, including attracting potential new boat users and owners, allowing others who no longer desire to own a boat to continue to be part of boating world and providing many options that allow for greater exploration of that world by traveling to destinations near and far. Particularly interesting were the numbers showing that women are a significant and very important segment of the boat club bookings.

For those trying to get a handle on what the future holds for propulsion systems, the panel for this subject presented various formats and insights, including that no one system fits all. Fossil fuels will not disappear, but electric motors are moving forward at rapid speeds. Alternative approaches, such as hydrogen and even atomic energy (for the larger superyachts), are real and will have a place, particularly as technology moves forward. Operators should think about steps that will help them move forward for the respective markets. All agreed that technology is rapidly changing, and various delivery systems are being developed for all of the differing boating markets.

Moving Forward
The Yacht Harbor Association outlined the many updates that are part of its revised code of practice guidance, which should be available in early 2026. Another panel presented the benefits of marina accreditation and certification, referencing that training is the key to a meaningful path forward with better acceptance by the public as well as with the various civic groups and the regulatory community.

The conference’s marina tours were by boat and bus, providing networking opportunities as well as the chance to review the various approaches being taken in the local Italian marina market, from the smaller yachts to the superyachts. During one part of the tour, there was a demonstration of a robotic sander that is coming to the market, with a unique demonstration of the machine that undertakes dustless sanding as well as boat waxing, and that will soon also be able to paint the boat hulls. While the robotic sander comes with a steep price tag, estimated at $200,000, the concept is meaningful and encouraging, showing that technology is advancing.

The 2025 conference was the most well-attended ICOMIA World Marinas Conference to date. Plans are already underway for the 2027 conference, which will take place in Shanghai, China.

Dan Natchez, CMP, is president of DANIEL S. NATCHEZ and ASSOCIATES Inc. He can be contacted by phone at 1-914-698-5678, by WhatsApp at 1-914-381-1234, by email at dan.n@dsnainc.com or online at www.dsnainc.com.