ICOMIA 2025 World Marinas Conference: It’s Coming to Venice—Are You?

The ICOMIA World Marinas Conference takes place every two years at various locations throughout the world. This year’s conference, which will be its 13th edition, takes place in Venice, Italy, from October 15 to 17.

The venue for the three-day event is located on Certosa Island at the first-class, full-service Venezia Certosa Marina, a safe harbor marina with more than 400 boats, and protected by an innovative wetland breakwater created through reclamation.

Historic Location
The 54-acre island, much of which is a park, is strategically located in the heart of the Venice Lagoon and is part of the overall Venice UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island was home to Augustinian monks from 1199 to 1424. From 1424 to 1807 it served as an important Carthusian monastery, with a large church dedicated to Saint Andreas. In the 19th century, the Austrians turned the island into a fortress, while in the 20th century, it served a new purpose under the Italian military as a munitions factory. Later, during the 1980s and 1990s, it became a training ground for the Italian Lagunari (marines).

Today, the marina is transforming the remaining historic military buildings into a full-service facility with a boutique hotel within the Venice Lagoon. Access is by ferry, water taxi or private boat, including direct public water connections from and to Marco Polo International Airport (VCE).

The conference will take place in the reconditioned buildings and in outdoor exhibitor tents. The venue is different from most hotels and conference centers. While challenging for the hosts to convert previous military buildings, now work sheds, for a world gathering, the atmosphere and physical layout foster a more intimate and relaxed setting, with a combination of both indoor and outdoor opportunities to socialize, relax, learn and take it all in.

This year’s conference program will feature international experts discussing current challenges facing the industry, while celebrating innovation and exploring opportunities in the world of marinas. Words like sustainability, green energy, carbon footprints, global warming and climate adaptation are common in today’s discourse, but the ICOMIA IWMC is about turning those words into actionable results. Presenters have been encouraged to go beyond buzzwords and offer real-world, scalable solutions. The focus is not only on making marinas cleaner and more efficient but also more economically viable, practical and community inclusive.

Specific boat manufacturers will also be joining the conference, both as participants and exhibitors, regarding their approaches for integration with these ideas and goals, as well as how they are providing products that would be meaningful for marinas in their design and operation. Whether through electric propulsion systems, lightweight construction materials or energy-efficient marina gear, these players add depth and diversity to the discussion.

Addressing the Issues

The recreational boating and marina industries have weathered many storms – literally and figuratively. From COVID-19, global supply chain disruptions and increasing regulatory complexity to emerging issues like trade restrictions, economic uncertainties and changing demographics, adaptation has been crucial. And crucial to adaptation has been the sharing of ideas and the ingredients of what has worked, and what was not so effective.

The IWMC provides a global forum to share lessons learned, discover best practices and collaborate on collective strategies. It acknowledges that while each region may face unique challenges, the industry thrives when ideas and experiences are shared across borders.

The three-day event also includes a marina tour and gala dinner that will include the presentation of the ICOMIA Marinas Group’s 2025 Golden Cleat Awards, designed to honor individuals who have demonstrated a true commitment to the global marina community.

International collaboration is certainly unique to this conference. With more than 500 delegates expected, attendees will have opportunities to catch up with old friends, make new contacts, discuss issues and view new products as well as engage with marina operators, designers, suppliers, manufacturers, regulators and researchers from around the globe. These conversations often lead to lasting partnerships and new perspectives. The IWMC conferences present unique opportunities, as the numerous international backgrounds provide a melting pot of experiences. The wealth of information is abundant. and learning how others have dealt with different problems and their perspectives is extremely insightful.

The conference is supported by Assomarinas, the national Italian marina association, as well as numerous government agencies and international organizations.

Attending the IWMC is more than just a professional obligation. It’s a unique opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful cities in the world, engage with the brightest minds in the industry and contribute to shaping the future of marina and waterfront development.

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.