The 2012 Boat and Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC has been cancelled, owing to what organiser Ocean Media says is a ‘lack of support from the caravan manufacturers and their dealers’.
It also sees the end of the short-lived Outdoor Leisure Show, which made its first appearance in a separate hall alongside the established Boat and Caravan Show in February this year.
The Boat and Caravan Show was scheduled to run from 21-26 February 2012, and had been a fixture in the event calendar of outdoor enthusiasts for 50 years. The February 2011 Boat & Caravan Show attracted a crowd of almost 87,000.
This is the latest development in the industry’s exhibition landscape, which has changed dramatically over the last 12 months.
The organisation of the annual October NEC show changed hands earlier this year. The National Caravan Council’s exhibition arm, NCC Events, launched an industry-backed show to be held at ExCeL in October 2011, then cancelled it when Clarion – the organiser of the annual International Caravan and Motorhome Show at Birmingham – agreed to step away from its NEC tenancy.
As a result, NCC Events ran October’s renamed ‘Motorhome and Caravan Show’ at the NEC, with great success, largely thanks to a significant reduction in ticket prices. The new-look show saw a 30 per cent increase in visitors over its six days compared with the previous October NEC show, and reports of strong sales from many exhibitors.
NCC Events also announced a new event – the Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show – at London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre from February 14-19, 2012, again with the full support of the industry’s leading manufacturers and dealers.
Those same caravan manufacturers and dealers have chosen not to showcase their products at back-to-back shows in London and Birmingham.
Ocean’s CEO Trevor Barratt said that “loyal exhibitors, including a number of caravan dealers, and the show’s many visitors will feel sorry that due to a lack of support from one element of the industry, the 2012 show has cancelled after more than 50 years”.
Without the 2012 Boat & Caravan event, the show line-up for early next year centres around regional shows in Manchester and London, and a national show in Scotland. They are:
Caravan and Motorhome Show 2012 Manchester
Date 19-22 January 2012
Venue EventCity
Web Manchester Show
They say: ‘The Caravan & Motorhome Show, the North’s favourite outdoor leisure show, has pitched up in a new home for 2012 – Manchester EventCity – and is going to be bigger and better than ever. Boasting 200 companies, all of the top brands and latest models plus free car parking, the show will be 50% bigger than last year.’
Scottish Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show
Date 2-5 February
Venue SECC, Glasgow
They say: ‘This fantastic one-stop shop will once again occupy all 5 halls within the SECC, providing the perfect place to see the latest Caravans, Motorhomes, Holiday Homes, Accessories, Marine Products, Camping Products, Industry Clubs, Associations and so much more.’
Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show
Date 14 -19 February 2012
Venue London ExCeL
Web Excel Show
They say: ‘Spring 2012 will see the launch of a new February Motorhome Caravan & Camping Show at London’s premiere exhibition venue, ExCeL London. The event will be the biggest motorhome, caravan and camping showcase to take place in London for over five years and aims to satisfy the needs of the thousands of campers, caravanners and motor caravanners living across the South/South East of the country and beyond!’