IBEX Blog

Pay less.

Anne Dunbar — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:58:05 +0000

If you are on a tight budget, save a few dollars, and register for the IBEX Seminar Series, and the two new IBEX Special Sessions before Friday, August 20th, the final day for the discount rates. If you pre-register before August 20th, you receive up to $100 off a full-conference program, or $15. off individual conference sessions. If you miss this date, you can still register for seminars, but at normal rates. Click HERE to register NOW! Please remember, it’s FREE to walk the exhibit halls, as long as you are a qualified marine industry professional.

Let’s Celebrate

Anne Dunbar — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:38:02 +0000

IBEX is having an Opening Night Party in the streets of downtown Louisville, and the entire marine industry is invited. We have good reasons to celebrate. Phones are ringing and booths are selling at IBEX. We already have more than 60 NEW, never-been-to-IBEX-before exhibitors, with more signing on each day. This is especially good news because last year last at this time no phones were ringing. It was silent. Last year was challenging for all of us in the boating industry, but this year there seems to be a steady return of business. Booth sales and new exhibitors at IBEX are a strong indication that our industry is on the rebound which is a damned good reason to celebrate. That’s why we are having a party, and YOU are invited! After the close of the first day of IBEX, Tuesday, September 28, 2010, plan to head downtown to Fourth Street LIVE, Louisville’s premier entertainment and retail district located in the heart of historic downtown Louisville, KY. Fourth Street is just a short walk from most of the downtown hotels on the IBEX list. Bring along your colleagues and customers, enjoy a casual marine industry gathering, and have dinner at one of the many restaurants on Fourth Street. Drink and dinner specials are being offered if you wear your IBEX 2010 exhibit hall badge. Outdoor live music by The Louisville Crashers begins at 6:30 p.m. Please join us, and thousands of your fellow marine industry friends, and associates at IBEX, and let’s keep the momentum going.

You Have Friends In Louisville

Anne Dunbar — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:34:21 +0000

One of the best perks about moving IBEX to Louisville is working with the capable staff at the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) They are OUR new BF’s in Louisville, and like a good friend, they are happy to advise you on where to eat, where to stay, advise & assist with party planning, and suggest area attractions, and other visitor information. No matter what it is, the staff at the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau is ready to help you make the most of the endless possibilities in Louisville. Simply e-mail ibex@gotolouisville.com or call 1-800-743-3100 or 502-561-3100 for personal assistance.

You can even become a Friend of Lou before you arrive. Sign up at www.friendoflou.com for Louisville updates. Check your e-mails for special Lou-Tips and Lou-Trivia to help you become more acquainted with Louisville!

Louisville is a new experience for ALL of us, and it’s good to know we have friends on the inside. If you are familiar with Louisville, please share your favorite restaurants, bars, or whatever with the rest of us by offer a comment. Thanks. Anne D.

Where to stay in Louisville, KY

Anne Dunbar — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:22:45 +0000

The New Official IBEX 2010 Hotel Service is onPeak.
To assist you with our transition to Louisville, Kentucky, we have contracted “onPeak” as the NEW official IBEX 2010 Hotel Reservation Service. Using “onPeak” you have an excellent selection of name brand hotels at a wide variety of room rates. Book your room now to get the best selection.

You have two location options when considering your IBEX stay in Louisville.

OPTION 1 - Stay in downtown Louisville.
-10-15 minute drive (or cab ride) to Kentucky Expo Center.
-KEC offers plenty of convenient parking on-site for only $6.00 per day.
-Shuttle service from downtown hotels available all three show days. (No shuttle service during move-in/out.)
-Easy walk to downtown attractions, a wide variety of restaurants, and plenty of nighttime activities, especially Fourth Street LIVE.

OPTION 2 – Stay out by the Kentucky Expo Center & airport
-Walk to the show, or grab quick hotel shuttle to the Kentucky Expo Center, or airport.
- All name brand hotels, many of them new, or completely renovated.

Which hotel?
The IBEX 2010 downtown co-headquarters hotel is the Hyatt Regency Louisville. You can’t go wrong with a Hyatt, Hilton or Marriott. Another option is The Galt House, a large local hotel that was recently renovated. The Galt House “Suite” level is an excellent choice if you are planning to have small meetings, or use your room for entertaining. The Galt House also has a spectacular gym.
The Brown is a “grand” historic Four Diamond, AAA hotel in downtown Louisville. Stunning English Renaissance architecture, and an opulent two-story lobby has a hand-painted, coffered ceiling, Bottocino marble flooring, finely carved mahogany furnishings and Palladian-style windows. If you want old world elegance, and an exceptional atmosphere when having a nightcap in the lobby bar, this is where you should stay. The rooms are lovely and available at at reasonable rate.

The airport/convention center co-headquarters hotel is the Crowne Plaza which is conveniently located across the street from the Kentucky Exposition Center. All of the hotels near the convention center are name brands, and many are recently built.

Click HERE to go directly to the IBEX 2010 hotel information page.

If you are familiar with Louisville, please comment on this blog for others who are first timers. Thanks! Anne Dunbar, IBEX Marketing

Survey Says!

Anne Dunbar — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:59:23 +0000

I might be dating myself here, but what was the name of the TV game show that the host would shout, “ Survey says!?” I’ve been stealing his line lately. We recently sent out via email an extremely comprehensive IBEX and MAAT survey. Pretty much anyone that attended IBEX, or MAATS, in the past few years was sent the survey. PLEASE take the time to complete it. We value your opinion and will use the information gathered to make sure IBEX continues to be valuable to you. If you are not a survey taker type of person, feel free to post all your thoughts here. We are listening. Oh, and if you can remember the name of that game show, let me know.

IBEX 2010 Booth Selection Has Begun!

Anne Dunbar — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:27:12 +0000

Yes, Tina and I have started to assign booths for IBEX 2010. If you are a 2009 exhibitor who has NOT sent in a 2010 contract then Uh OH! The process is the same as always. Tina and I contact each exhibitor based on earned show points combined with NMMA member points. Everyone has to wait his or her turn. The process is slow going, but worth the effort because each exhibitor is allowed to select their own booth location. This is the perfect method because if an exhibitor picks their own location then two things happen.
1) The exhibitor is in control, and has selected a location that makes them happy.
2) We eliminate any complaints on-site about booth location.
There is nothing worse than an exhibitor who is unhappy with their booth location. Trust me, I know. I’ve been one! Our booth location at METS (our second favorite marine trade show) totally sucked this year! Our friends at METS stuck all the magazines in the new Elysium area, and didn’t think about traffic flow therefore, we had ZERO traffic. During METS we normally give away hundreds of Professional BoatBuilder magazines, but not this year. We had BOXES left all over, all because of this horrid location. We are hopeful that our friends at The RAI will correct this situation. So, be thankful YOU get to pick your location! It’s a nice privilege.

IBEX Future Planning

Anne Dunbar — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:39:24 +0000

We just returned from another enjoyable trip to Louisville, Kentucky. My flight was only $200. on Southwest airlines. The shorter travel time to and from KY is wonderful. It took twice as long, and cost twice as much for me to get to Miami. Each time I visit Louisville, I like it more, and I am confident you will, too. This visit was for the annual meeting of the IBEX Planning Committee. The committee is made up of exhibitors and boat builders. This year we included the Maats Planning Committee as the shows will now be held at the same time. We had great discussions and many ideas were shared on how to make IBEX and Maats the best possible value and experience for everyone. If YOU have any thought on how to improve your IBEX or Maats experience, please post a comment here, and let us know. If you are going to complain about moving IBEX to Louisville, I suggest you wait until after IBEX 2010. You can’t knock it until you’ve tried it, and I am pretty confident you are going to like it. Anne D.

A Quick Trip To Louisville

Anne Dunbar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:04:34 +0000

We just returned from a quick planning trip to Louisville, Kentucky. Tina and I went down to see the Kentucky Expo Center during the RVIA show to observe how they used the exhibit space, and to gather some ideas for IBEX 2010, etc. RVIA looked good, and seemed fairly lively which certainly is a positive indicator for the marine industry. While in Lousiville, we enjoyed two great dinners. One night we ate at “Rivue” located on the top floor of The Galt House, a large hotel located in the middle of downtown. The restaurant has amazing panoramic views of the city. This is an excellent space for a private party. The Galt House is HUGE, and recently enjoyed a $60 million renovation. It has everything, including five more restaurants, large rooms, and an amazing gym. Tina and I give The Galt House a big thumbs up. The second night we ate at Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge downtown on Fourth Street, the local party area. This restaurant is one of nine “celebrated bourbon restaurants and bars” on the famous Louisville “Urban Bourbon Trail.” I was brave and sampled the bourbon. Tina stayed with her pink drinks. It was Tina’s first trip to Louisville, and she was impressed. Next time you talk to her, ask her about it. We both agreed it seemed pretty lively for a Tuesday night in December. Once we get to know our way around Louisville, I think we all will be pretty happy there. Do you have a favorite restaurant or hotel in Lousiville? Let us know.

For those of you who still don’t understand WHY we selected Louisville, Kentucky as our future site, please CLICK HERE and review the pdf.

Quality vs. quantity

Anne Dunbar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:15:06 +0000

I talked to more boat builders than ever before at IBEX 2009, and I wasn’t even trying. Presidents, purchasing agents, engineers, they were all there. I ran into them in the aisles, and I met them while visiting exhibits. The exhibit halls were humming, and business was happening. One exhibitor described it best. “Everyone who matters is here.” Lots of talk about moving IBEX to Louisville. Lots. Most of it positive, but there are naysayers. Anyone located in South Florida, or those who enjoyed the all expense paid annual trip to South Beach, are not happy. See comments on the earlier blog for some real insight, and feel free to share your thoughts. After spending a week living down there, I feel our decision to move IBEX out of Miami is just in time. The atmosphere continues to decline as costs increase. No murder in front of a show hotel this year, but one exhibitor was burglarized in his hotel room while he was asleep, another had a car stolen, and my associate ordered a Myers rum & orange juice and it cost $18.50. How was your IBEX experience? Let us know.

Why Louisville, Kentucky?

Anne Dunbar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:45:33 +0000

I was asking myself that question as I boarded a flight to Louisville, Kentucky, back in April. Louisville was the third city we were visiting out of four cities that made the final list as prospective IBEX sites. The entire IBEX site selection travel team was skeptical before we even arrived, but our minds got changed, and quickly. ( Don’t blame the bourbon.) Louisville is a great little city. It’s perfect for IBEX. The convention center is fantastic, the hotels are all name brands, and the people are friendly! It’s a central location, and everyone will enjoy lower costs on just about everything. Did I mention there are tons of great restaurants? The slogan of the city is “Louisville…It’s Possible Here.” On our way out of town, we were all stunned at what we had seen and experienced. It really is possible here. Please share your thoughts on Louisville with us.