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Informa is a giant when it comes to boat shows

Informa Exhibitions, the producer of several major South Florida boat shows, including the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, wanted to be closer to the center of the action, hence its recent move to a new 7,700-square-foot location at 1650 SE 17th St., in Fort Lauderdale.

“The heartbeat of the boating business in Fort Lauderdale is just steps away,” says Andrew Doole, vice president and general manager of Informa Exhibitions. “So many of our customers are based on 17th Street. It’ll be easier for them to come visit us. We’re also just steps away from the convention center.”

The new southeastern U.S. base is one of Informa’s 20 locations worldwide. It can house about 40 employees. Informa also owns a 10-acre storage facility in northwest Fort Lauderdale, where it houses docks and equipment for its local shows.

Doole says Informa is looking at growth opportunities. “We’re always looking to expand,” he says. “With the backing of Informa, we have the ability to do it. We can do different trade shows.”

In addition to the Fort Lauderdale show, Informa also produces the Miami Yacht Show, the Palm Beach International Boat Show, the St. Petersburg Boat Show and the Suncoast Boat Show in Sarasota.

Informa Exhibitions, a London-based corporation, produces more than 200 trade and consumer shows each year. Fort Lauderdale’s is the world’s largest in-water boat show, the flagship event for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the show.

Local business leaders and those involved with the marine industry give the move rave reviews. Danielle Butler, owner and managing partner of Luxury Law Group, and past chairwoman of the board of directors of the marine industries association, says, “It was a fantastic move on their part. Being on 17th Street, they’re right in the middle of the community they serve, the marine industry. They’re surrounded by their clients.”

Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, says, “Informa is an outstanding company and we’re happy they chose greater Fort Lauderdale for their southeastern U.S. operations. Any time a company with the international stature of Informa chooses to locate here, we see it as very positive for our community.” ♦

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.