The ICOMIA World Marinas Conference, which took place earlier this week (9-11 October 2023), came to a close with ICOMIA’s president, Darren Vaux, concluding that ‘technology is essential to improve the customer experience.’

Hosted by the Portuguese Association of Ports and Marinas (APPR) at the Tivoli Conference Centre in Vilamoura, Portugal , the three-day event was attended by over 350 delegates from the international marina community and featured speakers, meetings, discussions and forums related to best-practice in the marina world.

Speakers covered wide-ranging topics from culture, economy and marketing to specific business interest advice on things like financing, communications, regulations and taxation.

A key focus throughout was the technology available to make the operations of marinas more efficient, while at the same time providing a better customer experience. The concept of Smart Marinas was discussed, with the conclusion that although technology is a great enabler, it is no substitute for people providing exceptional customer experiences.

The second area of focus was on how innovations in technology and sustainability are helping to drive growth and preserve the industry, with Vaux stating that adaptability is a key facet as the industry moves into the future.

The next ICOMIA World Marinas Conference will be held in Venice in 2025.

Main image: ICOMIA World Marina Conference 2023 in session. Credit: Carlos Ribeiro

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