BTS 2015 = total bust?

[Wookie]

A lot of it depends on what you expect out of a trade show. I expect to be able to socialize with my customers, dive shops, and other captains. That was great when BTS had the tech party and the rebreather world party, but those are gone, so I get to do that on the show floor. It allows folks to ask questions of their charter face to face ( can we spearfish, can I bring my service dog?) that they don't want to ask on the internet. It allows you to touch a JJ, Meg15, Evolution, Optima, or rEvo all in the same place, without traveling to Fort Lauderdale, it allows you to see all of the NE wreck boats in the same place, and it lets you put a name to a face at your training agency you've only spoken to on the phone.

if those things and others have no value to you, then, indeed, a trade show is a waste of your time.

 

[tridacna]

Regarding internet, most folks who travel do not find their trips on the internet. Most wander into their shop/club and see where they are going. RJP showed me the numbers on this, and I believe him. They want to know where they are going with their shop, then get online to research the destination. They want to touchiest feelie the boat, which is why Frank from WWDS, Wayne Hasson, and I were there.

Respectfully disagree. Most of the customers I see (at least 90%) do their research online and pick a place that way. Not sure how RJP got his data but mine is first-hand from the customers directly; Few of them have even heard of BTS.

I would imagine that anyone researching Wayne's operation on the Net or SB especially may not have a positive experience.

 

[Wookie]

Respectfully disagree. Most of the customers I see (at least 90%) do their research online and pick a place that way. Not sure how RJP got his data but mine is first-hand from the customers directly; Few of them have even heard of BTS.

I would imagine that anyone researching Wayne's operation on the Net or SB especially may not have a positive experience.

He mostly asked ScubaBoard readers. I book both direct as well as dive shops. Well over 70% travel with their dive shop.

 

[kwinter]

I expect to be able to socialize with my customers, dive shops, and other captains. That was great when BTS had the tech party and the rebreather world party, but those are gone, so I get to do that on the show floor.

There's still a tech party, Frank. Friday night at the La Quinta. I don't remember seeing you there. But it was good to see you at the show. And peeing with you right before I left yesterday.

 

[ErikNYC]

I had a good time at BTS, although I was a volunteer. I wouldn't call BTS a bust. The seminars were good, and the film festival had a great turnout. Trade shows has always been a favorite thing to do, and I'm an online junkie (some will say).

 

[tridacna]

He mostly asked ScubaBoard readers. I book both direct as well as dive shops. Well over 70% travel with their dive shop.

I work in a dive shop. I talk to my customers and I wish what you said was true. I stick by my numbers-big time. (SB readers just 'may' be a skewed sample LOL. That 70% number is utter malarkey). 'Maybe' up to10% of our customers travel with us and we do 3-5 trips a year.

Let me be clear. Of all the customers that either buy stuff from us or are trained by us, perhaps 10% join us on trips-the rest do it another way. Of YOUR customers, I'm sure that you're correct-they book with your shop. But that's a totally different subset of customers.

Hey let's talk. I'd love to bring some down on your boat. I'll PM you. I stopped by your booth but you were cruising elsewhere.

 

[Doppler]

He mostly asked ScubaBoard readers. I book both direct as well as dive shops. Well over 70% travel with their dive shop.

Frank... and others... the most current data I have from active divers (more than 40 dives a year was our definition), is that a little more than 10 percent book dive tourism through a shop... slightly more than 41 percent travel with a buddy or buddies and make their own arrangements, and 19.66 travel alone and make their own arrangements... we did not ask whether onLine or through a certified travel agent/out-bound/in-bound operator.

Strong preference for live-aboards by the way.


Data are somewhat skewed to North America but decent sprinkling of European and Asian participants.

---------- Post added March 30th, 2015 at 04:45 PM ----------

And I thought BTS was fine... attendance on the exhibit floor was down, but that's only part of the reason people visit shows these days. (Got data on that too, but it's older than the stuff mentioned above.)

 

[tangfish]

It seems like all the dive shows in the US are on a downhill slide (every year seems a little shabbier than the last). The shows in Asia are the complete opposite. They seem to grow from year to year and the average age of attendees is quite young, showing a lot of future promise.

 

[Craig66]

First off, I was extremely disappointed by the low attendance, until Howard pointed out that it was Palm Sunday. Things become clearer then. Yes, Friday and Saturday were excellent.

Regarding internet, most folks who travel do not find their trips on the internet. Most wander into their shop/club and see where they are going. RJP showed me the numbers on this, and I believe him. They want to know where they are going with their shop, then get online to research the destination. They want to touchiest feelie the boat, which is why Frank from WWDS, Wayne Hasson, and I were there.

I realize that my experience is anecdotal at best but between myself and 4 other dive buddies not one of us have ever arranged a trip in any other way other than doing research on the internet and the forums and have had immeasurable success.

Point in fact is Cozumel. Looking at any of the Cozumel vendors at BTS would most likely leave you with an overpaid cattle boat experience. The vendors that have proven the most successful in Cozumel as far as value for money and great dive experience are not represented at BTS.

As far as Wayne is concerned I did in fact see him there representing the company that represents the owners of the dive boats that bear no responsibility for anything that goes on in any boat especially when it has something to do with something that could potentially have anything to do with anything other than taking your money, shifting responsibility and passing the buck - thats one table I would have avoided even if they were handing out free dive weeks.

Nonethelss for me BTS represents the start of the summer dive season and the cheapest way for me to get my early spring dive fix !!!!

 

[Wookie]

Frank... and others... the most current data I have from active divers (more than 40 dives a year was our definition), is that a little more than 10 percent book dive tourism through a shop... slightly more than 41 percent travel with a buddy or buddies and make their own arrangements, and 19.66 travel alone and make their own arrangements... we did not ask whether onLine or through a certified travel agent/out-bound/in-bound operator.

Strong preference for live-aboards by the way.


Data are somewhat skewed to North America but decent sprinkling of European and Asian participants.

---------- Post added March 30th, 2015 at 04:45 PM ----------

And I thought BTS was fine... attendance on the exhibit floor was down, but that's only part of the reason people visit shows these days. (Got data on that too, but it's older than the stuff mentioned above.)

See, now we're asking 2 different questions. If we're asking "what percentage of a dive shop's customers travel with their shop?", I would completely buy the 10% number. If we ask "what percentage of a destinations customers book group travel with their shop?", I'd bet my numbers are closer.

It seems like all the dive shows in the US are on a downhill slide (every year seems a little shabbier than the last). The shows in Asia are the complete opposite. They seem to grow from year to year and the average age of attendees is quite young, showing a lot of future promise.

Dive shows used to be fun. I alluded to the rebreatherworld party and the Tech Party earlier. Yes, BTS had a tech party (which used to be sponsored by TDI, which meant that they bought the first beer, sandwiches, and the hotel venue) right next to the show venue. Walking distance. Get real drunk and stumble to my hotel room. Now, it's in a hotel that I have to take a shuttle to. That requires logistics, and I do logistics for a living, not for a party. The RBW party was at Cheesburger in Paradise. It was informal, and Curt brought a bunch of t-shirts, but it was BYOB and hamburgers. There was always a fight and whoever wasn't there got gossiped about. Seaspace had the Casino night. Seaspace had try-diving in the hotel pool.

One thing I noticed on Saturday morning is that I didn't see anyone younger than 40 before noon except for the Boy Scouts.