Global exhibitions organizer Informa Markets has expanded its luxury lifestyle portfolio in South Florida with the recent launch of South Florida Ventures, a regionally-focused market serving luxury industries including art, beauty, boating and yachting. The Feb. 23 announcement follows Informa’s management agreement with the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association to expand its boating and yachting portfolio in Florida.

The launch signifies the integration of the array of luxury lifestyle brands based out of Informa’s Fort Lauderdale and newly opened Miami offices, under a single leadership structure and with unified talent, processes and goals.

South Florida Ventures will be spearheaded by three industry veterans, including Ken McAvoy, Informa’s executive vice president of corporate development for the North America region, taking the helm as president. Randy Field, who most recently served as portfolio group vice president for Reed Exhibitions, will serve as vice president of marketing, while Robert Correa, who has spent almost a decade working on Informa’s U.S. boating and yachting shows, assumes the role of senior vice president of operations.

“I am thrilled to formally launch the South Florida Ventures portfolio, a group of impressive shows we have been developing over the past several years,” McAvoy said. “We have acquired and grown some of the most exceptional events in the region, and now we have the opportunity to effectively integrate our talented teams to better serve our customers and work together toward common goals.”

Informa has been solidifying its presence in the South Florida region over the past several years by building a portfolio of events that attract international audiences while bringing significant economic value to the region.

According to a recent Informa Markets economic impact study, the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show generated $1.3 billion in economic impact in 2019, upwards of $800 million more than it had prior to Informa’s acquisition of the show four years prior. Combined with the Miami International Boat Show and the Miami Yacht Show, the company’s boating and yachting portfolios are estimated to generate more than $2.64 billion for the region.

“Over the years, Informa has proven to be ahead of the curve at every step, and expansion in this region and in these resilient sectors is evidence of that,” Field said. “I am excited to join Informa Markets on this journey to continue to grow, develop and evolve a multi-faceted portfolio of luxury events in arguably the fastest-growing market in the country.”

The evolution of Informa Markets’ South Florida show portfolio has been swift, with a bevy of acquisitions in recent years.

In 2015, the company acquired Yachting Promotions Inc., co-owners and operators of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show; St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show; Suncoast Boat Show; Miami Yacht Show and Superyacht Miami.

In 2019, Informa acquired Art Miami Fair Group, which runs Art Miami, Art Wynwood, CONTEXT and Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary.

This year, Informa entered into a management agreement with the NMMA to run the Miami International Boat Show and the Tampa Boat Show, with NMMA colleagues joining the team.

Currently, the group is actively working on an expansion into the beauty market, set to launch in 2022.

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