FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (October 29, 2025) - The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Broward County’s official public-private partnership for economic development, together with the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), hosted the 12th Annual Global Business Luncheon on opening day of the 66th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) -- the largest in-water boat show in the world, taking place Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.  

Held on board MIASF’s hospitality yacht, the exclusive invitation-only business luncheon brought together more than 100 top executives for a premier networking experience, and featured a special presentation by Chris Kanaley, CEO and Jonathan Lim, advisor, of MarineSource, a new online marketplace and digital hub for the marine industry, who discussed the role of AI technology tools in simplifying and streamlining the process of searching and purchasing boats.

The Global Business Luncheon took place immediately following FLIBS’ opening day ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, where Informa Markets, the nation’s premier producer of world-class boating events, announced MarineSource as the exclusive online marketplace partner for U.S. Boat Shows by Informa.

The exclusive partnership, which officially launches at FLIBS, will enhance the digital reach and visibility of boat show exhibitors by integrating MarineSource’s advanced listing technology and marketing tools into the U.S. Boat Shows ecosystem. Attendees and buyers will benefit from seamless online access to exhibitor live inventories before, during, and after each event, bridging the gap between the physical and digital boat-buying experience.

Owned by MIASF and produced by Informa Markets, the annual 5-day Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the largest in-water boat show in the world, spanning nearly 90 acres across 3 million square feet of exhibit space connected by an intricate network of water and ground transportation services.  Located steps from the beach in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FLIBS attracts 100,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibitors, and 1,300 vessels from 52 countries across the globe each year, contributing $1.79 billion to Florida’s overall economy each year - an economic impact three times greater than the Super Bowl. 

During the luncheon, MarineSource also announced a new partnership with Nautical Network, a maritime marketing agency based in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa that specializes in social-first, digital solutions including the use of influencer marketing.

“Our strategic collaborations with Informa and key marine industry leaders such as BoatTest and Nautical Network will expand access for the businesses that power FLIBS, and boat shows globally, through a year-round digital platform,” said Chris Kanaley, MarineSource CEO and cofounder.

“We couldn’t think of a better place to launch than the world’s yachting capital - during the world’s biggest in-water boat show, where we have the opportunity to reach and transform the boat purchasing experience of thousands of buyers and sellers,” said Jonathan Lim, MarineSource advisor.

"The integration of innovative technology and healthy competition offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen the marine industry, reducing costs, improving efficiency and unlocking new pathways for growth,” said Phil Purcell, CEO and president of MIASF. “It's progress we proudly champion."

“Given Fort Lauderdale’s leadership in tech innovation and status as the global marine industry capital, there’s no better place for a company like MarineSource to launch and make a real splash,” said Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. “The MarineSource platform, through their collaboration with Informa,