Inside the ISS Cocktails Reception at METSTRADE 2025

Amid the energy of METSTRADE 2025, the International Superyacht Society (ISS) brought together a cross-section of the global superyacht community for an afternoon of informal networking and industry dialogue on 19 November. Returning to the much-loved Café Amsterdam, the reception served as a reminder of the Society’s role as a connector in an industry built on relationships as much as technology and craftsmanship.

The intimate space encouraged open conversation between shipbuilders, designers, brokers, suppliers, crew, and service providers who might otherwise only cross paths briefly on the METSTRADE floor. With tickets capped and RSVP-only access, the event maintained a curated feel that many attendees described as a welcome contrast to the scale of the show.

A crossroads for industry themes

While informal in tone, the reception echoed some of the major talking points circulating through METSTRADE this year, including decarbonisation pathways, supply-chain pressures, workforce development, and shifting owner profiles.

One notable attendee was Australian Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year, Mackenzie Janes of Onboard Engineering, who joined the ISS reception as part of his growing engagement with the international sector. His presence underscored a theme gaining momentum across METSTRADE: the critical need to attract and invest in the next generation of technical talent.

For ISS, which has long positioned professional development and recognition as pillars of its mission, the reception served as a tangible expression of that commitment, placing future leaders shoulder-to-shoulder with established figures in the field.

Strengthening the industry’s social fabric

In our sector - often driven by project timelines, global travel, and tight confidentiality - networking remains one of the few opportunities for professionals to build trust face-to-face. Attendees frequently remarked that deals may be signed elsewhere, but the relationships that lead to them often begin in rooms like this.

The return of the ISS reception to METSTRADE highlighted the continued appetite for spaces where conversation takes precedence over competition to bring the industry together, recognise excellence, and nurture the community that supports it.

 

Rebecca Gabbi

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