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Haute Miami: The First Ultra-Luxe Fair of Its Kind

Luxury Exposition: Whether it is the climate, the beaches, the nightlife, or simply the overall festive atmosphere, there really is no better place to be in January than Miami Beach. It has an idyllic, exotic ambiance that prompts the jet set crowd to flock-or charter-toward this magical East Coast Xanadu year after year. The upcoming premiere of Haute Miami has the luxury industry abuzz with what many insiders feel could become the next high society "it" event.

Expoship's Haute Miami, a super-sized land-and sea-based European-style luxury exposition, is the first uber-luxe fair of its kind to occur in the U.S. It is a grand scale dual-site luxury fair being held aboard the SeaFair and at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The SeaFair will be docked on Millionaire's Row. So, without even factoring in the high-end products and special services to be displayed by 188 of the most prominent luxury brands worldwide, the privileged attendees will get to board the fourth largest private yacht in the world. Twenty-eight exhibitors will have space on the $40-million custom-built vessel, while the MBCC will feature 160 exhibitors, including a fashion theater. The majority of the event's special programs and shows will take place aboard the SeaFair. Haute Miami will run from January 8 - 11, 2009 and is expected to attract more than 20,000 attendees.

Being a European-style fair, Haute Miami is going to be more formal than most U.S.-based conferences. It will feature a cosmopolitan ambiance with lavish exhibits for private aircrafts and yachts, Eco-luxury firms, collectible art, fine wines, high-end electronics, lifestyle management and Eco-Luxe. Many of the exclusive products will stem from international merchants that currently do not distribute their goods in the U.S. In addition to the exhibits, fashion shows, dinner parties, galas, charity events, soirées, special-tasting gatherings, and several surprising red-carpet events are on the show's docket.

According to Expoship's CEO Rick Jacobs, the economic climate of Southern Florida was key in the firm selecting Miami Beach. "Twenty-five percent of the world's wealth is in Florida during the winter season. Miami Beach is an island that receives a huge influx of Europeans, especially during the winter season."

Mr. Jacobs also conveyed that a local-shopping mall reported that last winter one out of every two purchases using a credit card were made by cardholders with international addresses. Next to NYC, Miami has the second largest banking and financial community in the U.S.; it has the largest banking community south of New York. Southern Florida is also home to some of the richest communities in the world, such as La Gorce Island, Millionaire's Row, Fisher Island, Palm Island, Star Island, Naples, Palm Beach, Marco Island, Williams Island, and Coral Gables. According to a report by UBS, Miami is ranked as the fourth richest city in the country.

Hush ... Hush... Hush?

While many conventions and fairs in the United States display a "sell-sell-sell" posture when promoting an event, a European-style fair is usually hushed on specific details to further heighten the entertainment value of the event. After all, everyone loves a good mystery. However, there are no mysteries behind the success of the organizers of Haute Miami, David and Lee Ann Lester. The dynamic duo has organized more than 45 international expositions worldwide, bringing numerous European-style fair formats to the U.S. and abroad. They are also the organizers of the only 5 star art & antique fair in North America. Their monumental gatherings for the affluent have attracted more than one million attendees.

Visit www.ExpoShips.com or www.Haute-Miami.com for more information.

For LxM James Rothaar