HOSPITALITY
Floating hubs host conferences at sea
Floating Economy water venues add meeting space without using scarce city land.
Korea’s Floating Island Convention Center. Image by FloatingIsland.co.kr
Cities want more event space near downtown. Floating hubs deliver rooms, AV, and services on water. These venues offer unique views, fast setup, and easy links to shore.
Seoul’s Floating Island Convention Center. Sebitseom on the Han River is Korea’s only over-water convention site. It offers a 500-seat dome, large projection, and full AV for global events.
Rotterdam’s Floating Pavilion shows reuse. The 1,100 m² tri-dome pavilion served Rijnhaven for years as an expo hub. It was moved to RDM Dockyard and continues to host events and education.
Historic ships as full conference venues. New York’s Intrepid rents hangars and the flight deck with modern AV and catering. London’s HMS Belfast offers seven spaces for meetings and receptions on the Thames.
Cruise ship turned expo center in Jeddah. In May 2025, AROYA Cruises hosted the International Floating Franchise Exhibition aboard its ship. Organizers used theaters, ballrooms, and cabins for a full business expo.
That’s not all: cities are studying modular pontoons that expand for big shows, then tow away. Expect more floating hubs in busy waterfronts, giving events room to grow on water.
TFI
The Floating Institute is all about advancing knowledge of the global floating economy.