Brewer said sending 18 people to the Cup was too many, but Ateed had "secured some worthwhile international connections".
No reports were available on the boat show, which ran from September 24-27.
"[We've] only some promise that they're in vague discussions with a few superyachts' owners hoping to convince them to visit Auckland," Brewer said.
Ateed chief executive Brett O'Riley said the spending was necessary if the council-controlled organisation was to achieve what it was set up for.
"We're not going to hit those targets by sitting in Auckland."
Reports on the boat show will be presented to Auckland Council in March, but Ateed said superyacht brokers indicated three to five vessels would visit the city this summer. Each visit was worth at least $1.7 million.
Council watchdog David Thornton, of No More Rates, criticised the boat-show bill, describing the $23,390 spent on business and premium economy class airfares for the pair as unnecessary.
Business class seats are usually for executives who have to hit the ground running, but the Dubai meeting occurred at least six hours after their dawn arrival and the Monaco event involved manning a booth and hosting functions.
"I really struggle with the way Ateed goes about its business because most of their funding comes from rates," Thornton said.
O'Riley said the upgrades were fair. Business class seats were booked on some flights because premium economy was not available.
Ateed's travel policy was "conservative" compared to the Government, where flights over eight hours were upgraded, he said.
Of the 18 people who travelled to the America's Cup, five flew premium economy when economy seats sold out.
The 18 were in San Francisco at different periods between July 4 and October 1, with two usually in the city at the same time.
That number swelled to six when the Auckland Event, for which Barry was MC, took place.
