Inaugural Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2024 Programme
On 5 and 6 June 2024, Superyacht Times will host the first edition of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit. This two-day event will be held in Hong Kong at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel. The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit will be an important meeting place for key decision-makers from the different Asian regions, as well as global superyacht industry professionals. The programme will focus on the development of Asia as a superyacht cruising destination and how to get more Asian clients interested in the construction, purchase, and charter of yachts. There will be a total of around 25 speakers, including yacht owners, captains, managers, builders, designers, and agents.
Day One will start with a presentation from Ralph Dazert, Head of Intelligence at Superyacht Times, on the state of the Asia-Pacific superyacht market. K.C Lam from InvestHK will then welcome participants to Hong Kong, and give an overview of investment opportunities available in this financial hub.
A panel discussion on “Managing and Operating yachts in the Asia-Pacific’ will look at the superyacht sector from an operational perspective, and challenges faced by yachts cruising in the region. There will be an overview of the maintenance and refit of yachts already available in Asia, and a review of the infrastructure currently in situ, while also discussing topics such as insurance and training.
Confirmed speakers are: Yerin Hobson, CEO, Arrow Monaco; Andy Shorten, The Lighthouse Consultancy; Colin Dawson, Managing Director, The George Group and Technical Representative on behalf of Howden Insurance Brokers; Nigel Tang, Captain of the 53.4-metre Nonni II and Gordon Fernandes of Asia Pacific Superyachts
This panel discussion will followed by a Q&A session with Omi Tanchanok Vajarodaya, owner of the 31.45m Astondoa motor yacht For Your Eyes Only.
The Asia-Pacific region has a huge amount to offer charter clients, with the islands of Thailand and Indonesia, the waters of the Maldives, Seychelles and beyond, yet it is not one of the most heavily frequented regions for superyachts. The next panel discussion covers the potential of the region, and will discuss ways to encourage more owners to bring their yachts to Asia. Confirmed Speakers include: David Good, CEO, Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX); Lies Sol of Northrop & Johnson; Eric Noyel of Fraser Asia; and Julien Solari, Asia Chief Commercial Officer, Camper & Nicholsons
After a networking lunch Issam Kazim from Dubai Economy and Tourism will talk about how Dubai became a hub for HNWIs and their superyachts. Followed by a panel discussion with local experts looking at ‘selling superyachts in Asia’, the current state of the market, how it has developed over the past decade, along with the potential of the region and its individual countries, the owners and what needs to change – among other topics. Confirmed speakers are: James Clayton, Sales Director, Simpson Superyachts; Mark Woodmansey, Head of Brokerage (Asia) at Burgess; Carmen Lau Stratton, Senior Advisor, Camper & Nicholsons
Day One of the Summit concludes with a Gala Networking Dinner to be held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
Day two of the Summit launches with ‘The Business of Marinas’ and how to build a successful marina in Asia, from leveraging regional market trends to embracing sustainable practices, while dissecting the blueprint for a prosperous marina venture. Confirmed speakers: Jonathan Sit of ONE°15 Marina and Ekrem Reyancioglu of Poralu Marine.
With shipyards fixing their sights on the Asian market, is it necessary for superyacht designs to be tailored specifically to buyers from this region? The topic will cover the design requests made by Asian or Asia-based clients, the rising popularity of certain models in the region, the cruising trends of clients within the region, and the differences between the various countries within the region from a design perspective. Confirmed speakers are: Giorgio Cassetta, Founder of Cassetta Yacht Designers; Gabriele Stella, Head of Sales, Sanlorenzo,; Federico Rossi of Rossinavi; and Burak Akgül of Turquoise Yachts
Yann Martinie de Maisonneuve, Co-Founder & Director of Pacific High Cruises, will talk about ‘Creating a Charter Market in Indonesia with Phinisi yachts’ and explore the potential of Indonesia's charter market and how to navigate regulatory challenges, tap into local demand, and create unforgettable experiences for travellers amidst Indonesia's stunning archipelago.
The following session looks at ‘The future of yacht construction in Asia’, with shipyards such as Cheoy Lee, Silver Yachts, Ocean Alexander and Horizon Group already producing superyachts in the region. The session will look at the wider state of the Asian yacht building market, and the panel will evaluate the challenges currently faced by builders within the region, looking into topics such as the labour market, supply chain and local demand. Confirmed Speakers: Rod Davis, Chief Operating Officer, Silver Yachts, and Glenn Armstrong, Maritime Cook Islands.
Nick Davies, Managing Director at Cookson Adventures, participates in a Q & A session on ‘Travelling off the beaten track’ and this is followed by the keynote interview with Rose Damen, Managing Director of Damen Yachting, looking at the value of the Asia-Pacific region, the yard's strategy over the coming years, and the changing landscape of the superyacht construction sector. Closing comments by Superyacht Times will bring the Summit to its conclusion.
Many thanks go to the Sponsors of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit which is held under the Patronage of Simpson Superyachts; the Event Partner, Damen Yachting; Platinum Sponsors, Camper & Nicholsons International and InvestHK; Gold Sponsors: Gulf Craft, Oceanco, and Maritime Cook Islands; Silver Sponsors: The Lighthouse Consultancy, Silver Yachts, Tai Ping, YachtEye, PNB Paribas, Voyager, and Lodestone Yachts, and Supporting Partner: Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association.