5 Tips to Set Up a Thriving Sailing Charter Business

With the rapid popularization of charter sailing and yachting across the world and especially in those little pieces of heaven on Earth like the Mediterranean, or the islands of Fiji and New Caledonia to name a few, owning a sailing charter business has become a lucrative prospect for many entrepreneurs. That said, every growing field invariably becomes a competitive one, and in order to succeed in the long term, you will have to do much more than to scale your offer to your audience personas. You will have to build a recognizable and trustworthy brand.

Aside from using digital marketing to build brand awareness and visibility in your industry, though, you also have to create a truly compelling offer that will attract the most affluent of travelers who will charter your yachts to go on extended adventures on the deep blue seas. Let’s explore the five key tips that will allow you to set up a thriving sailing charter business.

Set up a feature-rich website

First things first, always keep in mind that yachts and sail boats don’t sell sailing packages, marketing does. You can have the most amazing fleet this side of the Atlantic, but if you don’t have an amazing website or if you don’t leverage your small business analytics to make better marketing decisions, no one will ever know that you exist in this competitive industry. With that in mind, start by designing an amazing website with plenty of handy features, and most importantly, a unique brand identity.

Define a set of values that complement the values of your target demographics, and weave them into your website and its copy. Instead of selling charters, sell a story and sell the experience. Reel your customers in with storytelling but make them get in touch by providing various handy features such as secure online payments, 24/7 customer service, and a fast booking process.

Procure the necessary assets

Of course, you can’t have a sailing charter business with nothing to sail with, so the most important step is to procure sail boats and yachts. As you can imagine, this is a grand investment you’re about to commit to, so you have to ensure a high long-term ROI on all your assets. Your first consideration, though, should be the make and model of your boats. You can choose between various manufacturers and yacht models, ranging from small luxe yachts to full-scale party yachts for those affluent groups of travelers looking for an amazing time.

Your primary goal, however, should be to acquire assets as cheaply as possible so that you can minimize your initial investments. Sometimes, buying a pre-owned yacht and sprucing it up is better than buying a new one, because you will make significant savings on the price of the asset, taxes, and even maintenance. Be sure to scour the web for pre-owned boats before springing for new ones.

Offer luxurious yachting tours

Yachting is one of the most popular activities for up-scale travelers looking to experience the adventure of a lifetime. That is why your primary focus should be on luxurious yachting tours with crewed private boat charters that will provide customers with everything they need to spend their vacation in glamor and exclusivity. The modern traveler is looking for sailing companies that will take care of all the details, plan their voyage, activities, food, and entertainment, allowing them to enjoy their yachting experience in all its glory.

To that end, the luxe yachting market should be your primary concern, so make sure to assemble a crew for those up-scale customers, but have the option for a private yacht charter should they want to sail out on their own. This will help you attract top-quality customers to your new sailing business.

Partner up with restaurants and establishments on your route

The best yacht charter companies that get booked several seasons in advance are the ones that have an extensive network of partners all across the region. It is imperative that you partner up with the best restaurants, hotels, bars, and entertainment venues in every town along your sailing routes so that you can offer the best travel experiences to your customers when you make a stop. This way, people will know that they will get the best possible treatment by booking your services.

Expand your offer to sailing and diving lessons

And finally, chartering a boat or a yacht might be the primary reason why a customer is getting in touch with you, but they are much more likely to book your services if you offer a variety of complementary or supplementary activities. Be sure to offer certified diving and sailing lessons, take your passengers to underwater diving tours, and pack some boards and ropes so that the passengers can enjoy some exhilarating waterboarding when they’re feeling adventurous.

Wrapping up

Chartering a yacht or a sail boat has never been more popular, which is why now is a great time to start your own business and grab your slice of a growing industry. Use these tips to set up your sailing charter business, and become the most recognizable brand in your field.