Planning has already begun for the 2022 edition of the USVI Charter Yacht Show.
This year’s event will be set at IGY Marinas’ Yacht Haven Grande in St Thomas from Nov. 12-15.
“Build. Learn. Shine. Certify. These are the keywords that spotlight what is new at the 2022 USVI Charter Yacht Show,” says Oriel Blake, VIPCA’s Executive Director. “Charter brokers repeatedly emphasize the importance of not only meeting new crew but building relationships with crew of existing 2023 bookings, so we added several new networking opportunities. We also are hosting breakfast seminars with professionals and government officials for learning the latest news in the industry and a seminar especially for new crew too. The best yacht and best crew in show awards, the cocktail and culinary competitions which this year feature an escalated panel of judges, give opportunities for crews to really shine. And finally, training by Seven Seas Preparatory for Captains and Crews offers valuable tricks of the trade and a new ‘Charter Yacht Professional Excellence’ certification.”
This year’s event will have some new concepts, most notably the mid-show evening “yacht hop,” with a competition between clearinghouses for teamed crew-hosted broker entertainment onboard select yachts.
“Attendance at the VIPCA show is important for brokers that book this segment of the market as it’s a crucial way to stay up to date,” said said German Liubitch, Founder and Sales Director at RitzyCharters, headquartered in Miami, FL. “It’s equally important for yachts to show. Meeting with crews in person, seeing the layout and upkeep, and any changes to a yachts program helps brokers to better book the vessel.”
The Yacht Haven Grande Marina, which is hosting the event, has become one of the hottest yachting spots in the wider Caribbean, with a surge in interest in the US Virgin Islands amid the pandemic.
Much of that growth began with the entry of The Moorings to St Thomas, a move which helped kickstart a broader charter yacht movement in the USVI, particularly when the neighboring British Virgin Islands wasn’t exactly making things easy for boaters.
“We are pleased to support VIPCA’s USVI Charter Yacht Show, the destination, and all events that help to create a robust economy for the territory,” said Bert Fowles, IGY’s Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “The U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the greatest yachting destinations in the world.”
For more, visit the USVI Charter Yacht Show.