IYC is thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement. Already the largest charter fleet in the world, today, it proudly unveils a new milestone that signifies the culmination of dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment: IYC’s global Charter Management fleet has reached an impressive 150 yachts.
This accomplishment is a testament to IYC’s relentless pursuit of excellence, earning the company its reputation as the fastest-growing company in the industry.
“Our remarkable achievement of 150 yachts under Charter Management is a significant milestone. This accomplishment demonstrates the company’s extensive expertise and experience in handling yacht charter management, making us a trusted partner for yacht owners and charter clients alike.”
– Raphael Sauleau, CEO
As IYC celebrates this milestone in its journey, it takes the time to outline just a few of the compelling touchpoints that have allowed it to reach this significant achievement below. Its unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, a diverse and quality fleet, a global reach, a dedicated and experienced team, and a disruptive approach to technology and data insights have all played pivotal roles in defining its leadership in the yacht charter industry.
Unwavering Customer Service
One of the cornerstones of its success is the unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service. As Raphael Sauleau, points out, “We go the extra mile to ensure that each client’s unique needs and preferences are met, providing personalized experiences that exceed expectations. We understand that luxury yacht charters demand meticulous attention to detail and careful planning, and our teams consistently deliver on these fronts.”
Moreover, IYC offers a full range of services for yacht owners, including Charter Management, Yacht Management, Marketing, and Crew Placements. Many owners choose IYC for our ‘one-stop-shop’ approach, appreciating the benefits of having one company manage their vessels from a synergies perspective.
Diversity and Quality of the Fleet
With a diverse range of vessels, including motor yachts, sailing yachts, and catamarans, clients have a wide selection to choose from, catering to a variety of preferences and requirements.
Fotis Geranios, Head of Charter Management Greece, provides insight into our fleet’s growth: “When I started with IYC in 2015, we had 5 yachts in Charter Management in Greece. Now my team manages almost 50 and has another 10 coming in very soon. In general, the Greek market is a small one. It’s like a family among a small industry here. We have seen success because people recognize how good our team and company are.”
Global Reach
Its global reach is a testament to its commitment to providing clients with access to the most coveted cruising grounds around the world. Raphael Sauleau highlights, “From the East and West Mediterranean to the Caribbean, from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, we provide clients with access to some of the most scenic and exotic destinations, supported by our team on the ground and relevant know-how.”
Irini Sarantis, Chief Digital Officer, emphasizes the success of our G-local model: “IYC’s Charter Management department enjoys the benefits and resources of a global organization, but at the same time, IYC’s Charter Management teams are ‘on-the-ground’ in its offices across key cruising locations, covering the East Med, West Med, and the US. These are all large, fully-staffed offices, with in-depth knowledge of the local market and what it takes for a yacht to succeed in this market.”
An Exceptional Team
Undoubtedly at the heart of our success is our exceptional team of professionals. Michel Chryssicopoulos, Global Managing Partner, elaborates on our dedicated team: “IYC has a very experienced and enthusiastic Charter Management team in place. The team is very driven and works closely with the Charter Consultants to maximize the results for our owners.”
Filip Jerolimov, Partner Croatia & Montenegro, highlights its commitment to professional and diligent service, stating, “The number of yachts for charter has drastically increased over the past 5 years, and IYC was there to mark its place and gain an excellent reputation by offering professional and diligent service.”
Liliana Lopez, Head of Charter Management USA, emphasizes on the evolving landscape of Charter Management and IYC’s role in guiding owners: “Our roles as Charter Managers have transitioned from being marketers and listing agents to being more business savvy and thought leaders. The light is now shining on us more than ever as we are being sought out to help guide these owners and help steer them in the right direction from a financial standpoint. From only wanting to charter a few times a year to help offset costs, to now wanting to be the most profitable and most successful charter programs out there, these owners are now depending on us to share the secret sauce.”
Anna Granlund, Head of Charter Management Monaco, reflects on its commitment to building long-term relationships: “We view every yacht owner or yacht Captain as a unique client and give them the individual attention required to establish trust and create long-term relationships, no matter the size of the vessel. The result is a very high retention rate. We add yachts to the fleet, but we rarely lose yachts other than through the owner selling.”
Disruptive Tech
Liliana also highlights IYC’s strides in the digital and technology spaces: “IYC has made and is continuing to make great strides in the digital and technology spaces.” She mentions its reach and the significant impact our CEO has made, including elevated marketing materials and partnerships adding to the strength of her department. In fact, she states, “more and more owners are noticing our efforts and wanting to engage.”
Irini elaborates on IYC’s digital investments: “Over time, the conventional brokerage approach has been evolving as an increasing number of clients are using online tools to research and choose the best options for their charter vacation.” She emphasizes our commitment to digital solutions, including new functionalities on IYC.COM.
“IYC has been investing in Search Engine Optimization and digital advertising for several years, with IYC.COM becoming one of the highest valued websites in the yachting industry. Digital continues to drive growth for our charter department, with web generated charters accounting for approximately 30% of total charters booked. At the same time, IYC has been launching user-friendly functionalities (that are new to the yachting industry) to improve ’search’ on IYC.COM. This approach is something that has both intrigued certain owners, who also believe in the power of digital, and also helped keep good visibility of IYC managed yachts in our fleet and bring direct bookings to yachts in our fleet.”
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Michel Chryssicopoulos adds, “IYC was the first company to have introduced the RESERVE feature on our website for all charter managed yachts resulting in the highest number of weeks per yacht in the entire industry.”
Indeed, IYC is also one of the only firms in the industry to consolidate and analyze all bookings in the charter market, providing valuable insights to advise yacht owners on strategies for the season, such as optimal yacht positioning and pricing.
IYC looks forward to continuing to build trust, foster enduring relationships, and pave the way for Charter Management. It is its unwavering dedication to serving its clients with excellence and passion that keeps it at the forefront of the industry, and it is excited to further its journey in delivering top-tier experiences to discerning yacht owners and charter clients worldwide.
