Lunch – Thursday 17/04

• Are today’s technological innovations game changers?
• R&D: where are we heading for?
• Propulsion: What’s new? (Hydrogen ICE, flex fuel systems,…)
• Energy storage and distribution: Is the transition to renewable energy taking place?
• The integration of AI and IoT in modern yachts
• The use of AI for predictive maintenance and yacht performance optimization
• Advances in safety systems
• Advances in efficiency / management systems
• Advances in navigation systems
• Increased engineering complexity: Friend or foe?
• Producing, storing and using energy onboard: A dream or reality?
• The autonomous yacht: What’s on the horizon?

• The evolution of regulatory requirements: tougher calls?
• Certification and compliance: refitting yachts for tomorrow’s regulations
• The impact of changing tax regulations on market potential
• How simplified customs & immigration procedures attract yachts?
• Increased risks: The insurance perspective
• Regulatory divergence across different markets: what difference does it make?

• Crew skills: How to deal with more complex vessels?
• The shortage of qualified crew: An impossible equation?
• Improving CSR for crew: Beyond MLC
• What owners want, what crew expect: bridging the gaps

• Are existing professional degrees up to technological date?
• Managing new technologies onboard: safety & operational capabilities
• Making complex vessels simple to use
• Onshore support & facilities: Is the industry equipped to maintain yachts?
• A comparison with the automotive world: of dealers and repair centers
• Cybersecurity at sea: Protecting owners and guests

• The development of zero-emission cruising areas: what’s looming?
• Incentivizing decarbonization and/or taxing polluters
• Sound impact: How to go yachting without disturbing marine life?
• Coral reefs, Posidonia meadows…: Preventing & repairing damage
• The role of environmental conservation in yachting tourism
• Life Cycle Assessments: Imposing changes in practices?
• Are carbon offsetting & sustainability certificates factors in charter or purchase calls?

• The state of the markets (global, regional, size segments)
• The evolution of the role of the charter broker: customizing the entire journey?
• The evolution of the role of the charter agent: yacht marketing 101
• Boat rental redefined: new business models for new clients?
• Yacht charter redefined: about Clubs and shipyard branded strategies
• Yachting for destination discovery / cultural immersion: Where, why, how?
• The rise of exploration yachts: A myth or reality?
• Experiential chartering: beyond luxury to adventure and purpose
• Wellness yachting: A new lifestyle trend?
• Sustainable chartering: are clients are driving change?
• Sustainable yachting: how to solve the equation?
• Are Apps and online platforms changing the rules?

• The state of the markets
• Incorporating the supply chain vs. splitting it: Who does what and why
• Trends in exterior design and naval architecture: What clients expect (global, regional)
• Trends in materials, engineering and technology: What clients expect (global, regional)
• Trends in interior design: what clients expect (global, regional)
• Customization vs. standardization: Which model is gaining ground?
• How are new environmental regulations impacting design and construction?

• The state of the markets
• Global presence vs local networks: What works, what doesn’t?
• The boutique broker vs the all-encompassing powerhouse: what works, what doesn’t?
• Are Apps and digital platforms changing the rules?
• Yacht sharing: Are the “Airbnb for yachts” platforms gaining traction?
• Is the subscription-based yacht ownership model gaining traction?
• Enhanced post-sales relationship management: which services make a difference?
• The role of blockchain in ownership, chartering, and maintenance tracking

•  Where the clients come from? Yachting / Superyachting
• The role of cultural preferences in regional yachting trends
• Owning vs renting / chartering: changes in patterns?
• The rise of co-ownership and fractional ownership models, for what success?
• The role of family offices in yacht ownership and management
• Are virtual reality and AI redefining the client experience?
• Are software, Apps and AI changing the rules – an operator’s perspective
• Are new business models bound to emerge ?
• Yachting for Millennials and Gen Z: How preferences are shifting
• Toys: What’s the magic wand to attract clients?
• What can the yachting industry take or learn from the travel industry?
• What can the yachting industry take or learn from the villa rental business?
• What can the yachting industry take or learn from hospitality / hotel industries ?
• Client loyalty programs like in the airline or hotel industries: worth anything in yachting?
• Recipes for designing the perfect charter
• Keys for a successful charter yacht
• What ranges / models of boat rent well and why?
• The role of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in yacht ownership
• Currency fluctuations and their impact on yacht charter and sales
• Infrastructure developments & the rise of yachting lifestyle: A chicken & egg story?
• Where will the next generations go yachting?
• What will the next generations go yachting on?

• Geopolitical tensions and their impact on yachting destinations
• International economic context(s)
• The impact of global wealth shifts on yachting demand
• Financial & tax / legal / insurance matters
• Toughening environmental regulations: What consequences?
• The role of government incentives in developing yachting markets
• Residency and citizenship incentives for yacht owners: what difference they make?

• West Med (French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Balearics)
• East Med (Adriatic, Greece, Turkey)
• Florida & the Bahamas vs. California
• The Caribbean vs. emerging markets for new winter destinations

• The historic example of the French Riviera & St Tropez
• Portofino, Capri: the Italian way(s)
• Monaco, the capital of yachting
• Integration of yachting within destination events and festivals
• The role of yacht clubs and networking communities in the future of yachting
• The influence of social media and celebrity culture on yachting tourism
• A cultural & historical perspective: from racing to yachting
• The power of film and TV in yachting tourism
• Superyacht events and their impact on destination marketing / yachting tourism

• Unlocking the Red Sea (roadmap, market segments, infrastructure, regulations…)
• Unlocking the Indian Ocean (roadmap, market segments, infrastructure, regulations…)
• Unlocking Southeast Asia (roadmap, market segments, infrastructure, regulations…)
• Unlocking South America (roadmap, market segments, infrastructure, regulations…)
• Unlocking the South Pacific (roadmap, market segments, infrastructure, regulations…)
• The Artic & Antarctic: How to both market & protect these playgrounds?

• Understanding and optimizing maritime laws & flag state regulations 101
• Yachting and local economies: Boosting employment and investment
• Tax & financial strategies for yacht and superyacht owners
• The importance of maintenance & repair facilities, fuel and supplies
• The importance of fuel and provisioning

• Catamarans, Lofts afloat…: The rise of new design propositions
• Flying boats: The solution?
• Size & volume matters: Reflections on the evolution of client expectations
• Type matters: Are sailing yachts gaining traction?
• Comfort onboard & sustainable efficiency: The impossible combination?
• Materials: Sustainability at stake (GRP, carbon fiber, paints, steel…)
• Modular yacht designs for sustainable refit & extended yacht lifespan
• Digital twins and advanced simulation in yacht design
• The Role of biophilic design in sustainable yachting

• Shoulder seasons: The impossible road to further market potential?
• New destinations: Discussing the keys to raise potential & attractiveness
• Integrated Luxury: Hotels, resorts, and marinas that connect needs & lifestyle
• Overcoming infrastructure challenges in remote destinations
• The development of yachting hubs in remote or undeveloped regions
• Regional collaboration: Yachting corridors and multi-nation destinations
• Digital nomads at sea: yachts as long-term floating residences?
• The impact of seasonality and climate change on charter markets
• Climate Change and its impact on yacht routes and destinations

Case studies:

• Hydrogen-powered boats: benefits & challenges
• The use of methanol and other alternative fuels: Concrete examples
• Sail, sail, sail: Back to the future?
• Electric yachting: operational profiles, benefits & challenges
• The nuclear option: a fantasy?
• Project Zero: the ultimate sustainable yacht?
• Learnings from the automotive world