Incorporating hospitality offerings effectively

While a niche segment, the marina business is very much a part of a wide spectrum of industries, including hospitality. IGY Marinas has already played in this space, expanding our F&B restaurant brand, Fat Turtle and owning/operating Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina in the Hamptons/Montauk area. Taking this further, we’ve recently launched our hospitality division, as our team has recognized that boaters are seeking a broader range of amenities and travelers, whether by boat or by foot, are seeking a more authentic experience on the water.

From boat owners and maritime professionals to leisure guests and business visitors, today’s traveler is more educated than ever with the constant influx of technology right at their fingertips. Social media, more specifically Instagram, has influenced the way travelers want to experience a destination, making it vital for our industry to recognize the growing demand and respond effectively.

Understanding what makes a location unique

Developing a mixed-use property on a marina facility is just the tipping point of delivering a great hospitality concept. It’s important to understand and incorporate elements that can provide a unique moment for a tourist. IGY currently has 15 marinas in seven different countries, and none are the same. That is what is amazing about waterfront locations – they are all different by look and feel on their own. Identifying and leveraging what makes your waterfront special will drive your hospitality concept.

Strong F&B offerings

A major segment in hospitality – especially on the water – is F&B. It frequently is the heartbeat of the business that attracts boaters and casual visitors. It is frequently at the center of a unique and local experience. While superyachts have impressive chefs onboard, visiting guests also want to step off the boat and into the destination. This makes the level of service and food offerings at restaurant and bar concepts so important, as the expectation is already set very high. With this in mind, ensuring your F&B concepts reflect the destination and are accentuated by your asset and service team should be the top priorities. If done well, this heartbeat should successfully drive the balance of your upland programming.

Tom Mukamal serves as CEO of IGY Marinas. For more information on IGY Marinas or its collection of marina destinations, visit www.IGYMarinas.com.