Northrop and Johnson (corporate)
Shannon Webster is a longtime AYCA member. She books yachts worldwide from 80 to 400 feet long. Email Shannon
Nicole Caulfield is licensed, bonded, and a longtime member of FYBA and AYCA. She brings a unique perspective as a broker, having worked aboard yachts for nearly 10 years. Email Nicole
Sharon Bahmer is an expert at booking charters in the Americas, from Alaska to Brazil. She's also a member of FYBA and CYBA. E-mail Sharon
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Beverly Parsons has been chartering since 1969. She is a licensed, bonded broker and a founding member of the professional groups AYCA and CYBA International. Contact Beverly.

 

 

 

 

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Based on what you are seeing in early 2010, what is your prognosis for the charter industry during the next year? PDF Print E-mail
Three Brokers Say

 

Beverly Parsons, Interpac Yachts

The only thing that I can predict for 2010 is that the charter industry continues to be unpredictable.

This year started off well with a flurry on inquiries and bookings in January.  Then came silence in February.  March and April are bringing inquiries, but many are difficult to fulfill.  The trend seems to be that clients still want to charter but are cautious about spending.  We have requests for three-night charters and smaller-than-usual yachts, for instance.

Shannon Webster, Shannon Webster Charters

I am happy to report that Shannon Webster Charters experienced a 25-percent increase in bookings for the first quarter in 2010 when compared with the same quarter of bookings for 2009. However, there are still many clients reluctant to “take the plunge” to the final contract and deposit stage when we compare the actual number of inquiries that we received to those that were converted to solid weeks on a yacht’s charter calendar.

We are now receiving inquiries for the summer season in the Mediterranean, but the majority of our clients are looking closer to home, to the domestic regions of New England and the Bahamas. We experienced a similar booking trend in 2009, when the fourth quarter fell well short of our usual expectations. I hope this is not going to be the case this year and plan to do some early marketing for the holiday period of 2010.

Liz Howard, Fraser Yachts Worldwide

Bookings are trickling in now for 2010, but it’s a different situation than at this time last year. In 2009, by this time I had a lot of bookings signed, sealed, and delivered. Now, everything is difficult. In addition to rate negotiations, clients also want exactly what they want, and they think that because times are tough, they can get things that don’t exist.

I think 2010 will be okay for the charter industry, but it’s going to be a lot of last-minute bookings with heavy rate negotiations. That’s happening now for the summer season in the Mediterranean, and all the people who think they can wait even longer are going to have a rude awakening come June, when all the best boats are suddenly booked. That’s what happened during Christmas 2009 in the 80- to 140-foot yacht category, and I think it’s happening again. It’s what I seem to be seeing now for the upcoming summer season.