Speak with any marina manager, and he or she will tell you that the key to getting business from megayachts is getting the approval of the captain and crew. IGY Marinas recognized this when it introduced its IGY Anchor Club last year, a loyalty program for captains and crew. To date the club has 200 members, significant enough for IGY Marinas to expand the awards and rewards to entice even more participation.
Here’s how the new format for the IGY Anchor Club works. While 20 points will still be earned for each night’s stay, captains can now receive $100 gift certificates for the participating marinas’ restaurants, once the yacht completes 45 slip nights. (The slip stays don’t have to be at just one IGY marina; they can be at any of the marinas in the program.) If the yacht completes 75 slip nights, the IGY Anchor Club benefits increase, with the captain entering the Presidential Level of the program. Captains can redeem their points for merchandise in a catalog created for the IGY Anchor Club, for example. They also receive another $100 restaurant gift certificate, and the marina will host a barbecue for the full crew. Ultra-loyal captains who have their yachts complete 125 nights are granted Chairman’s Level rewards. These include $200 hotel or restaurant certificates, preferred dock location, and watersports or other marina-hosted activities for the crew.
So far eight IGY marinas are participating in the IGY Anchor Club program, including Yacht Haven Grande (pictured) in St. Thomas; Rodney Bay Marina in St. Lucia; The Yacht Club at Isle de Sol and Simpson Bay Marina, both in St. Maarten; and Newport Yacht Club in New Jersey. Others throughout the Caribbean, USA, Europe, and Middle East are expected to join them.
To join the IGY Anchor Club, visit any IGY marina office or the dedicated Web site.
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