ACREW+, Amplifying Crew Retention to Improve Crew, Owner, & Guest Experience

ACREW assists current and aspiration crew in receiving training to further their skills and their careers. Surveys about crew satisfaction, however, some of which reveal that crew retention is just 60 percent, spurred the company into action in a new way. It has launched ACREW+,  a multi-focus initiative to boost crew productivity, collaboration, and morale—and to save owners and guests from costly problems, literally and figuratively.

Abi McGrath, ACREW’s commercial and strategic director, says that by comparison, in the corporate world employee retention is about 90 percent. The disparity is even more dramatic when you consider the role yacht crew play. “Crew are not only the biggest cost center for a vessel, but they are also the lifeblood and personality of that superyacht,” she explains. Furthermore, she asserts, “Investing in you crew will pay back dividends both financially and experientially.”

ACREW partnered with the training company Luxury Hospitality and the technology company Sentini Marine to create ACREW+. It’s comprised of four components:

1. CrewTalent. Each crewmember takes a personality assessment to determine his or her strengths, further receiving an analysis of the results. Additionally, the full yacht crew gets a debrief on their interactions with each other, to better unify them and increase true teamwork.
2. CrewMatch. If you’re seeking a new crewmember, this helps pair the right person (personality) with your team.
3. CrewSkills. A digital record of your entire crew’s professional development. This updates as they complete levels of training and take advantage of other on-the-job learning opportunities.
4. FutureCrew. Newbies to the crew world get personality assessments so that they, and you as their potential boss, both benefit.

ACREW acrew.com