Transcript: Megayacht News Radio Podcast on Go Where the Yachts Go

transcript

Megayacht News Radio Podcast on Go Where the Yachts Go

NOTE: Megayacht News Radio is produced as a podcast and therefore designed to be heard. If you’re able, we encourage you to listen to the audio, which includes emotion and emphasis that this page cannot convey. Transcripts are generated using a combination of speech-recognition software and human transcribers, and therefore may contain errors. Please check the corresponding audio—each section is timestamped—before excerpting or quoting.

26:53

SPEAKERS

(voiceover), Diane Byrne, Stacy Ritter, Douglas Trueblood 

Diane Byrne  00:00

Welcome, everyone to Megayacht News Radio. Today I have two guests: Stacy Ritter of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Douglas Trueblood of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Fort Lauderdale and Bermuda are of course each well known for their absolutely stunning waters. And while Fort Lauderdale has additionally held the title of Yachting Capital of the World for decades, especially among the superyacht set, Bermuda has been catching on in more recent years with large yachts thanks in part to the America’s Cup and other efforts. Stacy and Douglas along with their respective teams are pairing these nautical strengths for a new campaign called Go Where the Yachts Go. So, they’re here today to explain all about it and how you can take advantage of it. So Stacy and Douglas,welcome to Megayacht News Radio! Stacey, I want to start with you, and Douglas, when she’s done, certainly come in and add a little bit more. So what is Go Where the Yachts Go? What is the campaign, and what inspired it?

 

Stacy Ritter  01:11

Well, thank you, and thank you for having me us this morning. I’m sure that Douglas is  experiencing beautiful weather as are by the way here in in Fort Lauderdale today. Go Where the Yachts Go is the first of its kind partnership for Visit Lauderdale, which also by the way is known as the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. We shortened it to Visit Lauderdale because it is in fact shorter that way, easier to say. But it was inspired by the nautical elevated lifestyle of both destinations. People who visit Bermuda, people who visit Greater Fort Lauderdale, expect that travel experience. And because both both Bermuda and Fort Lauderdale are recognized as premier destinations. For people who enjoy yachting, sailing and water culture, we thought what better way to weave the two together than to have us do, again, a first of its kind partnership. We attract similar travelers, but our peak seasons are at different times of the year. So we can collaborate on this without having to be competitive to you know fighting over the same traveler Well, we don’t have to fight over them. They they can come to both places just at different times of the year. We both have beautiful picturesque backdrops, and we both live probably in our places is paradise. Ours is paradise in the winter, Bermuda is paradise in summer. So enjoy both and go where the yachts go.

 

Diane Byrne  02:30

There you go. Excellent. Douglas, what would you like to say?

 

Douglas Trueblood  02:33

Well, you know, it’s so true. Everything that Stacy said, it’s it’s so true about both of our destinations. And, you know, we kind of follow the leader. And right now, you know, looking at what Lauderdale has done so successfully, we are honored to be a partner of theirs and to join forces and something that to be honest with you dmos have never really done before. That’s something I know station are very proud of because usually dmos are very competitive. And you know, we’re always trying to outdo one another. And what I love about this partnership is that we’ve really looked at combining our forces and realizing that both of us can benefit this, our economies can benefit this and and that’s something I think that we really wanted to see happen as well as, of course, grow the superyacht industry within both of our destinations. You know, Bermuda has so many things to offer, obviously, the America’s Cup put us on the map, globally. And and since then we have our legislation has allowed us to do a lot more things and working with all the cruisers out there. And so I’m really excited about being on the global stage with Fort Lauderdale, and doing all the wonderful things we’re going to be able to do together, you know, to luxury destinations have a lot to offer. And again, it’s great that we can play off each other and and benefit from this partnership.

 

Stacy Ritter  03:49

And something Douglas said which really strikes home like what those of us who work at CVBs are not known for being collaborative in this respect partnering and, and actually going up to the same traveler just at different times of the year. And I think that’s what makes us really special and and we are also honored to be here by the way, I think Michael Douglas put you on the map long before they back up just so you know. On one trip to Bermuda, I actually had dinner next to him, was sitting next to me on the table. But um, it’s just it’s a really neat way to show the industry that they are there are new ways to do things that you don’t, we’re big believers here of not doing things the same way. They’ve always been done. And this is just one way we can show to the tourism industry at large that you can do partnerships with other dmos and you’re not losing anything. You’re in fact gaining a great deal.

 

Diane Byrne  04:43

Right? You know, I’m glad you were talking about this collaborative spirit and especially you were talking about the alternating–or the opposing, I should say–seasons, because that’s something I wanted the two of you to talk about too. So maybe Douglas you can start with that and Stacy, you can come in afterwards. Clearly it’s a win win, because you have one primary season that is not overlapping the other. But what is it that you want people to understand about Bermuda’s high season, and what are the biggest advantages in terms of having these yacht owners and having the charter guests come to and take advantage of your season?

 

Douglas Trueblood  05:21

Well, first of all, you know, to represent us this destination is, is, it’s so exciting to me, I just started with them a couple months ago, and I have really, really enjoyed understanding the island, the culture, the people, and of course, all the offerings that we have for the Cypriot community. You know, our season is made through October, which is perfect, perfect match again, with Greater Fort Lauderdale, because theirs starts right before us. So in all reality, the way that we kind of work together, it makes a lot of sense, I kind of look at it, like birds migrating from one place to another place, right. And now we’ve got these two, this, this beautiful island out there in the Atlantic, which is situated so well, for all yachters. And I think what’s really exciting too, is not only that the proximity of our destination is how we can work so well with people traveling from New York, Newport, Florida, and passing through Bermuda on the way to the Mediterranean or Europe. So again, we’re positioned so well, it’s kind of another stopping point, with with guests that are leaving and yachts that are leaving the Lauderdale area and working their way up the coast or a crossover overseas. Again, our proximity is a great location. And again, as far as the the the all the offerings that we have, you know, I’m so proud of not only the destination itself, but the hotels and the services and the provisions that we have that we can offer to to the yachting industry that, that with all this new legislations that passed, we really now have a story to tell, you know, we’ve we’ve looked at at Fort Lauderdale, we’ve looked at what they’ve done so successfully. And we’ve really taken some pages from their book and said, you know, how does that apply to us in Bermuda and, and with that, we’ve really grown the industry. And again, I think with us being a partner with Fort Lauderdale, it’s going to give us a chance to even become more visible. And and you know, with us participating shows together, I was just up in Newport at a charter show. And it was so fun to talk about our relationship with Lauderdale. And again, to Stacey’s point, it’s so interesting how people kind of kind of sit back and go, Wow, you’re you’re working with another destination. And and when you start really telling the story that Stacey just shared and that I continue to share as well. It really makes a lot of sense. And and you know, a lot of what we’re trying to do, we could not have done this, if we were a standalone nation by ourselves on an island, we needed a partner that was strong that was willing to come on board with us and really be able to to shine and be able to take that that stage together. And what I love about it is is that with everything that we offer now and the things that we can do and provide to the otters and to the cruise industry is exceptional. And again, I’m very, very proud of what we’ve been able to develop in Bermuda over the past, especially over the past year since all the new legislation passed. But it’s exciting again to work with with the folks in Bermuda and of course have an opportunity to go on that global stage and and talk about what both destinations have to offer.

 

Diane Byrne  08:19

Stacey, what would you like to add?

 

Stacy Ritter  08:21

Oh, gosh, you know, I’ve lived I’ve lived here since 1974. And I’ve seen some drastic changes in in the area for the better where we’re very large destination 2 million people live in the county, where Greater Fort Lauderdale resides very large. And it’s basically tourism related. But what’s really changed is the kind of people who live here. I will tell you that when I moved here, it was very white, very, very conservative. It has changed drastically over 100 languages are spoken in households where I live and we have a diversity of population that is difficult to replicate anywhere around the world. And that’s what I love most. I mean, clearly the water culture we have 300 miles of navigable waterways, we’ve got the intercoastal we’ve got the Atlantic we’ve got rivers, the New River in particular. boating has been an industry here since the early 1900s. When the strand hands I’ve been Frank Stranahan for settled this place. Their house by the way is about a mile from where I’m talking right now. So it’s always been a part of of what we are and who we are. If you if you are water baby like I am you want to be a place where there is water, there is so much opportunity to take advantage of it. But the diversity of the destination and the welcoming atmosphere and we rebranded VISIT FLORIDA rebranded this year and our new tagline is everyone under the sun, which speaks to not only the people who want to come here and visit here who are everybody around the world, but people who actually live here, we really are everyone under the sun. And we’re known as Venice of America because of all those waterways, what people don’t realize No, I think what what is one of our best kept secrets which really shouldn’t be a secret is the marine industry and the infrastructure of the marine industry here, I mean, there are mega yachts and superyachts which are housed here during the winter months, which are re provisioned and and retrofitted here we have a large brain industry with 121,000 people who work in the marine industry here, that’s 5% of our population. It’s pretty significant. And it keeps the community evolving and growing. I’m a big believer in, in evolution in evolving and growing and think that if you don’t evolve and grow, you die, and we are continuing to evolve and grow here, which is one of the most exciting things to see the difference from 1974 what little I can remember since I was like, three days old, not really I wish but what I what it’s just, it’s it’s been an explosion of diversity and and and it’s a true fabric of what I think this is gonna sound like corny, but um, what I think America was supposed to be a real melting pot where people come together and and don’t really care, who you love who you what you worship, if you worship at all. where you come from just want to live in paradise.

 

Diane Byrne  11:14

Right? Yeah, the diversity is really what makes the whole world go round. Right? Exactly. We think so. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And one of the interesting things that’s going on over the past year or two, in terms of diversity, to some degree is the amount of newcomers that have come into Yod. And you’ve got people from all sorts of backgrounds, their families, especially, that are coming in now, and people are buying their first boats, 25 footers, even people buying in our segment of the industry, they’re buying an 80 foot or 100 footer, some of them have never owned a boat before they’ve always wanted to own a boat. In other cases, they’ve had say, a 50 footer and they thought, okay, you know, 10 years down the road, whatnot, all by that boat. But they’ve decided that because of the pandemic, life’s too short, they want to get out they want to enjoy life. They want to show their kids the world, right, they really want to explore and enjoying now. So I’d love each of you to comment on that with these newcomers who’ve come in, what would you say are safe? Maybe three things or so that make your area stand out from other yawning destinations? Stacy, why don’t you start and then Douglas you can jump in.

 

Stacy Ritter  12:26

You know, it’s it’s really incredible to see how many new yacht owners there are now, because we’ve come to realize you work anywhere, you’ve got Wi Fi on your boat, and you can work anywhere and enjoy the outdoors be outside which has become such a integral part of, of the human race this this past year and a half people want to be outside, which is the beauty of both of our destinations, you can be outside year round in both destinations. But first of all, I would encourage everybody who buys a boat or a yacht to get trained. It is boat safety is so critically important wherever you’re going, whether it’s ocean bound, or intercostal, or a river. So very important. My husband and I bought a boat during the pandemic. So I speak from experience here. Not on a yacht We live where the yachts live, but we you know, we don’t have a yacht yet. But um, so the things that I would that I would focus on if I if for people who are yacht owners, first of all come to the Fort Lauderdale international Boat Show. It’s October 27 to 31. This year, it’s always the end of October 1 of November. This is the sixth 62nd year, it’s the largest in water Boat Show. So even if you don’t own a yacht, but you would love to see what the yachting lifestyle is like, come to flibs and you’ll see these amazing yachts where you know, people live year round, you don’t have to ever set foot on land if you don’t want to. As I said, we’re you know, we’re nicknamed Venice of America because of our 300 miles of navigable waterways. There’s deepwater anchorage for yachts and boats and super yachts. And as I said, the marinas and the marine industry and infrastructure here is second to none. And you’ll see some of the most beautiful waterfront homes as you’re as you’re doing that. We have over 50,000 registered yachts here and 100 marinas, so you’re never going to have a hard time finding a place to park your boat, which I know is not the technical term for what you do with a boat. But that’s okay. It rolls off.

 

Diane Byrne  14:34

It absolutely does. Well and you know to some degree in the old days so to speak marinas really were kind of glorified parking lots. They were floating parking lots and they’re so much different now. They’re little mini activity centers really.

 

Douglas Trueblood  14:49

And we’re building some dry dock marinas, some high rise dry dock marinas which should be online before the end of the year. Where if you don’t want to stick your boat in the water year round You can dry, dock it and just call up and it’s a concierge service. They’ll take the boat out for you. They’ll make sure it’s and they’ll provision it for you. They’ll get you a captain if you need a captain for the day. So it really is a luxury way to see the water. And you can do it year round

 

Diane Byrne  15:18

Right now from your standpoint, what are some of the things you would want new megayacht and superyacht owners to understand about Bermuda?

 

Douglas Trueblood  15:27

Well, first of all, I want to just talk about Fort Lauderdale just for a second. I am from Fort Lauderdale. So everything Stacy said, I have to tell you, I love the city, the waterways, you cannot not like water living in Fort Lauderdale, which now of course, I’m living on an island. So you go from one extreme, really to the other, but having that opportunity, and I was just kind of laughing when when Stacy was talking about the hundreds of 1000s of people that were supporting it. And you know, we only have 65,000 people on our island. So, you know, it’s a different setup, certainly for us to compare to to Fort Lauderdale. But with our new legislation that passed in 2020, I think it’s important for people to know that, that super yachts can acquire transit, they can acquire cruising and charter permits. We import equipment, furnishings, fittings, parts repair for repairs, all of those are now exempt from duty. There’s no passenger head tax or departure tax. And a lot of this is all simplified through one cruising fee. So all in all, what we’ve learned is, again, from people like the lovely folks in Fort Lauderdale, is how can we become a better cruising port? How can we become that that place where people are going to now think of not just Fort Lauderdale or New York or new port for them to start really thinking of all the offerings that we can provide here in Bermuda, even though we’re just a small 22 Mile Island, I’ll tell you what, there’s a lot of power in there. And there’s a lot of loving, passionate people that really, really are welcoming the crews into the yachting industry and really embracing what they are bringing to our island, obviously, it’s going to help our economy both of our economies for that matter. But we can deliver things we can you know, as far as we’re we’re looking at this new idea called the marketplace for those foodies out there that are on the outs where they can come to the marketplace. And they can look at what is the local fare, and then down to the finest spice that they’re looking for, and be able to provide all those provisions. And I know that Stacey mentioned that as well as far as what Fort Lauderdale can offer. But, you know, for a small island, we’re really proud of what we’ve been able to step up to, and be able to again, get on that global stage with with this partner and talk about all the wonderful things Bermuda has to offer not only as a destination to enjoy with new properties that we just opened, like the St. Regis that just opened just recently and lovely marina is that like this Hamilton Princess which has as a wonderful location for superyachts to dock at. So all in all, you know, as far as a newcomer, if you will, and that space, we have everything that we can offer and that we we equivalent to two destinations like Fort Lauderdale at the same time. It’s wonderful, you know, to see yachts come. Oasis is there right now, Lady Yes has come through. I’m learning all these great names. Now Jamaica Bay is another one that is has found its way to our to our lovely water. So again, families alike, they’re looking at the yachting industry as a place and Bermuda as a place for them to come in to really enjoy. It’s a safe safe harbor. And again, it’s a wonderful protocol for those traveling across across the ocean. We’re on the way to the Mediterranean to Europe, and we encourage people to stop by and and spend some time with us in Bermuda.

 

Stacy Ritter  18:39

Yeah. And again, one of the beauties of this partnership is that we have the same water culture mentality in both the island and in our peninsula. But you can get different experiences on your yacht, you can go to Bermuda and it’s a beautiful I mean, it’s the sands are gorgeous there. But it’s a different experience that you went that when you come to this Florida, which is very urban, as I’ve said very, very large, lots of people. But so you can get different flavors on your yacht, and we’re not that far apart in nautical miles. And that’s that was one of the beauties of the partnership was that we can we can merge and promote both Bermuda Envisat Lauderdale, but show people that they that there will be different experiences in each destination. Absolutely. The aesthetics between the two locations are so so different.

 

Douglas Trueblood  19:34

The amenities are somewhat different. But at the same time, I think what you’ll find between both locations is that we have a passion for for this business and we’re here to to provide those services. We want you guys to have a great experience. And again, we’re learning more and more and by having new legislation go through that will allow us that the community to really have an opportunity to do all those wonderful things that that Stacey just identified, I think it’s just wonderful between the two destinations, how we can really benefit from each other. And And to your point, Stacy, I agree with you I mean, I the the beautiful sand beaches of Fort Lauderdale, and versus the pink sand that we have here in Bermuda is certainly a different taste all in all, but they’re great destinations. And and, you know, it’s a great experience no matter where you come from.

 

Diane Byrne  20:24

So in terms of how you’re going to be working together, you mentioned a few moments ago, the Fort Lauderdale show, for example. What can owners and their representatives and even charter guests expect to see? What are some of the things that they’ll see at the Fort Lauderdale show in terms of your presence and how they can maybe learn a little bit more about the opportunities?

 

Douglas Trueblood  20:47

Well, I’ll just jump in real quickly and say you don’t want to miss opening tonight. Right Stacy? I mean, at the Florida you’re the opening night is going to be a spectacular event that we’re we’re hosting co hosting with the folks here in Lauderdale along with modern modern luxury magazine but but all in all, I you’re gonna see us partnering, of course it those that that huge event that Stacy mentioned earlier. And then of course, other events throughout throughout the year. I know that we just came back from the Newport as I mentioned, the charter show there. And again, it was great to talk about our relationship and and how we’re working together. But again, this is the opportunity that when two destinations, join forces, there’s even more things that we can do. We’re heading off to the UK to participate in SailGP. Next week, again, it’s another opportunity for us to meet with the yachting industry there to talk to the media there to talk about this, this wonderful program that we have with Fort Lauderdale, and really to talk to that community. In the UK. Again, this is an opportunity where we have an opportunity to to be the spokesperson, if you will, on behalf of both of our organizations, and and can speak to that audience there and vice versa. I know Stacy’s doing the same thing with her marketing efforts and promoting both destinations as we go forward. So, and again, I’m looking forward to that party more than anything.

 

Stacy Ritter  22:03

It’s a great time of year, late October is a great time of year. Yeah, we’re doing a major blowout party on opening night for the Fort Lauderdale international boat show here, which will be fun. And we’re very much looking forward to that. And you know what I think you’ll see probably some traditional public relations and marketing efforts. You’ll see events join events that we do, which are geared to yacht owners, crew, media, anything where the two of us can collaborate and other two destinations can collaborate and and honestly, your dollar goes a lot farther that way as well. We are all we’ve all experienced some pretty traumatic budget declines this past year, and are looking for ways to make sure to stretch that dollar and this this, this collaboration as partnership is one of the one of the ways fortuitous that it came when it did because we can stretch that dollar even further now as as two people are in two destinations working toward one at one goal.

 

Douglas Trueblood  23:01

Right. Right. Especially shout out to to about Bill Hanbury, who has been an integral part of putting these this partnership together and and you know, if anyone is out there aggressively looking at opportunities and ways that we can work together it’s Bill and I certainly want to thank him for all the efforts. And I know Stacy and I both feel very fortunate that he’s been such an integral part of putting this this this together for us and having the opportunity to work together. So I just want to say a special thanks to him as well.

 

Diane Byrne  23:33

Nice, nice. Well, I can say from my standpoint as not just a professional in the yachting industry, but also as someone who loves to travel: Personally, I’ve been to Fort Lauderdale many, many times. It is one of my favorite places, not just in this country, but on earth. I’ve only been to Bermuda once, but it is on my radar to come back. I cannot wait to come back. I spent four phenomenal days about a decade ago in Bermuda and loved it, so I can’t wait to see the changes. So I can tell you I’m eager, personally and professionally, to see more about this wonderful Go Where the Yachts Go campaign and see how it takes off.

 

Douglas Trueblood  24:11

And Stacy well one other thing too, that I wanted to share with with both of you is that we’ve got some really beautiful collateral pieces that we’ve just recently produced that we’re handing out on our shows. And you can also get them online at go to bring you to calm and go to our brochure section. And they’re there. So I encourage you guys to go there we have itineraries in there and of course all the listings of all the things that you can see and do all the contacts that you need, all the permits all the information that you need in the in that those areas as well all of that is mentioned in these these pieces. So I encourage you guys to go there, download that as well. If you’d like them to mail to us, you can just go to our website. Again, go to Bermuda.com and if you’re on the website, just join our mailing list and we can get it to you that way as well and then includes seven beautiful days as we call it.

 

24:57

I love it. That’s good. And–

 

Stacy Ritter  25:03

You know, and as Douglas said, Our website is visit lauderdale.com. And if you want to go to this particular program, it’s visit lauderdale.com/gowheretheyachtsgo, and you’ll see all that there is to do here in, in the destination, where not only does everyone live on air under the sun, but everyone under the sun visits.

 

Douglas Trueblood  25:23

Absolutely. Stacey, you know, I’m waiting for that invitation.

 

Stacy Ritter  25:28

Douglas, we’re gonna go back and forth. Part of the beauty of this of this partnership is that we also will be going back and forth. And Diane, you got to be there as well. So yes, book locations for both.

 

Diane Byrne  25:40

Sure. Sounds like a plan. Stacey, if you need someone to carry your suitcase, count me in. Thanks to both of you. I really appreciate your time today, and the enthusiasm is really palatable. I think a lot of people are going to be checking out this great campaign and learning more about two phenomenal destinations.

 

Douglas Trueblood and Stacy Ritter  25:59

Thank you, Diane. Thanks. Thanks.

 

Diane Byrne  26:01

All right, everyone. If If you want to learn more, you heard the websites there: visitlauderdale.com and gotobermuda.com. That wraps up this episode of Megayacht News Radio. Thanks so much for listening. Until next time, I’m Diane Byrne.

 

(voiceover)  26:18

That wraps up this episode of Megayacht News Radio. Thanks for listening. If you like what you hear, please share the word on social media and subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Audible, IHeartRadio, or Spotify. And of course to learn more about what’s going on in the world of large yacht cruising, new construction, and design, check out our daily updated website, the award winning megayachtnews.com