While many superyacht conferences are b-to-b, the annual Superyacht Finance Forum is as much b-to-c as it is b-to-b. It attracts family-office representatives, private-wealth advisors, and others within owners’ inner circle. Financiers, brokers, shipyard representatives, and more attend, too. Equally important, it’s the longest-running conference of its kind, entering its 14th year in Monaco this coming September.
Specifically, the Superyacht Finance Forum takes place on Tuesday, September 27, the day prior to the Monaco Yacht Show start. Traditionally, delegates get updates on topics of ongoing interest plus insight into new ones. A staple at the annual conference, for instance, and on the agenda again this year, is a review of regulatory, tax, and other legal issues impacting superyachts. So, too, will financiers reflect on the past year and identify key issues and opportunities for the year ahead. Additional panelists will further quantify the effect of the pandemic on the yacht market.
Other topics currently on the minds of owners and the industry are certainly on the agenda as well. One is the drive toward sustainability, which will analyze available resources plus impacts and opportunities. Yet another presentation will cover Bermuda as both a destination and a yacht registry. In recent years the government has taken note of the growing economic impact of superyachts, so it is adapting its once-restrictive regulations.
Changes in consumer behavior should set the framework for further discussions, too. At the first Marine Money Superyacht Finance Forum in Palm Beach in March, for example, panelists discussed managing expectations of first-time superyacht buyers. They especially have a different view of how quickly deals can and should close compared to prior generations of buyers. Yet another consumer-behavior change involves the usage of cryptocurrency for purchases. Recently, extreme volatility has impacted crypto, so it’s sure to be a discussion among delegates.
This year’s Forum takes place at Le Meridien Beach Plaza hotel in Monte-Carlo. Registration is currently open. Program details will be on the website soon.
Marine Money’s Superyacht Finance Forum marinemoney.com
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