Mango Media Official Media Sponsor, Seminar Schedule Announced & 10-Passenger Cat on Show @ 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, November 8th-11th at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 7, 2024 

Mango Media Official Media Sponsor, Seminar Schedule Announced & 10-Passenger Cat on Show @ 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, November 8^th-11^th at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Lifestyle photography is one of the best ways to promote a yacht charter vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, an $80-million industry that is a key driver of marine tourism in this American flag territory. Research shows that 91% of consumers prefer visuals over plain text in marketing materials, according to 2024 research presented by Tech.co.* The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) is pleased to announce that Mango Media is the Official Media Sponsor of the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, set for November 8th-11th at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande. VIPCA is also thrilled to reveal the Show’s Seminar Schedule, which includes a presentation by Yachtly, a sponsor, on the growing trend of multiple-party credit card payments for charters. Add to this a boutique fleet of yachts on show, such as Ad Astra, which fills a unique niche as a 10-passenger yacht, and the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show is shaping up to be one not to miss for brokers and boats alike.

Pictures sell. “It is essential to have the perfect picture as the head image and great pictures of the cabins, as most guests can’t imagine the size of a cabin,” says Lela Joannidis, head of operations for the Caribbean and Mediterranean for luxury crewed yacht specialist, A Sailboat Vacation Ltd., with offices in the Caribbean, the USA, and Europe. “Plus, seminars are always a good place to reconnect with fellow brokers and central agents, especially when they are informative and allow a new perspective in an easier booking process, for example, ”Joannidis says the importance of connecting with fellow brokers, central agents, and crews puts the USVI Charter Yacht Show on her attendance list.

Photo: The Mango Media team, L to R William Torrillo, Melissa Pond and Tori Matheis, at the company’s IGY Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas location. Courtesy Mango Media.

What’s Hot in Yacht Photography

‘A day in the life of your charter’ style photography is something Mango Media has provided for several years. 

“This means we shoot from sunrise to sunset, showing all aspects of the day, including all meal services, watersports, lifestyle, and sailing,” says William Torrillo, chief executive officer and co-owner of Mango Media, plus chief photographer and videographer. “Of course, we also shoot the cabins and living spaces, but the most popular are the lifestyle shots. We see this becoming even more important with the introduction of reels and stories in social media. There are so many yachts to choose from when browsing the internet. The way a yacht can stand out is by capturing the unique personality of the crew, food, and amenities on board. These visuals connect emotionally with the audience, making the yacht more memorable and desirable, leading to increased bookings.”

Crews and brokers alike can see Mango Media’s work when the company hosts a rum tasting at their studio in Yacht Haven Grande on November 7 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Photo: The Yachtly team, L to R: Judy Price, Peter Luce, and Arsh Dilgabi, Yachtly Board Member. Courtesy Yachtly.

2024 Seminar Schedule Announced

One of the not-to-miss seminars at the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show is ‘How the Changing Landscape of Payments Can Increase Yacht Charter Bookings,’ set for Saturday, November 9, 8-8:30 a.m., in the Brava by Viya 360 Wi-Fi Lounge. This will be led by Judy Price, CEO, and Peter Luce, Chief Compliance Officer and Co-Founder of Yachtly Inc., which returns for its third year as a Show sponsor. Yachtly will also host a table in the lounge.

“Our data has shown that a majority of charter clients/guests on the Yachtly platform want to pay by credit, with multiple couples/friends paying per installment. To date, the industry has not typically offered credit cards, nor the ability for multiple guests to pay,” says Price, who recently completed four successful years as an owner/operator of Chaos Interrupted, a 46’ Lagoon, is now full-time at Yachtly and a VIPCA Board Member. “For our seminar, we’ll first provide an update on results from charters processed through Yachtly for the past 12 months. Secondly, discuss why a changing market of charterers want to pay by credit cards, and third, do a deep dive into the protection of the dispute resolution clause so brokers can feel comfortable offering credit cards and thus book more charters. Yachtly runs on the Stripe platform, the same system used by Amazon, Shopify, Tesla, and more, so funds are 100% safe and secure.” 

The Seminar Schedule begins on Friday, November 8, with the New Broker Orientation presented by CYBA (8-8:30 a.m.), followed by Sea Turtles and Us, All About Sea Turtles Found in the VI and How They Interact with Humans and Boats from the Friends of the VI National Park (8:30-9 a.m.) and the Virgin Islands Conservation Society’s presentation of their new Coastal Curriculum (9-9:30 a.m.). On Saturday, November 9, the Yachtly presentation kicks off the morning, followed by Insurance Tips and Advice from Risk Strategies (8:30-9 a.m.) and Vessel Compliance with Nautical Trips and Consulting (9-9:30 a.m.). Presentations wrap up on Sunday, November 10, with the ‘State of the Industry Roundtable,’ a panel discussion about the industry with crew, broker, and management company representatives. All seminars will be held in the Brava by Viya 360 Wi-Fi Lounge.

Photo: Mealtime tablescape on Ad Astra. Credit: Mango Media.

Sneak Peek at Yachts to View

More than 65 power and sail, multihulls, and monohulls, from 40- to 130-plus feet, will show at IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas. One of these is Ad Astra, a Bali 5.4.

“That she is a 10-passenger yacht is unique for us and our fleet. We really do love the layout and how you can maximize the guest count, while the yacht still gives the feeling of comfort and space. Perfect for a gathering of family or friends,” says Christina Clum, chief operating officer of Dream Caribbean Blue. “The USVI Charter Yacht Show provides a spectacular setting to showcase the yacht and crew. From the brokers who attend to the exposure to new vendors, it is a fantastic start to the season and a wonderful way to stay connected to the chartering community.”

Mango Media was hired to shoot Ad Astra’s promotional photos. 

“As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Mango Media understood our vision of capturing the essence of our yachts and what a charter onboard would look and feel like. We have moved into an era where everything is at our fingertips, all the time, so to present your brand concisely in a meaningful way has become of the utmost importance,” says Clum.

Register Now

VIPCA broker members can register (usviyachtshow.org/register/) for FREE. Exclusive Show accommodations with 20% discounts are available at the following by calling and using promo “VIPCA Yacht Show: Bluebeards (bluebeards.com), (1-340-774-1600) -Bolongo Bay Beach Resort (bolongobay.com), (1-800-524-4746) – The Pink Palm Hotel (pinkpalmhotel.com). 

Charter yachts can register at usviyachtshow.org/register/). 

Strong Sponsor Support

Sponsors of the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show include the USVI Department of Tourism; Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas; IGY Marinas; Mango Media LLC; Catamaran Central; Risk Strategies representing Trawick and Cigna; Grey Goose and Soca Shores distributed by West Indies Company; Veuve Clicquot and Captain Morgan, distributed by Bellows International; Brava by VIYA; Cardow Jewelers; Yachtly; Rockvision; Moe’s Fresh Market; The Market St. Thomas; Maho Crew; Offshore Marine; Parts & Power Ltd., distributor of Northern Lights; Harbor Shoppers; Nautical Trips & Consulting; Julius Jackson, LLC; and the Charter Yacht Broker Association (CYBA).

For more information and registration, visit usviyachtshow.org or contact VIPCA at info@vipca.org or (340) 642-0656. 

*10 Key Visual Content Marketing Statistics You Should Know (tech.co)

About VIPCA

VIPCA is a non-profit marine association dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the charter yacht sector of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine industry. Its initiatives include offering membership benefits, promoting marine tourism, liaising with USVI, BVI, and PR to assist in cooperative efforts; seeking relevant official rulings from Customs and Border Protection (CBP); developing USVI marine infrastructure, including installation of vessel moorings now available at BoatyBall.com; and providing marine vocational training for USVI youth. VIPCA hosts two annual yacht shows, the USVI Charter Yacht Show at www.usviyachtshow.org and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo at www.vibe.vi. www.VIPCA.org

Media Contact:

Carol Bareuther

Media, USVI Charter Yacht Show

Tel: 340-998-3650

Email: bareuther@earthlink.net

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