The latest Cannes Yachting Festival was an opportunity for Dream Yacht worldwide, the world's leading yacht charter company, to take stock of the past year's dynamic business.

Dream Yacht continues to enjoy success, with charters with or without skipper, crewed cruises and cabin cruises continuing to attract a growing number of visitors from outside traditional sailing circles.

With an occupancy rate in excess of 90% during the high season between mid-June and early September, the Group is proving very popular in France and abroad. With cabin cruises, Dream Yacht has recorded a 27% increase in sales compared with 2022, as well as a 21% increase in the number of weeks booked.

Since Covid, the company founded by Loïc Bonnet has seen a new trend in last-minute bookings. However, this late start has not prevented the Group from achieving a record rental rate in July. Of the fifty or so destinations on offer, the most popular in Europe were Croatia and Greece. Polynesia recorded a 42% increase in sales compared with 2019.

Overall, exotic destinations continue to attract with a good level of bookings, particularly in the Bahamas with a 111% increase in sales compared to 2019 and in Martinique (+29%).

MORE BUSINESS WITH FEWER BOATS

The Group is continuing to grow, with a move upmarket. In fact, it will generate more revenue with 830 boats in 2023 than with 1050 in 2019.

This reflects the arrival of a new clientele of enthusiasts (particularly Americans, who account for 45% of DYW's clientele) who have developed a taste for sailing holidays and are looking for top-of-the-range hotel services.

Cabin charter has established itself as the solution that meets the needs of holidaymakers, especially couples. Dream Yacht has seen a spectacular increase in bookings for cabin holidays.

This is the case, for example, with the new Sail Share Dubrovnik cruises launched in April 2023, which have been a runaway success (the budget for a week's half-board is between €750 and €1,500). From 2024, this cabin cruise aboard the Sun Loft monohull will also be available in Greece, departing from Corfu, and in Italy to discover the Neapolitan region.

The wide range of boats and services on offer, as well as the simplicity of chartering with skipper and/or full crew and hostess, attracts more customers every year. This summer, Dream Yacht took an average of 50,796 people to more than 50 destinations on its 830 boats.

The many destinations in the catalogue, from Australia to Sweden, via the Mediterranean, the West Indies, Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, also contribute to the company's worldwide reputation.

A SLIGHT SLOWDOWN IN YACHT SALES

Boat sales, however, have been affected in recent months. Purchases of new boats have fallen due to the 40-50% increase in construction prices since 2019, which is making boaters very reluctant to buy.

Loïc Bonnet, founder of Dream Yacht, says: ‘Unfortunately, we have to pass on these additional costs to our customers in the selling price of our boats. That's why we're working with our boat-building partners on boat concepts specifically designed for charter, to reduce construction costs.’

ON THE ROAD TO DECARBONISATION

True to its environmental commitments, the pioneer in the nautical sector has put its 1st electric boats into operation. 6 Fountaine Pajot catamarans and 10 Dufour monohull yachts will follow by spring 2024.

The first model, the Aura 51 Smart Electric catamaran, has been available in Italy since April 2023.
This new offer has met with great enthusiasm, with rental weeks aboard this electric boat
almost all booked.

Dream Yacht has thus become the first major charter company to include electric yachts in its fleet, which
a major step forward in the Group's plans to reduce its carbon footprint.

‘Our eco-navigation approach is comprehensive and unique,’ says Loïc Bonnet. ‘We are taking concrete action to influence the day-to-day practices of our employees on the bases, as well as shaping the behaviour of our customers. Eco-yachting is at the heart of our strategy and our development. Dream Yacht Worldwide has always been a forerunner in nautical tourism, and today we're leading the way in terms of decarbonising yachting: our aim is for 50% of our fleet to be electric by 2030.’

Founded in 2000 by Loïc Bonnet, Dream Yacht Charter was originally a charter company with 6 yachts based in the Seychelles. In 2022, its turnover stood at 165 million euros. Today, the group has evolved into a global tourism operator.

Dream Yacht Worldwide employs more than 800 people in 31 countries (more than 40% of them in France), and offers more than 50 sailing destinations around the world. The company operates more than 830 monohull yachts and catamarans. A pioneer in the democratisation of sailing for all, Dream Yacht Worldwide enables travellers to enjoy the unique experience of a tailor-made sailing holiday without leaving any trace behind.

Dream Yacht Worldwide also comprises Dream Yacht Sales & Ownership, which is responsible for selling boats to private investors, and SamBoat, a digital platform for chartering boats by the day or week.