Crew Life
Starting out as yacht crew and working his way up to head chef on iconic boats such as 113-metre Luna, Duncan Biggs has always had a passion for knowledge. In 2015 he co-founded Ocean Wave Monaco to educate aspiring superyacht chefs and pay it forward.
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At Luxury Hospitality we believe nine Service Qualities make exceptional guest service possible. Here the team at LH describes what each Service Quality means to them and their significance in practice.
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At the height of the pandemic, the world of yachting began discussions behind the scenes about our lives and the future of the planet. Unsurprisingly, mental health also came to the fore and Lynne Edwards of Luxury Hospitality shared her candid view on the industry’s way forward.
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The management consultant, Peter Drucker, famously said: "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." Putting this into context, leadership coach Martin Mainey steps on board to answer some common questions raised by captains in relation to their crew.
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Rotational positions are becoming more common and naturally they are very popular with crew seeking a greater work life balance. Efficient handovers are key, and nowadays there is a raft of software and tools available to ensure they work smoothly.
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Video interviewing is not new, but with the recent pandemic and the subsequent boom of video calling platforms such as Zoom or Teams, they are rapidly becoming mainstream for crew interviews.
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Despite there being such a high demand for it, the word ‘reliability’ is consistently overlooked when sourcing a new AV/IT system. Ryan Porter highlights the seven parts to consider, all of which play a vital role in the overall outcome of any integration or systems upgrade.
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The biggest, single subject in the professional syllabus at most naval colleges is leadership. In the commercial world, it’s rather catchily known as HELM, the purpose (and value) of which is still often misunderstood. Instructor and mentor Sean O'Reilly explains.
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After emergencies, shiphandling is a question I am always asked about. Not because it is the most important, but it's a black art to those not in the maritime profession, so I'm going to discuss my own shiphandling journey and the impact that a mentor made to this.
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Growing up far from the sea where a superyacht was never to be seen, how does an A grade student in Germany become the chief stew on one of the world’s most iconic vessels? Now a specialist trainer at Luxury Hospitality, Svenja Halligan tells us how it all came about.
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With the world seemingly opening up again after the pandemic, who among us isn't interested in faster, more reliable and significantly cheaper connectivity? There are some universal limitations, but most owners could save a fortune and enjoy a better experience with minimal capital outlay.
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A crucial part of managing a successful interior team, whatever the size of the yacht, is to compile a useful and comprehensive steward/ess training manual. Here are some suggestions on what should be included.
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From running his own lounge bar in Greece to winning awards and training bar tenders around the world, mixologist Rob Rademaker is a natural when it comes to the theatre of luxury F&B.
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Recruitment within the yachting industry is somewhat different to more 'mainstream' recruitment, and if you are someone who uses yacht recruitment agencies, there are a few differences that you need to be aware of.
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As head of interior training at Luxury Hospitality (LH), Renata Balla is well versed in delivering seven-star service for superyacht owners and guests. We caught up with Renata to learn about her background and her role at LH.
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I wrote an article for OnboardOnline back in 2015 discussing the extent of sexual harassment in the superyacht industry, but how has this changed five years on? We can expect to have seen some significant changes in all aspects of the industry.
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What do we imagine when we think of a butler? Perhaps a stoic figure in a bygone world of period drama, a silver platter ahead of every wish and command of the master? Lazlo Gal is a man in the know, so we asked him what it takes to succeed and create a truly memorable guest experience.
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News travels quick. Maybe it’s because we live in an age of the creating and sharing information that we are hearing of more and more fires on board yachts. Most crewmembers out there will know of someone who has had an encounter with an onboard fire incident.
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With over 20 years’ experience working in and managing Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels around the world, Luxury Hospitality's operations manager Erik Smit is passionate about service and the finer things in life.
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More so than previous generations, Millennials and Gen Zs expect employers to provide them with opportunities for fulfilment, meaning and the ability to give back. Rather than just a job, they are searching for purpose and the opportunity to make a difference.
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As head of Insight at Luxury Hospitality, Julia Rogers is an expert in team building, helping individuals and groups to up their game by playing to their strengths. Julia explains how this works in practice, and how greater awareness of self and others is crucial to happiness and success.
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Last month on OnboardOnline I talked about the best models of yacht management, and referred to the importance of a vision statement to guide the yacht’s efforts. This generated a lot of reader interest and in response I will unpack this a bit further.
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At Luxury Hospitality we recently announced our support for She of the Sea and their Diversity Pledge, making a public commitment to creating real, positive change within our organisation and across the yachting industry when it comes to gender diversity.
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Martin Mainey is a born teacher, starting out as a chemistry teacher in Istanbul and later working in senior roles in establishments of further education. He has also worked in industry and on board, always a keen observer of what makes people tick and perform to the max.
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The impacts of COVID-19 have reached far and wide within the yachting community. Owners, suppliers and crew alike have all been impacted in recent months, causing a revaluation of how different elements of the industry interact.
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There was a time when I shared the view that yacht management reduces the ability of good yacht captains to deliver their service to yacht owners. Now with more experience and maturity, I see the view that management is not essential was wrong. Captains should not work in isolation.
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This week 'An Hour with Colin Squire' was dedicated to the topic of mental health, helping to raise funds for ISWAN to develop a new portal specifically for superyacht crew. Today Colin is delighted to announce that the target has been reached but donations are still welcome!
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While superyacht charters are on hold for now, it’s only a matter of time before things pick up and crew prepare to welcome guests back on board. Behind the scenes this includes everything from safety drills to laundry, a topic on which few are more qualified than Jill Devine.
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A show designed to tackle the tougher issues that many crew face while working on board superyachts, UNCENSORED with Marien Sarriera takes an honest, hard-hitting look at topics from work harassment and sexual abuse to mental health, substance abuse and more.
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Physical isolation and the fear of an uncertain future can lead to strong emotions and increased anxiety, so in the following article I would like to introduce you to the power of conscious breath, yoga and meditation in managing mental health.
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