Here it is, 2020. The future is upon us and the marina industry is booming. Marinas are being acquired at a rapid pace by large private equity groups and smaller investors alike. Some are stand-alone marinas while others are part of development projects. In each case, the demand for professional and experienced marina management is stronger than ever as the needs of customers, boats and marina experiences are changing. From maximizing lineal feet of dock space to proper operational processes—and everything in between—operating a marina is a tough business that requires full attention and hands-on management.
It’s not uncommon that when a group acquires waterfront property they are unsure what to do with it or how to maximize and make it profitable. That’s not their forte. So, they look to companies that focus solely on marinas. Companies that will make their marina prosper and succeed without the learning curve. But why pay their fees, you may ask? It’s proven time and time again that outside expertise does indeed pay for itself and, in the case of the outside marina management, it works.
That’s where the services of an outside 3rd party marina management operator come in.
Take the case of US Marina Group. (USMG) is a premier marina management company that boasts 30 years of experience from each of the two principals, Jim Bronstien, former owner of the famed Rybovich Yachtyard and Marina, and Kevin Quirk, former operating executive of Bahia Mar and Pier 66 Marinas. USMG knows that the marina industry is a complex, capital-intensive business that calls for great efforts to build and maintain a marina’s infrastructure and services.
Whether it’s starting from scratch or renovation and transformation, USMG understands the ebb and flow of this niche industry. And with the advisory arm of USMG, Marine Business Advisors (MBA), the combined entities provide expertise in consulting, advising and assisting marine-related businesses by performing C-level advisory work that will benefit any marina buyer or owner.
In every case, marina operations are the key ingredient to the success of an overall project, whether it’s a stand-alone marina or a mixed-use project that includes a marina. The expertise required to ensure this success depends on the knowledge, experience, and background of operating groups. Engineers, builders, and designers are all vitally important to any project but without proper operating expertise, many marina projects can go sideways.
USMG has active marina management and advisory projects in both the Caribbean and US including Buenaventura Resort and Marina in Panama which features a brand new 60 wet-slip and 60 dry-stack marina surrounded by a world-class development. They operate the 17th Street Yacht Basin, which provides 850 feet of superyacht dockage at the iconic Hilton Marina Hotel in the heart of Ft. Lauderdale.
Other projects include operating Marina Palms, a 112-slip marina in Aventura, Florida as part of a 2×20-story condominium development project. They are lead advisors for Sunseeker Resorts in Point Charlotte, Florida for this to-be-built 180-slip marina project inside of a massive redevelopment project along the waterways of Florida’s west coast. USMG are the key advisors for a major rebuilding of Hurricane Hole Marina as it rebuilds into a world-class superyacht facility. They also advise for projects in Nevis, St. Lucia and the town of Palm Beach.
Marina management, like hospitality or property management, is a specialty trade. It requires specific knowledge of the markets, the industry and the technical specs of marinas. If you are buying, building, or rebuilding a marina, it’s a service you need. Even if you didn’t know it.
With offices in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, FL, US Marina Group is a premier 3rd party marina management company for marinas in the US and abroad.
Jim Bronstien • (561) 346-9580 • jimb@marineba.com
Kevin Quirk • (954) 873-3157 • kq@USmarinagroup.com