From May 7-8, 2025, well-selected, APAC-relevant regional and global speakers and topics, plus scheduled networking time, saw attendees in Hong Kong, and after the event, abuzz.
Words: Andrew Dembina; Photos: SuperYacht Times

The recent two-day Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2025 had 275 registered attendees

Held in Hong Kong’s Renaissance Harbour View Hotel once again, the yachting industry was well-represented, across shipyards, distributors, brokerages, maintenance and services providers and marinas, among others, with Yacht Style in attendance, as we were last year, as a media partner.

After a welcome by Merijn de Waard, founder and Director of SuperYacht Times – the event organiser, and Head of the publication’s Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2025, Ralph Dazert’s brief overview of this year’s findings, the panel discussions began.

Hong Kong as a Superyacht Destination was the first topic, moderated by Enrico Chhibber of SuperYacht Times. Panellists were: Lawrence Chow, Chairman, Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA); Benjamin Wong, Head of Transport & Logistics and Industrials, InvestHK; Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial, Airport Authority Hong Kong; Joe Yuen, Director, Lodestone Yachts.

They concluded that for Hong Kong to thrive, there is a need for infrastructure development, regulatory clarity and simplicity, coordinated efforts, continued investment, and marketing Hong Kong’s appeal for visiting superyachts.

From left: Enrico Chhibber, Lawrence Chow, Cissy Chan, Benjamin Wong, Joe Yuen

In the second panel, How to Build a Superyacht Destination, moderated by Fancesca Webster, speakers were: Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (a part of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism); Jean-Marc Poullet, Senior Partner Chairman Asia, Burgess; Laura Verbrugge, Fraser Asia Manager, superyacht and charter brokerage; Manoa Rey, Research and Niche Marketing Coordinator, Tahiti Tourism; Bob Hoogendoorn, Senior Manager, McKinsey & Company management consultancy.

Kazim mentioned Dubai had “naturally attracted superyachts”, adding its very supportive government was helping remove any difficulties in regulations. Frustration over visiting-yacht paperwork and complicated regulations in Southeast Asia was expressed by other panellists. Preserving the environment, from Tahiti’s 50-60 visiting large yachts allowed annually, to more built-up territories when marinas are planned, was discussed.

A presentation followed by Nigel Beatty on the upcoming Base Kobe marina (minimum size berths: 24m) followed, which he noted is part of the port regeneration in central Japan, and he familarised listeners on how well Kobe is connected by infrastructure to Tokyo and other domestic areas, as well as being on the edge of a large sheltered Seto ‘inland sea’.

Panel discussion How to Manage Refits Successfully in Asia  had speakers mentioning their best – and worst – experiences. Discussing these matters were: Sam Thompson, Director, JMS Yachting; Rob Taylor, Managing Director, Clearvac Engineering Asia; Robert Corcoran, Chief Operating Officer, Fema Marine; Petre Plesea, Managing Director, Golden Eagle Yacht Management (pictured above).

They mostly extolled the quality levels and significantly lower prices that give the Asia yacht refit market potential but added that it can be hindered by infrastructure, regulatory challenges and a shortage of skilled labour.

Ben Sumadiwiria, aka “Supercoolben”, provided levity in his How to Succeed in Social Media interview. He makes fictional / comedic videos pretending to be the son of the richest person in Indonesia. He started with restaurant reviews, following a career as a chef. The popularity of his videos and sponsored restaurant reviews that followed paved the way for his work with yachting companies – in a recent one, Sumadiwiria acted being the father of a family, aboard three different yachts that his character owned, and the company sold one shortly thereafter.

Navigating the Luxury Market in Asia was a broad discussion with panellists including Paolo Casini – CEO, Camper & Nicholsons, Monaco Nigel Tang, Head of Operations, Warpcapital Yacht Management; David Lau, founder, Cross Harbour Advisory.

Sub-topics explored the evolving landscape of Asia’s luxury market – especially yachts – with a particular focus on how brands, service providers and stakeholders in the superyacht sector can respond to shifting consumer preferences, regional nuances, and emerging opportunities.

Day 1 concluded with a passionate account of Tam Son Yachting’s successful building by Doan Viet Dai Tu (above), Chairman, of Openasia Group, charting his observence of Vietman’s transition from motorcycles to cars – which he then started importing; this segued into his building up not only a yacht dealership but also his involvement in liaising with authorities to improve the experience of leisure yachting for domestic and visiting users.

The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2025 networking dinner took place at the end of Day 1, at The Verandah restaurant, preceded by outdoor cocktails on its lawn (above), in Repulse Bay, on Hong Kong Island.

Day 2’s Reducing the Energy Consumption of Yachts discussion included Martin Lo, Cheoy Lee Director; Vladimir Zinchenko, CEO, GX Superyachts; Chris Blackwell, Sales & Manager of Echo Yachts; Alessandro Rossi, Chief Technical Officer of Azimut-Benetti Group; Haico van Roeden, Technical Manager Design & Proposal at Damen Yachting (above).

It began with the premise that the yachting industry faces growing pressure to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, and examined new technologies that are emerging to optimise energy consumption and how these innovations can be integrated into new builds and refits, striking a balance between sustainability and operational performance. 

In the Emerging Markets discussion, speakers were: Angel Zhou, China General Manager at Simpson Marine; Ronnie Wang, Owner’s representative at Yachting Encounters Asia; Gautama Dutta, CEO & Director at Marine Solutions Distribution & Services; Alexandre Heng, Founder & CEO of O2HO (above).

As the Asia-Pacific’s surge in wealth creation, particularly among the younger generation, is a given and spending patterns are evolving, this panel looked to brokers from key emerging markets, including India and China, to discuss what is needed to attract this new wave of wealth into yachting. The panel emphasised that education, infrastructure development and creating accessible yachting experiences are critical to growing these markets, highlighting significant untapped potential in Asian maritime leisure.

The next panel was on Cross-border Regulations and Practicalities, with Roy Chan, Co-Founder & Director, Legalmapp; May Choi, Yacht Management Operations Manager, Simpson Marine; Simone Centola, International Lawyer at Gateway Law Corporation; Captain Robin Shellcock, yacht captain in Japan.

Discussion touched on the intricate legal landscape that owners and operators encounter daily, addressing essential areas such as Know Your Client and Anti-Money Laundering obligations, and the specifics of import/export compliance.

Generalisations on compliance were flagged as difficult to make due to different factors in each jurisdiction, thus relying on local expertise, adaptability and very close diligence.

The Discover Indonesia speakers were: Iswin Hudiarto, President Director at Task Cikaldana; Jasmine Chong, owner of the 45m Celestia and fashion designer; Boumedienne Senous, founder and CEO of Yacht Sourcing; Thye Hock Goh, superyacht captain (above). They discussed strategies to attract more superyachts, focusing on the existing regulatory framework and the need to further develop marina infrastructure.

All agreed that while Indonesia has made encouraging progress in positioning itself as a yachting destination, further frameworks and infrastructure development improvements are needed to fully realise its potential.

Lastly, there was a Question and Answers session with Giorgio Moretti, who owns a fleet of superyachts, ranging from 45.2m-71.8m, as well as the 44.5m sailing yacht. The entrepreneur, with interests in several companies and sectors, shared insights into his involvement in the superyacht sector, as well as his own serial yacht ownership.

These topics, informed speakers and ensuing discussions have prompted continued conversations and social media posts about how much the Summit has been appreciated across the industry.

More details of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2025 itinerary can be read here.