From May 7-8, 2025, expert regional speakers, and some from further afield, are set to deliver seminars and take part in panel discussions, and to attend a networking dinner, which are components of the Summit’s second edition held, again, in Hong Kong.

The inaugural Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit brought lively discussion and audience interaction; photos: Superyacht Times

The second Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit returns to the same venue as the two-day inaugural event last June, which was well attended by those across the regional industry.

Renaissance Harbour View Hotel in Hong Kong hosts this forum, which has already become a key event in the superyacht industry calendar in Asia. Once again, this year brings together key decision-makers, including representatives from family offices, yacht management companies, captains, brokers, and other industry leaders, and Yacht Style is a Media Partner.

In mid-March, SuperYacht Times, the event organiser, stated that a focus of this year’s Summit will be on the development of Asia as a superyacht cruising destination and how to get more Asian clients interested in the construction, purchase, and charter of superyachts.

In mid-April, the organiser announced that the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2025 networking dinner will take place at the end of Day 1, on May 7, at The Verandah, an institution of a restaurant that has an outdoor cocktail terrace and lawn, and is located at Repulse Bay, in the south of Hong Kong Island within sight of the South China Sea.

Organisers have invited more than 50 family offices from Asia to attend. “We are very committed to making the second edition of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit a great success and we believe that we need to bring the right people to this event”, explained SuperYacht Times founder and Director Merijn de Waard. “We are excited to welcome family offices to the APSS and make sure that they connect with the yachting industry.”

The schedule for the Summit presentations is currently as follows:

Wednesday May 7 – Day 1

8.15am-9.10am – Welcome coffee

9.10am-9.25am – The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report

The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit begins with the presentation of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Market Report 2024/2025, which provides an overview of recent developments in the region, and outlines the principal topics for discussion throughout the event.

9.25am-10.05am – Hong Kong as a superyacht destination

Exploring various initiatives aimed at further developing Hong Kong as an attractive superyacht destination. Discussions focus on essential upgrades and expansion of infrastructure, enhancement of regulations, and refinement of marketing strategies to better position Hong Kong in the global yachting sector.

Confirmed speakers: 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

10.05am-10.55am – How to build a superyacht destination

With countries such as Vietnam, the Maldives and Tahiti in French Polynesia announcing ambitions to develop as superyacht destinations, this discussion explores what is required to enhance their allure. The panel covers necessary advancements in regulations, infrastructure and marketing strategies to best position these locations.

Confirmed speakers: Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTM, 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

10.55am-11.25am – Coffee Break

11.25am-12pm – New marina projects presentations & Q&A: Japan and the Maldives

Recent announcements have highlighted a range of marina projects across the Asia-Pacific region, from the Zamani Island development to the new Kobe Marina in Japan. This session features in-depth presentations on these developments, exploring the motivations behind their initiation and the anticipated impacts on both local and regional yachting communities.

Confirmed speaker: Nigel Beatty, Broker, Yachtzoo

12pm-12.40pm – How to manage refits successfully in Asia

With the increasing number of yachts visiting the Asia-Pacific region, the need for high-quality refit and maintenance facilities is critical. This discussion will explore what changes are necessary to promote a thriving refit market and whether there is a case for establishing a top-tier refit yard in the region.

Confirmed speakers: 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

12.40pm-1.05pm – Q&A with Captain Fraser Gow of the 62.5m Amels superyacht Stardust

1.05pm-2pm – Lunch

2.30pm-3pm – How to engage people through social media with Supercoolben

Discover the rise of Ben Sumadiwiria, better known as Bobby Saputra, who transitioned from chef to social media sensation. This session will explore how he leveraged viral content to cultivate a billion-dollar persona, reshaping digital storytelling with his creative approach. The discussion will also provide insights into luxury trends and perspectives from young Asian UHNWIs.

3pm-3.40pm – Navigating the luxury market in Asia

Confirmed speakers: Nigel Tang, Head of Operations, Warpcapital Yacht Management; David Lau, founder, Cross Harbour Advisory 

3.40pm-4.15pm – Interview with Doan Viet Dai Tu, Chairman, Openasia Group

With the rising number of UHNWIs in Vietnam, Doan Viet Dai Tu presents on the state of the yachting sector in the country. He shares insights about his past and his involvement in the luxury sector through his company Openasia Group, and discusses his efforts to further develop Vietnam as a yachting destination.

4.15pm-5.30pm – Drinks

Thursday May 8 – Day 2

8.45am-9.45am – Welcome coffee

9.45am-10.10am – A new type of class society

With an increasing number of privately registered yachts not covered by IACS Class Societies, Nikolas Rabier, CEO and co-founder of the newly formed Yacht Standards, discusses why he established this class society. He will outline its main objectives and delve into the various reasons why yacht owners often forgo or drop class certification.

Confirmed speakers: Nikolas Rabier, CEO & Co-Founder of Yacht Standards; Vincent Huens de Brouwer, Business Development Manager & co-founder of Yacht Standards

10.10am-11am – Reducing the energy consumption of yachts

As the yachting industry faces growing pressure to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, new technologies are emerging to optimise energy consumption. This panel, featuring leading superyacht builders, explores the latest advancements and their potential applications. Panellists discuss how these innovations can be integrated into new builds and refits, striking a balance between sustainability and operational performance.

Confirmed speakers: Martin Lo, Director at Cheoy Lee; Vladimir Zinchenko, CEO, GX Superyachts; Chris Blackwell, Sales & Manager of Echo Yachts; Iacopo Senarega, R&D Project Manager, Azimut-Benetti Group; Haico van Roeden, Technical Manager Design & Proposal at Damen Yachting

11am-11.40am – Coffee break

11.40am-12.20pm – Emerging markets

As the Asia-Pacific experiences a surge in wealth creation, particularly among the younger generation, spending patterns are evolving. This panel brings together brokers from key emerging markets, including India and China to discuss what is needed to attract this new wave of wealth into yachting.

Confirmed speakers: 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

12.20pm-1pm – Cross-border regulations and practicalities

Navigating the complex and multifaceted regulatory environment of the Asia-Pacific region is a critical challenge for the superyacht community. This panel will delve into the intricate legal landscape that owners and operators encounter daily, addressing essential areas such as Know Your Client (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) obligations, and the specificities of import/export compliance.

Confirmed speakers: 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

1pm-2.30pm – Lunch

2.30pm-3.10pm – Discover Indonesia

Indonesia, an archipelagic country comprising over 18,000 islands with a coastline stretching nearly 55,000km, is home to a growing number of Ultra-high-net-worth individuals and offers an ideal coastline for yacht cruising. The Discover Indonesia panel discusses strategies to attract more superyachts, focusing on the existing regulatory framework and the need to further develop marina infrastructure.

Confirmed Speakers: 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

3.10pm-3.50pm – Q&A with Giorgio Moretti

Moretti owns a fleet of superyachts, ranging from 45.2m-71.8m, as well as the a 44.5m sailing yacht. The entrepreneur, with interests in several companies and sectors will share insights into his involvement in the superyacht sector, as well as his own serial yacht ownership. 

The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit’s first edition in 2024 was very well attended

Buy your tickets / get more information here:

To find out more about the event and to view the entire two-day programme, head to the APSS event page on the SuperYacht Times website. The last remaining tickets are available for purchase here, so make sure you don’t miss out.