This year, METSTRADE and Yachting Ventures are teaming up to introduce the new Start-Up Pavilion – a platform for emerging startups to showcase their latest products and technologies.

This marks the first time METSTRADE will host such an event, with 15 companies exhibiting in Hall 7 throughout the three-day METSTRADE fair.

The startups fall into two categories – those accelerating the digitalisation of the industry via software and platform solutions, and those accelerating the transition to greener technologies and alternative propulsion.

Charter Itinerary (CI) is a B2B SaaS solution centralising yacht charter booking and management processes for the luxury yacht and bareboat industries.

Co-founder Boris De Bel discusses the startup’s aims and its story so far.

What has been the biggest lesson since you started the business?

“Realising the importance of innovation and customer-centricity has been our biggest lesson. By staying true to these principles, we’ve seen rapid growth and gained the trust of leading industry names.”

What does your system do that makes it different from competitors in your space?

“CI offers a tailored software exclusively for luxury charter professionals and crew. Every feature and content piece is developed in-house, [so] we exercise total control and thus can guarantee the quality of our offering to our customers.”

What are the opportunities in your market?

“The yacht charter industry is ripe for digitisation and enhanced customisation. There’s a significant opportunity to further leverage AI and cutting-edge tech to optimise the charter management experience. The biggest challenge, however, is navigating the balance between offering a high-tech platform and maintaining the luxurious, personalised feel that the yachting industry is known for.”

How is the technology being used by customers today?

“Our customers rely on CI to revolutionise the charter management processes. With our features, they have the ability to manage contract payments, generate guest preferences, handle charter documents, create itineraries and yacht proposals, all within a cohesive system. Moreover, they can share all this information through a single link. The tangible result? A cohesive, efficient charter process that begins well in advance of the actual charter, ensuring both professionals and their clients experience a smooth and tailored charter experience.”

How is your consumer changing?

“Our consumers are becoming more tech-savvy and expect seamless, interactive digital experiences. They seek instant access, transparency, and personalisation in their customer journey, desiring tools that cater to their unique preferences while also simplifying the process.”

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