World Yachting Summit 2025 – A Resounding Debut in Monaco
The inaugural edition of the World Yachting Summit (WYS), held from April 15 to 17 in Monaco under the “Capital of Advanced Yachting” banner, has successfully concluded, leaving the global yachting community with a renewed sense of purpose, urgency, and cautious optimism. Drawing together over 20 nationalities and stakeholders from across the supply chain, the event fulfilled its mission of becoming a platform for reflection, discussion, and forward-thinking in an evolving industry.
World Yachting Summit 2025 in Monaco
With 19 panel sessions, 8 “Inspiration Talks,” and expert-led workshops spanning three days, the WYS 2025 tackled topics ranging from sustainable innovation and tourism development to digitisation, workforce challenges, and changing client demographics. Keynotes by figures such as Giovanna Vitelli (Azimut Benetti), Olivier Wenden (Prince Albert II Foundation), and Victorien Erussard (Energy Observer) emphasised the industry’s urgent need to chart a course toward net zero while maintaining human connection, experiential value, and economic sustainability.
Among the many attendees was Colin Srivastava, yacht charter broker at CharterWorld: “Key themes such as sustainability and its practical implementation, attracting the next generation to yachting, and the development of new destination infrastructure were not only highly relevant but also thoroughly explored and thoughtfully presented throughout the summit. The event’s organisation and evening soirées were exceptionally well executed, leaving a lasting impression.”
WYS 2025
Jean-Claude Biver’s rousing opening talk set the tone for the summit, reminding the audience that being “first, unique, and different” drives innovation. This mindset resonated throughout the event, as experts examined how the industry must adapt through SMART thinking: Sustainable, Modern, Attractive, Resourceful, and Transformative. From rethinking destination development to simplifying ownership models and amplifying training efforts, the summit made clear that collaboration and bold thinking are key to future success.
WYS 2025
Monaco, with its blend of stability, infrastructure, and luxury lifestyle, proved to be the ideal host. As José Marco Casellini, CEO of M3, noted, WYS 2025 has the potential to become a cornerstone event for global yachting strategy and innovation.
The summit concluded with a reflective look ahead. While challenges such as geopolitical tension and generational shifts loom large, the collective sentiment was cautiously optimistic. With events like WYS setting the stage, the yachting world is charting a new course—more conscious, connected, and client-centric than ever before.