🏦 How Banking Facilitates Marina Sustainability
During the 4th Edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous, 3 international speakers joined the conference moderated by Pascal Ferry, Deputy Director of Monaco Statistics. Liza Singer Lawyer and Founder of Karpaz Gate Marina (North Cyprus), Klaus "Cacau" Peters CEO of InterMarinas (Brazil), Ra'anan Ben-Zur Founder & CEO of Habacoa Marina (USA) and delved into the critical themes of marina financing and sustainability.
🌱 Sustainability as a cornerstone for investment: Sustainability is now a non-negotiable element for investors. Projects that incorporate sustainable practices from the outset, particularly those that require certification, are much more likely to secure funding. Not only do certifications demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, but the higher the marina's certification, the more tangible benefits it can achieve, such as tax returns from the authorities, a positive impact on the boat-user community, and so on.
💼 Fundraising challenges: While location and sustainability are key fundamentals for any investor, the size of the investment and security of investment are elements in attracting investors and raising funds for any project. Marinas can attract many investor profiles, not one specific type, but they all know that marinas are long-term investments. Demonstrating sustainable value is essential to securing finance.
🏗 Marina real-estate synergy: Combining marinas with real estate drives profitability. This synergy is further enhanced when hotels, F&B concepts, properties are integrated into marina developments. The hotels and retails benefit from the prestige and activity associated with the proximity of the marinas, and the marinas enhance the appeal of the properties. While yacht owners typically stay on their boats, they are attracted by marinas that offer a dynamic and lively environment. The strength of marinas lies in the fact that they are the link between the property and the sea. It's not just a beautiful view of the sea, but access to the sea.
👥 Community engagement: Marina projects that invest in local communities by employing and training local staff receive incentives from governments. Marinas play a leading role in a town’s economy, generating activities beyond site management, and are life center with numerous socio-economic impact and financial repercussions for the locals. By choosing to prioritize local engagement, marinas align with broader economic and community development goals.
📊 Data & transparency: The lack of shared data across the sector, covering metrics like energy and water consumption/use, boat occupancy...limits the effectiveness of planning and investment and, consequently, progress towards sustainable development. Closing this gap could open up new opportunities, provide more accurate feasibility studies and make marinas more attractive to investors by offering a detailed view of their operations and impact.