DETROIT, May 13, 2009 – Steven Rybicki, VP & General Manager of locally-based Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters, said he is experiencing an increase in several market segments in its daily cruise business on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.
In the past our core market was big corporate business. Due to the tough times, we had to change up our market strategy because the corporate client & employee appreciations have cut back. We have re-shifted our focus on recession-proof markets such as weddings, fundraisers, mitzvahs, proms, milestone birthdays & anniversaries.
We are still keeping up with our corporate business due to our value-added corporate packages. We are also marketing towards other traditional corporate events that we have never gone after before such as meetings, product launches, team-building luncheons and “Christmas in July” parties for those that may have canceled them back in December.
In regards to our wedding business, couples are increasingly selecting the two boats, which dock on both the Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores and at three locations near the Renaissance Center, as a venue for weddings, engagement parties, and rehearsal dinners this year. In fact, marital bookings have nearly doubled since 2008.
“The economy has encouraged couples to push wedding dates forward in order to combine incomes and serve as a protection for benefits should one of the parties become unemployed,” says Rybicki.
“The positive story behind our company is that if a yacht charter company can increase its sales by 25% many other businesses can do the same if they get creative and diversify their market share,” said Rybicki.
