YPI Asia
Yachting Partners International (YPI Group), in collaboration with Olivier Besson, created YPI Asia – a joint venture dedicated to serving clients in Asia. “I wanted to work with someone who already understood the Asian market,” explains YPI Group CEO, Bertrand Vogèle. “Someone who had established solid roots in the region – someone I felt understood the needs and way of working in this part of the world.”
Olivier Besson turned out to be just that person. “Bertrand and I met during the Monaco Yacht Show a few years ago. I have been in China for over six years working with clients who need and use business jets and yachts. Right now there is a significant and growing demand amongst wealthy Asian people, and in particular Chinese people, to properly enjoy yachting. Over the last few years they have had a glimpse of the benefits owning a superyacht can bring…and they like what they see. A completely new infrastructure is now being constructed throughout China so the country can welcome and accommodate the biggest and best yachts with a level of quality and service to match the very best superyacht ports and marinas anywhere in the world.”
Great Mix
To better serve the growing demand and to offer existing YPI clients in the region the opportunity of having their YPI representative a little closer to home, Olivier and YPI joined forces to create YPI Asia. “It’s a great mix,” says Bertrand. “YPI has almost forty years specialised experience in superyachting. That’s a lot of expertise and knowhow that’s invaluable to our Chinese contacts today. Olivier and his team have an amazing local knowhow and an acute understanding of what our Asian clients are looking for, what they expect and how they want to do business. Putting the two together will ensure our Asian clients receive nothing short of the very best service, advice and knowhow right on their doorstep.”
Optimal Locations
YPI Asia starts off with two offices – one in Shenzhen, China, the other in Aberdeen, Hong Kong. “They are two optimal locations,” explains Olivier, “that give my team a lot of flexibility when it comes to properly looking after clients across the whole area.”