One thing that has always set yachting’s interior department apart from both its land-based counterparts (hotels and restaurants) and the hospitality-focused commercial maritime sector (cruise ships), is the lack of qualifications and training paths for interior crew.  While G.U.E.S.T. Standards is without doing its bit to support interior superyacht crew in creating career paths and accrediting training schools with a standard, without a doubt, the superyacht industry needs to look to its land-based and commercial maritime counterparts.

“They [people who come from hotels or cruise ships] really do understand what hospitality management systems and structures are all about. These are areas that the interior sector of the superyacht industry can struggle with, so should be a welcome asset,” explains Peter Vogel, managing partner of Luxury Hospitality Services.

Vogel also points out, however, that while those from more formal hospitality backgrounds may come in with specific, in-depth knowledge of a particular area, this isn’t necessarily ideal for working on a superyacht, where a stewardess may have 20 different roles over just one season.

Erin Bloom, a trainer at the Stewardess Training Academy, has worked with a few chief stews with professional hospitality degrees during the time she worked on board, and believes their background can be a big help to an interior department on board a superyacht. “They would notice the little things, such as making sure everyone had the correct posture, and take time to train us to provide the highest level of service in the proper way, which adds a lot of finesse to a team,” she explains.

“They would notice the little things, such as making sure everyone had the correct posture, and take time to train us to provide the highest level of service in the proper way, which adds a lot of finesse to a team.”

There is one problem, however. And it’s our fault, and it’s to our detriment. As summed up by Vogel, “the [superyacht] industry finds it hard to accept them.”

Bryony McCabe continues this discussion in Issue 82 of The Crew Report, available to download here and available at The Monaco Yacht Show, from The Superyacht Group’s stand, QE9.

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