Jonathan Sit is from Hong Kong and studied hotel management at Cornell University in New York before obtaining an MBA from the National University of Singapore. After joining ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove in 2014, he worked his way up to become General Manager. In October 2023, he was named marina developer and consultant company SUTL Enterprise’s Regional General Manager, Marina Division to oversee the ONE°15 brand’s management and development, and its newly created events-management arm.

How will the Singapore Yachting Festival 2025 differ from last year’s edition?

As a yachting showcase, the Festival continues to attract more Asia-Pacific premieres, reinforcing its role as a key platform for yacht debuts in the region. On display at the centre of the on-water exhibition is the 56m Echo Yachts catamaran Charley 2 and innovative yacht designs from 10m day boats to 20m enclosed flybridges, offering buyers more variety and advanced features.

Multihulls are dominating the show, with 16 models ranging from 15-50m, reflecting their popularity in the region, and more 25-40m production superyachts will be on display signalling a growing market interest in larger luxury yachts in larger luxury yachts.

This year’s event highlights the growing scale, diversity, and technological progress in the yachting sector. Sustainable technology solutions are advancing at an unprecedented pace, and new innovations shaping the future of the industry can be seen aboard the vessels and at the display stands.

The Exhibition Pavilion on land encompasses innovative marine services and boat technologies featuring more than 30 brands, with some new names including FMT Yacht Transport (USA, yacht transporter), S Com Tech (Korea, catamaran builder), Cimolai Technology (Italy, lifting equipment), Australian Marine Lifting (customised lifting and handling equipment), Nautic Clean (Italy, boat cleaning solutions), Entropia (Monte Carlo, yacht brokerage) and Fantasea from China is launching a new catamaran at SYF 2025.

We are also proud to have local companies, including boat builder Odyssey Marine and Eelat (Volvo Penta battery, full-service dealer for Cummins marine recreation, and official distributor for Doen water jets from Australia.

Several new components will enhance the industry showcase and visitor experience, including an Arrival Lounge, Superyacht Lounge and a Festival Market organised by JIU Asia. The Superyacht Lounge sponsored by Damen and Rolls-Royce is an exclusive hospitality space designed for industry leaders and VIP guests. It’s a floating lounge located within the Superyacht Zone to facilitate networking and deal-making close to the exhibiting vessels.

ONE°15 Events Management has also taken ownership of the Southeast Asia Yachting Conference partnered by leading industry bodies like APSA, MIA, ICOMIA, SBIA and HKBIA. Conference topics are highly relevant and tailored for the Southeast Asian yachting industry.

How will this event contribute to elevating the luxury lifestyle sector in Singapore and also Southeast Asia?

The Festival attracts top-tier European brands, regional dealers, and the right level of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) consumer attendees. Singapore is uniquely positioned as a business hub where European yacht brands meet Asian dealers, where Asia-Pacific HNWI and UHNWI are willing to fly in to see the premiere of a yacht model.

By curating a blend of superyachts, high-performance boats, luxury cars, and exclusive lifestyle events, we’re catering to the aspirations of HNWI and the luxury-seeking audience. The presence of top-tier partners such as J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Damen, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, JIU Asia, and more amplifies the Festival’s reach and prestige.

Moreover, the event aligns with Singapore’s broader goal of becoming a superyacht charter hub. By showcasing the region’s potential for luxury yacht tourism, the Festival helps drive demand for marina facilities, yacht charters, and related services, thus contributing to the growth of Southeast Asia’s luxury lifestyle and maritime sectors.

As Regional General Manager, Marina Division at SUTL Enterprise since October 2023, you look after marina operations, business developments and events management. How did your scope evolve?

As General Manager of ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, I was responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations as well as driving the growth, expansion, and strategic direction of marina operations, consultancy, and regional development for over a decade. This experience enabled me to combine operational expertise with a deep understanding of boating culture and luxury lifestyle trends, ensuring that our marinas consistently deliver world-class experiences.

My new portfolio covers three areas: marina management, marina development, and the newly created events management arm. This role has taken me beyond the shores of Singapore, and I am now able to forge strategic partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region through various business engagements. Client interactions originally meant for exhibiting at the SYF have become great connections and contact points for potential marina developments around the region, and vice versa. We hope to bring more ONE°15 Marinas to our boaters in the region soon.

In your role, you have identified and evaluated potential marina properties and sites globally and across the Asia-Pacific region to expand the ONE°15 Marina portfolio. In your view, which projects present the best growth opportunity?

We see significant growth opportunities in markets such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia offer varied and pristine cruising grounds and rising interest in luxury yachting. For instance, Phuket is a high-potential location due to its strategic position and popularity among superyacht owners, so there is demand for additional berthing capacity.

Most interesting perhaps is what’s happening in Hong Kong, where around three to four marina sites have been identified by the government for potential development into yachting facilities. That’s extremely rare for this established boating market.

What have been the results and response to the ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove upgrade and reconfiguration since 2019 to better accommodate superyachts and enhance the marina’s facilities?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. The SG$7 million (US$5.25 million) upgrade allowed us to accommodate a greater number of superyachts – up to 220ft in length – while enhancing our berthing capabilities and onshore amenities such as upgraded power pedestals, attentive concierge services, and the introduction of sustainable features have been instrumental in securing our Platinum Gold Anchor Award, Superyacht Ready Accreditation, sustainability certifications and other accolades as a world-class superyacht hub. The feedback from yacht owners and industry partners has been particularly encouraging.

How do you plan to maintain or increase this level of excellence, on the environmental side in particular?

Sustainability is at the core of our strategy. We plan to build on our sustainability certifications and ISO 14001 accreditation by expanding our sustainability initiatives across all operations. This includes investing in renewable energy solutions, enhancing waste management systems, and promoting the use of electric and hybrid vessels through partnerships with technology leaders.

Our ongoing efforts to support marine conservation – such as the coral garden project – will continue to play a significant role. We aim to integrate environmental stewardship into various aspects of our marina management, ensuring that ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove not only maintains but sets new benchmarks for sustainability and excellence in the yachting industry. 

sutlenterprise.com
one15marina.com

This article was first seen on YachtStyle.com

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