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Day: 9 July 2019

MarineMax acquires Fraser

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2019

US broker MarineMax has acquired Fraser Yachts from the Italian-based Azimut/Benetti Group. The deal is designed to benefit all parties, boosting Fraser’s position in the North American market, providing MarineMax clients with larger yachts, and expanding Benetti’s dealership.

Fraser CEO Raphael Sauleau with MarineMax CEO and President Brett McGill

MarineMax was founded in 1998 and is America’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with 67 offices in the US. Meanwhile, Monaco-based Fraser has 20 offices worldwide and a team of over 160 members.

The acquisition will not only give MarineMax access to a fleet of large Fraser yachts, the company has also signed a multiyear dealership agreement to become the exclusive dealer for the Benetti Class of yachts in North America, strengthening a relationship that began between the US and Italian companies in 2006.

“The synergies between MarineMax and Azimut|Benetti Group have for a long time been very powerful and very real – we very much look forward to the next chapter in Fraser’s growth with a company we know has been built on solid relationships, and efficient and transparent business ethics,” said Fraser Yachts Chief Executive Raphael Sauleau.

MarineMax President and Chief Executive Officer Brett McGill added: “We are also very excited to add the Benetti Class of yachts to our luxury motoryacht offering. The history and product of Benetti separates the brand from other yachts and will present larger and more luxurious options to many of our customers, who are looking for that next step.”

Fraser assures that it will be business as usual and all staff will be retained,  including current directors Paolo Vitelli and Roberto Giorgi.

“It is a great deal for the management team in Monaco and the US because the culture of MarineMax is very close to ours,” Roberto Giorgi told Monaco Life. “They take care of their people and, like us, many of their staff have been with them for many, many years, especially the top management.”

The wider yachting community in Monaco has welcomed the news.

“The ownership by MarineMax comes with the added benefit of the group now being in a prime position to sell both Azimut and Benetti yachts to American buyers which will undoubtedly benefit Fraser’s US brokers,” said superyacht expert Patrick Coote. “In Monaco, Fraser is well established as a leading brand in the superyacht sector, with prominent offices on the Rascasse corner. With MarineMax’s support, their position in the market will be further strengthened.”

“Naturally for Fraser this is positive, because we can extend our footprint in North America where MarineMax has a large presence,” Roberto Giorgi explained. “For us this is very important and it could be that very soon you will see a new positioning of Fraser in the North American market.”

 

Nice Airport to offer new China route

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2019

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is accelerating its international development with the opening of its first direct connection to China. The route will serve as a significant potential source of tourism and business passengers for the region.

The flights will be available from 2nd August through Chinese national airline Air China and Beijing Capital International Airport, which is the leading airport and main aeronautical hub in China. Nice Côte d’Azur will be the only airport to provide this route outside of Paris.

“We are proud to become the first airport in France outside Paris to connect its region to China, the world’s leading country for outbound tourism,” said Dominique Thillaud, Chairman of the Management Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur. “This new route represents numerous economic opportunities for the Côte d’Azur, and the southern region more generally, and greatly helps to boost its appeal around the world.”

He continued: “The trust that Air China has placed in our region is an honour, and above all, it gives us a responsibility to make this development a success. All of the stakeholders in our region are committed to achieving this goal.”

The official launch of this new direct connection follows enormous efforts to attract Chinese tourists, including an increased presence on their social networks with a hotline on WeChat, a website and Wi-Fi welcome portal for the platform in Mandarin, a concierge app to answer visitors’ various questions, welcome stands with interactive facilities in the terminals, and signage to facilitate passenger flows.

Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

Nice Côte d’Azur airport already welcomes increasing numbers of Chinese tourists each year, with annual growth of between 15 and 20%. Currently, China is the 15th greatest source of tourists to the French Riviera, and the opening of the new air route is expected to help strengthen that position.

There will be three weekly rotations, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, using A330-200 bi-class aircraft, representing 227 seats including 28 in business class.

The China connection follows an official visit from President Xi Jinping at the end of March.

Photo credit: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

Meanwhile, low-cost airline easyJet will be operating flights to Morocco and the cities of Tangier from 27th October, and Agadir from 30th October 2019.

“The people of Nice will have the opportunity to fly to Tangier, one of the oldest cities in North Africa, and discover its kasbah, bazaars and souks, but also for the seaside resort of Agadir, particularly popular with golfers,” said easyJet.

The destinations will be served by two flights per week: Wednesday and Sunday for Tangier and Wednesday and Saturday for Agadir. The average cost of a single trip will be around 40€.

Commuters to benefit from SNCF deal

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2019

Workers travelling to Monaco by train will be able to buy their TER and TGV train tickets at tobacco shops throughout the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, one of five regions in France to offer the new initiative.

Monaco train station

Five months after it was announced to the media, SNCF signed a partnership protocol with the Confederation of Tobacconists on Monday 8th July, allowing members to sell TGV and TER tickets at the end of the month.

The first regions to experiment with this new system are Burgundy, the Grand-Est, Normandy, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and the Pays de la Loire. The rest of France should come on board in 2020.

Tobacconists will be able to issue tickets using a digital tablet and a small printer. “You enter your departure station, your arrival station, you select a date, you look if the customer has a card, and then the device will look for the most interesting rates,” said Eric Steil, TER marketing director at SNCF.

The ticket will be in the form of a credit card bill, on which will be written the first and last name of the passenger. There will also be a QR code that the train controller will have to scan.

Tobacconists will be compensated by SNCF for offering the service.

 

Herculis 2019

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2019

On the back of winning the title of best meeting in the 2018 Diamond League, the 33rd edition of Herculis Monaco promises to be another high level event, drawing today’s best international athletes.

Herculis 2018. Photo credit: Philippe Fitte

The Stade Louis II will welcome the crème de la crème of the athletic world this Thursday 11th July from 7pm, including three-time world record holder Pierre-Ambroise Bosse and reigning world champion in the 800m Filippo Tortu.

After last year’s successful shot put competition at Port Hercule, the organisation has decided to renew the experience, so the public will be able to attend the women’s triple jump contest on Thursday at 7pm on the Albert I platform between the pool and La Rascasse.

Prince Albert at the 2018 edition of Herculis Monaco. Photo credit: Philippe Fitte

Then on Friday, eight men’s events (100m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m steeple, pole, javelin, triple jump), seven women’s (200m, 800m, Brave like Gabe Mile, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, high jump) and 41 races of 1,000m will take place at the stadium.

Closing the event will be a fireworks programme at 10.15pm.

The meeting will also pay tribute to Gabriele Grunewald, who would have been 33-years-old on 25th June. Diagnosed with cancer in 2009, she holds the 11th American performance of all time in the 1,500m with 4’01”48 achieved in Monaco in 2013. In 2014, she became champion of the United States in the 3,000m indoor. Then, in 2018, she created the association ‘Brave like Gabe’ to raise funds and awareness about rare forms of cancer. After more than 10 years fighting the disease, the American athlete, a middle distance racing specialist, died on 11thJune 2019. In her honour, the organisation has changed the name of the Mile Women race to the Brave Like Gabe Mile.

MarineMax acquires Fraser

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2019

US broker MarineMax has acquired Fraser Yachts from the Italian-based Azimut/Benetti Group. The deal is designed to benefit all parties, boosting Fraser’s position in the North American market, providing MarineMax clients with larger yachts, and expanding Benetti’s dealership.

Fraser CEO Raphael Sauleau with MarineMax CEO and President Brett McGill

MarineMax was founded in 1998 and is America’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with 67 offices in the US. Meanwhile, Monaco-based Fraser has 20 offices worldwide and a team of over 160 members.

The acquisition will not only give MarineMax access to a fleet of large Fraser yachts, the company has also signed a multiyear dealership agreement to become the exclusive dealer for the Benetti Class of yachts in North America, strengthening a relationship that began between the US and Italian companies in 2006.

“The synergies between MarineMax and Azimut|Benetti Group have for a long time been very powerful and very real – we very much look forward to the next chapter in Fraser’s growth with a company we know has been built on solid relationships, and efficient and transparent business ethics,” said Fraser Yachts Chief Executive Raphael Sauleau.

MarineMax President and Chief Executive Officer Brett McGill added: “We are also very excited to add the Benetti Class of yachts to our luxury motoryacht offering. The history and product of Benetti separates the brand from other yachts and will present larger and more luxurious options to many of our customers, who are looking for that next step.”

Fraser assures that it will be business as usual and all staff will be retained,  including current directors Paolo Vitelli and Roberto Giorgi.

“It is a great deal for the management team in Monaco and the US because the culture of MarineMax is very close to ours,” Roberto Giorgi told Monaco Life. “They take care of their people and, like us, many of their staff have been with them for many, many years, especially the top management.”

The wider yachting community in Monaco has welcomed the news.

“The ownership by MarineMax comes with the added benefit of the group now being in a prime position to sell both Azimut and Benetti yachts to American buyers which will undoubtedly benefit Fraser’s US brokers,” said superyacht expert Patrick Coote. “In Monaco, Fraser is well established as a leading brand in the superyacht sector, with prominent offices on the Rascasse corner. With MarineMax’s support, their position in the market will be further strengthened.”

“Naturally for Fraser this is positive, because we can extend our footprint in North America where MarineMax has a large presence,” Roberto Giorgi explained. “For us this is very important and it could be that very soon you will see a new positioning of Fraser in the North American market.”

Palace concerts set to begin

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2019

The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra returns for a series of summer concerts in the Cour d’Hon­neur at the Prince’s Palace.

Photo Credit: Prince’s Palace Monaco

Founded in 1959 during the reign of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra has earned itself an international reputation for its summer season performances, delighting music lovers throughout Monaco and beyond and transforming the Cour d’Honneur at the Prince’s Palace into a magical music venue.

Some of the greatest conductors and soloists in the world have performed in the Cour d’Honneur including pianists Cziffra, Rubinstein, Kempff, Gilels and Leonard Bernstein, violinists Ferras, Menuhin and Perlman, cellist Rostropovich, and singers Rita Streich, Victoria de Los Ángeles, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Régine Crespin, Jessye Norman and Renée Fleming, not to mention Luciano Pavarotti.

The orchestra’s six summer season concerts will take place between the 18th July and 8th August, and will feature works by composers including Dvořák, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Mozart, and Beethoven.