BusinessGrenada.com Issue: 7 2016 -2017 | Page 180

Yachting Yachting “ “ “ “ Budget now sponsors events from Aruba to St Maarten. As sponsors we have increased our brand recognition throughout the region. People who had never heard of us before now know us through this tournament. Our brand recognition has gone above and beyond our expectations. “ We also support the local Workboat regatta, but its not just a local event anymore it has now become a great national tourist event that visitors love to come out and support. It has proved to be a great event that highlights fun sailing and culture. Its grassroots, but it is a tourist event. In fact I see a lot of my customers there. Tourists are fascinated with the event. I believe the Government is very fair towards yachting in Grenada and they do listen to our concerns. Cruisers understand that not everything can be free and many support the idea that we all must live. Cruisers pay a lot of money in VAT which is a consumption tax. They may not stay in an all inclusive hotel for 7 nights but they do spread their money out throughout the economy. “ Sponsoring events is not like spending $10 in sponsorship and you looking for $10 back in sales it doesn’t work like that, its all about brand recognition. “ Budget Marine also does the match racing in St Marten Heineken Regatta. We use same boats with international sailors coming down for the event. www.businessgrenada.com Budget Marine has 12 stores regionally. “ Budget Marine now sponsors Grenada Billfish St Marten - Wahoo Bonaire-Dolphin Trinidad- Wahoo “ We know the region very well and we have explored every option possible; we may not have executed every option possible, but we have certainly explored all of them. We expect our 2 new marinas in Clarkes Court Bay and Carriacou to have their own strengths so we do not expect any cannabalism there. CC will be the biggest but Carriacou will be strategically positioned for servicing the Grenadines. “ 180 Grenada’s present yachting legislation is very yacht friendly. The government has been very supportive of the industry awarding a lot of benefits to yachties and cruisers whille duty free status of foreign flagged vessels has helped maintain and even increase the amount of boats here. Budget Marine is a privately owned dutch entity registered in the Netherlands Antilles. With a very complicated holding company structure. Attempts to establish their annual turnover and net worth are ongoing. BG www.businessgrenada.com 181 181