The annual Yacht Valley Press Tour 2011 held by the Holland Yachting Group was well received by attending superyacht journalists.
During a productive week at the end of May, editors and feature writers from all the leading international magazines were given exclusive access behind the scenes at the top yards, equipment suppliers and naval architects. The Yacht Valley Press Tour also included networking opportunities, sea trials and social gatherings.
The Yacht Valley Press Tour has become a keynote event on the calendar of all major yachting magazines over recent years. It gives a group of journalists the chance to visit the Dutch yards and suppliers during a week, arranged by the HISWA Holland Yachting Group.
”Superyacht World editor-in-chief Hugo Andreae found the tour very interesting. “I enjoyed seeing how the whole industry fits together rather than one particular yard that is specialised in a given area or boat type. Holland has this huge specialisation in yachting and the speed dating sessions with the suppliers showcased the sense of identity and immense pride in being Dutch yachtbuilders rather than just individual companies in competition with each other. This is of course why owning a Dutch yacht is something to aspire to, regardless of what particular brand that may be. However good value a yacht might be, when you are spending many millions of Euros you want to feel proud of owning that boat. I think that this is far more important to clients than getting the cheapest option.”