Tag: membership

  • Naora Opens Its Doors: A Membership-Based Global Sailing Journey Across 183+ Destinations

    Naora Opens Its Doors: A Membership-Based Global Sailing Journey Across 183+ Destinations

    From the outer reefs of the Maldives to the hidden anchorages of Raja Ampat, from the wild coast of Patagonia to the Society Islands of the South Pacific — NAORA offers its members a world that goes far beyond what any itinerary can contain.

    Anchored in a remote bay in the Azores, the only light coming from a sky full of stars. Diving the outer reefs of the Maldives, where the coral runs so deep you cannot see the bottom. Watching the sun rise over the Society Islands from a deck that is still warm from the night before. These are not highlights from a travel itinerary. They are Tuesday for a NAORA member.

    Today, NAORA announces its launch: a private, invitation-only sailing expedition membership that gives a curated circle of modern explorers flexible, recurring access to a continuously moving global journey spanning 183+ destinations and 45,000+ nautical miles over five years. It is the most ambitious membership-based sailing concept ever brought to market — and it is built, from the hull up, for people who are not satisfied with what a hotel can offer.

    45,000+ Nautical Miles. Five Years. One Continuous World.

    The NAORA route is not a circuit of popular anchorages. It is not designed around tourism seasons or marina availability. It is designed around one thing: putting its members in the most extraordinary places on earth at the moment those places are most extraordinary.

    The route follows trade winds and seasonal weather patterns, refined over 25+ years of accumulated offshore sailing knowledge. It begins in the Mediterranean — the Balearics, Sardinia, the Adriatic, the Aegean — before crossing the Atlantic via the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. From the Caribbean, it passes through the Panama Canal into the Pacific. Southeast Asia. The Maldives. The Indian Ocean. The Red Sea. The South Pacific. Patagonia. And back again — a five-year loop that never quite repeats, because the world does not.

    Each leg is timed with the prevailing wind systems and anchored in each region during its peak season. Members who join the Mediterranean leg experience the sea at its most vivid. Those who join for the Indian Ocean leg arrive during the perfect sailing window. Those who make the South Pacific passage with NAORA experience one of the most transcendent crossings available to any sailor, private or otherwise.

    And at every stage, NAORA members are not experiencing these places as tourists. They are experiencing them as people who belong there — because the crew does, the captain does, and the community does.

    The Vessel: Home on the Open Ocean

    Every NAORA journey takes place aboard the Lagoon Eighty2 — one of the largest production catamarans in the world, built for exactly the kind of long, deep, ocean-crossing lifestyle that NAORA is designed around. At nearly 24 metres in length, with a displacement of 66 tonnes and a sail area of 340 square metres, the Thira 80 is not a day-tripper. It is an offshore passage-maker of the highest order, wrapped in the interiors of a luxury private villa.

    Six to seven private en-suite double cabins. Wide teak decks for morning yoga and midnight conversations. A salon designed for the kind of dinner party that only happens when the nearest land is two hundred miles away. A professional galley from which a private chef produces three-course meals with ingredients sourced at every port. The Thira 80 is, quite simply, one of the finest environments in which a human being can spend time — and it is moving, always, toward somewhere remarkable.

    The catamaran design is not a compromise. It is the correct answer for this model. Two to three times the living space of a monohull of equivalent length. Minimal heel, smooth passages, dramatically reduced motion sickness. Wide decks and a shallow draft that allows NAORA to anchor in remote bays that deeper-keeled vessels cannot access. The Thira 80 delivers comfort without sacrificing reach — which means NAORA members can go further, stay longer, and arrive more refreshed than any comparable vessel would allow.

    “We don’t discover places. We return to them. That is the difference NAORA members will feel from day one. — The NAORA Founders”

    The Destinations Others Cannot Reach

    There is a version of global travel that is available to anyone with a credit card and a premium booking platform. Beautiful hotels in beautiful places, populated by other people with beautiful credit cards. NAORA is not that. NAORA is the version of global travel that requires local knowledge, earned trust, and years of relationship-building to access.

    The founding team has spent 11 years across Southeast Asia — not as tourists, but as residents. They have friendships in fishing villages that do not appear on any map, and access to anchorages that are not listed in any cruising guide. They know the chef at the restaurant that has no sign. They know the fisherman who knows the reef that the dive boats have not found yet. They have sat at tables in communities that most travellers will never find, not because of money, but because of time.

    That accumulated knowledge and those relationships are what NAORA members are buying access to when they join. Not a boat. Not a route. A world that the founding team has spent decades learning to navigate — and that deepens, for every member, with every return.

    On Board Life: Designed, Not Improvised

    The NAORA onboard experience is curated with the same level of intention as the route itself. Water sports equipment is maintained to professional standard — diving gear, kites, paddleboards, and exploration tenders are available whenever conditions allow. Shore excursions are arranged in advance, drawing on local networks to provide cultural access and private experiences that are unavailable to independent travellers.

    The community aboard NAORA is deliberately international. Members speak French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Dutch, and many other languages — but English is the official language of all navigation, safety briefings, and crew communication. The diversity of the community is a feature, not a coincidence. When extraordinary people from extraordinary backgrounds share an extraordinary environment, what results is a quality of conversation and connection that no land-based club or conference can replicate.

    Between voyages, the community continues. Regional gatherings in key cities. Private dinners. Cultural events at port. NAORA is not a place its members visit. It is a world they belong to.

    Membership: The Door Is Open

    NAORA membership is structured in three tiers. Coastal members receive approximately one week of access per year — an introduction to the vessel, the community, and the rhythm of offshore life. Offshore members receive approximately 40 days per year, building lasting relationships and experiencing the full depth of the expedition. Navigator members receive approximately 90 days per year, with priority on route selection and scheduling, and a level of integration into the NAORA world that is closer to a second home than a holiday.

    A one-time entry fee of €3,000–5,000 opens the door. Annual fees range from €9,000 for Coastal membership to €59,000 for Navigator access. Extended and bespoke arrangements are available for members who want a more permanent presence within the system.

    Every membership begins with a private conversation. Not a sales call. A conversation. NAORA wants to understand who you are and what you are looking for. You want to understand where the boat is going and who is aboard. Only from that mutual understanding does the question of membership arise.

    To begin that conversation, visit www.naora.world

    About NAORA — NAORA is a membership-based private sailing expedition founded by four Belgian adventurers with 25+ years of offshore sailing expertise. Its five-year global journey spans 183+ destinations and 45,000+ nautical miles, covering the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and South Pacific. Membership tiers — Coastal, Offshore, and Navigator — offer flexible, recurring access to life at sea aboard the Fountaine Pajot Thira 80, one of the largest luxury production catamarans in the world. NAORA is not a travel company. It is a new category of living.

  • Naora Revolutionizes Maritime Expeditions: Discover the World with a Private Sailing Membership

    Naora Revolutionizes Maritime Expeditions: Discover the World with a Private Sailing Membership

    Naora, an innovative private expedition venture established by seasoned maritime professionals from Belgium, is transforming the way individuals experience extended sea voyages. Instead of operating as a charter company, Naora serves as a membership-based platform, providing access to a continuous, multi-year sailing expedition across some of the world’s most secluded and culturally diverse areas.

    Contrary to the conventional travel approaches, Naora does not trade in travel packages. Instead, members have the privilege of joining a living expedition, a five-year journey impacted by the seasons, trade winds, and the amassed experience at sea. Participants can join and depart at various points during the journey, aligning their time on the vessel with their individual schedules and preferences.

    A Venture Driven by Experience, Not Fixed Plans

    Naora’s foundation is built on over twenty years of practical maritime experience, which includes professional sailing, global yacht deliveries, and previous expeditions on vessels like Discovery and Sueño, exploring areas like the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and northern waters.

    This strategy represents a transition from fixed itineraries to a more dynamic, experience-driven model. Routes are not predetermined but are modified based on conditions, timing, and local knowledge, allowing for a more profound interaction with each destination.

    Rather than designing a route on a map, Naora uses its years of maritime experience to return to significant places, ensuring the timing of these visits is perfect for maximum exploration and enjoyment.

    Appreciating Access Over Ownership

    Naora operates on a membership structure where members have access to the journey for a specific duration rather than to particular destinations. Members can choose segments of the trip based on availability and personal preferences, ranging from brief coastal passages to extended ocean crossings.

    The experience is intentionally designed to achieve a balance between structure and freedom. While a professional crew takes care of all operational aspects, participants are encouraged to engage with the environment at their leisure, whether this involves sailing, diving, surfing, or exploration ashore.

    From secluded anchorages to lesser-visited coastal regions, the focus is on immersion rather than consumption. This approach allows access to places that are often unreachable, including pristine environments and respectfully approached indigenous cultures.

    A Thriving Community, Onboard and Beyond

    Beyond the journey itself, Naora emphasizes the importance of community and continuity. The expedition is not only an offshore experience but extends into a broader ecosystem developed to keep members connected. This system includes curated gatherings both at sea and on land, along with a digital platform that allows members to stay engaged, no matter where they are on the route.

    In support of the community emphasis, Naora has introduced a dedicated role within the structure – a Commodore. This person is responsible for maintaining the connection between members and ensuring the community experience is consistent across all touchpoints, from onboard interactions to onshore gatherings and digital communication.

    The mission of Naora is not only about reaching new places but is also centered on the people who share the experience and the connection that continues long after the expedition ends. Besides, Naora is committed to preserving and continuing maritime traditions, not just as a concept, but as a lived practice. Knowledge, seamanship, and respect for the ocean are shared among participants, contributing to the overall experience.

    At the heart of Naora’s positioning is a strong emphasis on privacy and alignment. Participation is application-based, ensuring that all members share the same mindset. The onboard environment is deliberately small-scale, promoting trust, discretion, and a sense of belonging that’s vastly different from commercial travel experiences.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the concept behind Naora?
    Naora is a private sailing expedition membership that offers access to a continuous global journey across various oceans, seasons, and cultures. The emphasis is on experience rather than destination, and members can join and leave at different points along the route.

    What makes Naora unique?
    Naora differs from traditional travel models in that it does not sell trips but provides a living expedition that members can join. The routes are dynamic, and the focus is on immersion and engagement with each destination. It also operates on a membership structure rather than a charter model.

    What is Naora’s approach to community?
    Beyond the journey itself, Naora places a strong emphasis on community and continuity. They organize gatherings both at sea and on land, and have a digital platform to keep members connected. A dedicated role, the Commodore, is responsible for maintaining the connection between members and ensuring a consistent community experience.

  • A.S. Watson Group’s Number of Loyalty Members Reached 130million

    A.S. Watson Group’s Number of Loyalty Members Reached 130million

    In a world where customer preferences are ever-changing and they always want to try out something new, loyalty is everything to retailers. That is why A.S. Watson Group, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, is further investing in its loyal customers to give them unparalleled levels of rewards. Last month, the Group announced it is rolling out new VIP loyalty programmes worldwide to enhance customer connectivity and plans to extend to all of its 24 markets by early 2019.

    With 130 million loyalty members across the globe currently, the new VIP programme is an additional and invitation-only tier of membership which aims to reward and retain top customers. Malina Ngai, Group Chief Operating Officer of A.S. Watson Group, says, “We appreciate our customers, no matter how much they spend in our stores, and we know they love to feel valued. Our existing loyalty programmes reward everyone with great offers, but our VIP programmes thank our most loyal customers for shopping with us with amazing benefits and even more tailored rewards.” Getting Closer with Customers Since 2010, A.S. Watson Group has invested in CRM programmes in all of its key operating markets in Asia and Europe. Since that time, the Group has grown incredibly fast to an amazing 130 million members worldwide.

    The Group understands that great products, prices and service are not enough to remain close to customers. Customers are increasingly making decisions based on how retailers connect with them and make them feel. Data insights and analysis of existing CRM programmes show that around two thirds of customers who qualify as “VIP members” in a year continue as such the following year.

    These VIP members spend up to eight times more than average members each year, and this year the newly qualified VIP members’ spending saw a year-on-year double-digit increase. Now, the Group is launching VIP programmes around the globe to connect with its VIP members more closely and reward these highly valuable customers, offering an extra layer of advantages, many of which are personalised to the individual, such as exclusive invitations to product previews, members only Zumba dance events, family movie days, early access to sales and promotions and more bonus points.

    Moreover, there are a variety of additional benefits that are tailored to what’s valuable to the lifestyle of the local customer. Examples of this can be seen with free health and wellbeing classes offered to some VIP customers, such as invitations to fitness training classes for Watsons China and invitations to yoga in the sky and cooking classes for Watsons Malaysia VIP members.

    Other additional benefits include free movie tickets with Watsons Thailand, free exclusive gifts with purchases and sample boxes with The Perfume Shop in the UK and opportunities to be brand ambassadors and invitation to exclusive beauty workshops and shopping nights with ICI PARIS XL. Using Data Technology to Enhance Customer Connectivity In line with the launch of the Group’s CRM programmes in 2010, A.S. Watson has established a CRM function and focus on building CRM capabilities.

    This year, the Group launched DataLab which unites over 100 CRM experts around the world to share insights and best practices. With four billion customers each year and 30 million items sold every day around the world, A.S. Watson Group collects on average 4,300 terabytes of customer data every three years.

    To convert such enormous amounts of data to a useful tool which helps build closer relationships with customers, DataLab is using the latest technology to extract vital customer insights. This will help A.S. Watson better understands its VIP members, and provide more personalised, exclusive offers; all of this is done to achieve even stronger customer connectivity. Malina added, “We’re continuously investing into data technology and in doing so have launched DataLab, which does not only help us generate customer insights that are useful in enhancing retention and increase customer spending, but also enables the Group to make smarter decisions, blending science, experience and intuition. With cutting-edge data technology, we are turning transactions to interaction and that is how we are staying connected with our customers.”