Waypoint – Berth Booking System
News Published Date : Tuesday, 20 September, 2011 – 18:41
The Waypoint now seems to have disappeared and the website thewaypoint.com is now defunct, circa early 2024.
Marina Industry fails to Embrace Technology and Move with the Times
A leading London marketing consultancy has voiced concerns that the marina industry today could be risking its future health and growth by failing to embrace new technology.
London-based, Caspia Consultancy, who attended the London Boat Show earlier this year with several of their sailing related clients, have been undertaking their own research into the industry to see how the adoption of new technology is shaping the future of marinas. It wasn’t long before MD of Caspia, Pam Vick, felt strongly that the marina industry needed shaking up, as it seemed to have been run in the same way, unchanged, for years.
Pam Vick commented :
In my discussions with a number of marinas both large and small, I was surprised to find that a lot of their management systems had been in place for 20 years or more. Moreover, some of these so called “management systems” consisted of little more than whiteboards or excel spreadsheets when there are excellent (and free!) advanced online management systems available that are easy to use and seem to be “a no-brainer”. They seemed afraid or unwilling to approach the new technology on offer in the marketplace, which offered to save them time and money – it was even created to increase revenue at the marinas and encourage more visitors
Pam Vick
The London Boat Show 2011 was home to a number of innovations in the marina industry, most notably the launch of an online berth vacancy management service called The Waypoint but many are still hesitant to move with the times, claims Vick, and further commented :
There is so much resistance to change in the marina industry. Sadly, many are just not geared up to adopt new technology, even if it guaranteed to offer them a better return and more business. There needs to be a serious shake up and soon or the future survival of some marinas could seriously be at risk as they are left behind by the few who ARE currently moving with the times and embracing new technology. If the hotel industry had been this backward we’d still be ploughing through brochures and telephoning around to try to find a room for our holidays instead of simply looking up hotels online, browsing the facilities, looking at the photos, comparing prices and booking our holiday hotel immediately and securely 24/7.
Pam Vick
News Published Date : Sunday, 28 August, 2011 – 19:06
The Waypoint sails ahead into Europe with its 20th marina sign up
2011 is turning out to be a fine year for innovative online berth vacancy management website The Waypoint, who have just announced the news that they have signed up their 20th marina; the Royal Malta Yacht Club in Malta which is their second marina sign up outside of the UK.
The Royal Malta Yacht Club (The RMYC) which is home to the Rolex Middle Sea Race will now feature their latest berth vacancies on The Waypoint to enable sailors to book them online.
Sheltered in Ta’Xbiex Marina, the RMYC is the ideal spot to cast off for a cruise or for fishing any time of year. Being a club rich in history and a favourite port of call for reciprocal members from all over the world, The RMYC is very pleased to offer this new innovative service to its users.
Since its launch in November 2010, The Waypoint has been successful in signing up marinas all around the UK and has hit new heights of international success with marina sign ups in Lanzarote and now Malta even though they are still mainly marketing in the UK.
The Waypoint is a web-based berth vacancy management service which helps marinas to maximise revenue on empty berths by advertising them on a centralised database. It is also proving to be a great alternative to marina management software and the site can accept payments online 24 hours a day seven days a week.
As of August 2011, sailors can log into The Waypoint and immediately search and book a berth at over 20 signed upmarinas both in and out of the UK with just a click of a button. The Waypoint only takes commission on visitor revenue driven directly by the application, enabling marinas to effortlessly capitalise on the empty space, whilst also making booking a berth a breeze for sailors.
Charles Bacon, co-founder of The Waypoint is delighted at this early adoption of The Waypoint outside of the UK so far and believes the services add a real benefit for sailors and marinas alike.
Charles Bacon comments :
In my experience as a sailor, visitor berths at marinas are few and far between and often these are full. What The Waypoint does is guarantee them a space when they arrive, even if it’s in the middle of the night. The system is so simple to use and is updated automatically and costs nothing for sailors to use. With the warm weather on its way, it’s the perfect solution for those wanting to book and plan a sailing holiday with minimum fuss.
Charles Bacon
News Published Date : Monday, 27 June, 2011 – 19:15
If you’re hoping to set sail on one of the UK’s waterways this summer, you need look no further than new online berth vacancy management website The Waypoint, which features the latest berth vacancies from over 14 marinas across the UK.
The Waypoint is a web-based berth vacancy booking service which helps you to locate empty berths in their preferred marinas and book and pay for them online, 24 hours a day.
You can log into The Waypoint and immediately search and book a berth at over 14 displayed marinas with just a click of a button. The Waypoint is totally free to use and is set to make booking a berth a breeze this summer.
Summer sailing made easy with online booking system ‘The Waypoint’
Thanks to the variety of marinas now featuring on The Waypoint, the website can now offer berth vacancies in Nottingham, Hull, Kent, Surrey, Southampton, Poole, Plymouth, East London, Somerset, Hamble and even Lanzarote!
Charles Bacon, co-founder of The Waypoint is a keen sailor himself and created the service after experiencing first hand the difficulties of finding available visitor berths.
Charles comments :
In my experience as a sailor, visitor berths at marinas are few and far between and often these are full. Usually this means that even if there is space available elsewhere in the marina, perhaps in a private berth, you’ll still be turned away. What The Waypoint allows marinas and berth owners to do is sub-let their private moorings when they aren’t in use, thereby increasing the availability at marinas for visiting sailors. The system is so simple to use and is updated automatically. With the warm weather on its way, it’s the perfect solution for anyone wanting to book and plan a sailing holiday with minimum fuss.
Charles Bacon
