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A YEAR ago, Cameron Bray (pictured) forged an alliance with one of the world's top superyacht charter brands, and now his Gold Coast-based company is once again gearing up for a major period of growth.
Bray's luxury yacht brokerage business Northrop & Johnson is set to sail ahead of the competition as the company sets up its first office in Sydney, Australia's 'superyacht mecca'.
Now in the second year of its rebranding from Bray Management to the Australian arm of Northrop & Johnson, the company has become Australia's largest superyacht charter fleet as its 12 vessels currently under management take to the seas.
Bray expects to recruit more talent to his team once Northrop & Johnson is firmly established in Sydney, and says his goal is clear; to get more yachts out in the ocean.
"Becoming the Australian arm of Northrop & Johnson has propelled us faster along the path that we were already on and catapulted the business to a whole new level," says Bray.
"Our goal is to have more superyachts for charter in Australian waters and to facilitate more international visitors coming down here to enjoy them," he said.
In the past year, Bray has personally attended five international boat shows to promote his rebranded business and act as an unofficial ambassador for the Australian superyacht industry.
Bray says Australia is becoming a more popular destination for luxury sailing enthusiasts, and that he is looking to capitalise on the growing market.
"It's important that the global industry knows that Australia's superyacht scene is as sophisticated and safe as anywhere else in the world," he says.
"Australia is becoming a buzzword on the international charter scene and overseas charter brokers need to have the confidence to send their clients to the other side of the world.
"Our yachts are world standard and we have professional crews, exceptional maintenance and servicing facilities along the coastline and amazing cruising grounds to explore like the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Harbour."
One of Bray's current missions is to help inform Australia's superyacht owners on how to turn their dream boat into a profitable charter business.
"Previously, we consulted with other brokers if someone wanted to acquire a yacht and start up a charter business," says Bray.
"But the combination of our local industry expertise and trusted client relationships with Northrop & Johnson's company structure and resources has allowed us to bring the entire process in-house much sooner than we had hoped."
In 2016, Bray won the Hospitality & Tourism title at the Gold Coast Young Entrepreneur awards, and ranked among the Gold Coast's top 10 most influential young business leaders in Business News Australia's exclusive 40 Under 40 list.
Business News Australia
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