By Karen Hockney
ONBOARD ONLINE
21 Dec 2023
With the comprehensive refit and renovation of one of the most distinctive buildings in St. Thomas newly completed, IGY Marinas is thrilled to announce the opening of Harbor 360 in Yacht Haven Grande which is now available for private events.
This St. Thomas landmark, which is situated on-water at the heart of IGY’s flagship marina, has been a work in progress for over a year and is now taking reservations for special events, parties and corporate functions.
“It has taken us 14 years to open this building,” says IGY’s Sales and Marketing Manager Tammy Gedman. “We decided to make it a place where everyone can hold their own special events, from weddings to baby showers and product launches to staff and crew reward days.
‘It’s a gorgeous space, with a fully fitted catering kitchen and a beautiful outdoor space which faces the open water and the yachts. It’s exciting to finally throw the doors open!”
An iconic landmark in St. Thomas
With its unique hexagonal design, vibrant red roof, and numerous floor to ceiling windows, the panoramic views are spectacular whether inside or out, making Harbor 360 the perfect space to entertain within this four-time award-winning Superyacht Marina of the Year. With 2,200 square feet of interior space, and a 2,100 square feet wraparound terrace, Harbor 360 can comfortably accommodate up to 250 guests.
“It was a blank space, so the build saw IGY installing everything that was required – a catering kitchen, a big dining area, a dance floor, a stage and rest rooms,” says Tammy. “It’s a truly lovely place to be.”
“Pictures of St. Thomas have always featured that building so it’s already well known to people and this is a great opportunity to open it up to locals, visitors, marina guests and tenants,” she adds. “As far as location is concerned, there’s nothing else like it on the island.”
A versatile venue for all occasions
As well as catering to large events, Harbor 360 can be partitioned to create a more intimate ambiance for smaller gatherings. “This is a venue that can be adapted and decorated in tune with every kind of event, from weddings and birthday parties to corporate team-building days and private parties for the yachting community,” Tammy explains.
“Once you’re through the property’s main entrance, it’s a straight walk down the dock, so from a branding perspective too, we can build the anticipation, ensuring a grand entrance as soon as you set foot in Yacht Haven Grande.
“Being located in the upland of YHG, clients also have access to everything they might need onsite, including salons and nine restaurants serving a broad range of cuisine from Caribbean to Japanese and Italian, as well as more casual dining options.
“The convenience of having these restaurants just a walk away is hard to beat. There’s no event that wouldn’t work here, whether clients require cocktails and canapes on the terrace or fine dining inside.”
“We’re receiving a lot of enquiries from local businesses and event planners, some of whom have popped in to have a look. There’s a huge amount of interest in it.
“A couple of corporate parties are already planned and the final touches are now completed to make sure that when the first person walks in, it will be gorgeous.”
Adding to the broad appeal of the USVI
With Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas attracting some of the largest yachts in the world, Harbor 360 is sure to appeal to owners and charterers as well as the local community who frequent the marina’s onsite restaurants and stores.
“There’s no specific crowd,” says Tammy. “YHG is often a first port for US entry so there’s a lot of traffic with boats fuelling and bunkering, and while you can’t compare it to Miami, St. Thomas is a lively spot combined with St. John, St. Croix and the BVIs, with short trips for different types of experiences really close by.
“We also see cruise ship passengers coming in alongside yacht owners, captains, and crew, so it’s a very diverse area with thousands of people passing through each day. People are attracted to hold their events here because the team at YHG take such amazing care of them and the marina itself is highly secure and private.”
Expanding the reach of IGY Media events
Hot on the heels of IGY’s new media events arm, which launched earlier this year, the opening of Harbor 360 puts St. Thomas on the map alongside IGY’s curated VIP events during the Miami F1 Grand Prix and Art Basel, and the renowned annual 007 themed party at Monaco Yacht Show.
“IGY is putting everything into building out its events offerings, with more added for 2024,” says Tammy. “We are also looking to create intimate VIP offerings within larger events, which will cater to our Trident Collective members.
“It will be a big focus for us this coming year, as we continue to explore partnerships and collaborations with other companies to enhance and elevate the IGY brand.”