LUXURY YACHT CHARTERS WITH PANOS SINAIDIS | E059 PODCAST
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ABOUT THE GUEST
Panos Sinaidis is the founder and CEO of Yachts MiamiVice, a Miami-based luxury yacht charter and brokerage firm that has grown into one of the city’s leading agencies. Born and raised in Greece, Panos was shaped by a culture deeply rooted in maritime tradition and ambition.
In 2014, he moved to the U.S. with a vision to redefine the yachting experience, launching Yachts MiamiVice with a focus on high-end, full-service charters that go beyond renting boats to create curated, seamless luxury experiences. Under his leadership, the company has delivered thousands of successful charters in Miami and expanded globally to destinations including Greece, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Panos holds credentials from the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA) and is licensed in yacht and ship brokerage, guiding clients through both charter and acquisition processes. Before entering the yachting world, he built a career in nightlife and event entertainment through Nightlife MiamiVice, producing elite events, private parties, and experiences across Miami, New York, and Europe — shaping his signature client-focused approach.
Known for his persistence, adaptability, and operational vision, Panos has built an international brand defined by authenticity and service excellence. His motto blends ambition with grounded hospitality: to deliver bespoke, elevated experiences that make every client feel uniquely cared for.
Outside business, he remains active on social media (@panosmiamivice), showcasing the yacht lifestyle and expanding the global visibility of Yachts MiamiVice.
Website: https://yachtsmiamivice.com/
Panos’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panosmiamivice/
Yachts’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yachts_miamivice/
Panos’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panos-sinaidis-08434b190/
George Stroumboulis sits down with Yachts Miami Vice's Panos Sinaidis in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things luxury yachts, chartering business, international expansion, building an empire from scratch and so much more.
“You are rich when you go to sleep and you’re happy.”
MEDIA RELATED TO THE EPISODE
George Stroumboulis sits down with Yachts Miami Vice's Panos Sinaidis in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things luxury yachts, chartering business, international expansion, building an empire from scratch and so much more.
Filmed in Thessaloniki, Greece — George Stroumboulis and Panos Sinaidis of Yachts Miami Vice explore the luxury yacht world, the ins and outs of the chartering business, global growth strategies, and what it takes to build a successful empire.
George Stroumboulis welcomes Panos Sinaidis of Yachts Miami Vice in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast for a conversation on luxury yachts, the booming chartering market, scaling internationally, and entrepreneurial grit.
On this episode of Invigorate Your Business, George Stroumboulis sits down with Panos Sinaidis of Yachts Miami Vice in Thessaloniki to talk luxury yacht life, chartering success, global expansion, and how one man built a business empire.
George Stroumboulis sits down with Panos Sinaidis of Yachts Miami Vice in Thessaloniki, Greece to discuss luxury yachts, the chartering industry, scaling globally, and building a brand from the ground up on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast.
ABOUT THE “INVIGORATE YOUR BUSINESS” PODCAST
The Invigorate Your Business with George Stroumboulis podcast features casual conversations and personal interviews with business leaders in their respective fields of expertise. Crossing several industry types and personal backgrounds, George sits down with inspiring people to discuss their business, how they got into that business, their path to the top of their game and the trials and tribulations experienced along the way. We want you to get inspired, motivated, and then apply any advice to your personal and professional lives. If there is at least one piece of advice that resonates with you after listening, then this podcast is a success. New episodes weekly. Stream our show on Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Amazon and all other platforms.
ABOUT GEORGE STROUMBOULIS
George Stroumboulis is an entrepreneur to the core, having launched several ventures across multiple industries and international markets. He has held senior-level positions at progressive companies and government institutions, both domestically and internationally, building an extensive portfolio of business know-how over the years and driving profit-generating results. George’s ability to drive real change has landed him in several media outlets, including the front page of the Wall Street Journal. George was born in Toronto, Canada to his Greek immigrant parents. Family first. Flying over 300,000 miles a year around the world puts into perspective how important family is to George’s mental and emotional development. With all this travel to global destinations, the longest he stays even in the most far-out destination is 3 days or less - a personal rule he lives by to make sure he is present and involved in family life with his wife and three daughters. To read about George’s global travels, stay connected with his blog section.
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FULL SHOW TRANSCRIPT
George Stroumboulis: 0:00
This episode of Invigorate Your Business with George Stroumboulis comes from Thessaloniki, Greece. I get to sit down with a yacht chartering expert by the name of Panos Sinaidis. Panos is originally from northern Greece, but has built his empire in Miami, Florida. During COVID, he started his own yacht chartering business with a few boats and yachts, and since then has expanded to a huge portfolio, has done over 2,000 private charters in multiple markets around the world. So we're going to learn a lot from Panos, what it takes to start a business, to expand it, to build your personal brand. It's a great episode. You're going to enjoy this one. So tune in starting now. My name is George Stroumboulis, and I'm extremely passionate about traveling the world, meeting new people, and learning about new businesses. Join me as I sit down with other entrepreneurs to learn about their journey. This episode of Invigorate Your Business Starts Now. We're sitting here with Mr. Panos in his Thessaloniki Greece, right? This is amazing. We're uh we're going to talk about a bunch of different things today, but you are an expert when it comes to chartering yachts, the yacht industry, not here in Greece. You started it in Miami, which is the Mecca in North America for that. I want to read just a quick little intro about you and your business. You tell me how accurate we are, if we're on, we're off, right? But Panos Sinaidis, better known as Panos Yacht Miami Weiss, the visionary entrepreneur behind Yacht Miami Vice, one of the most recognized luxury yacht charter and sales companies in North America and growing around the world. Originally from Greece, Thytaloniki, Panos built his brand in Miami and has since expanded globally, with operations spanning the Bahamas, Greece, France, Spain, and Dubai. Under his leadership, Yacht Miami Vice has delivered more than 1,500 successful charters, which is incredible, offering not just yachts, but complete luxury experiences from chefs to DJs to bespoke onboard. Panos is more than a businessman. He's a lifestyle curator, helping clients turn special moments into unforgettable memories on the water. His story is one of vision, hustle, and building an international brand that's become synonymous with Miami luxury culture.
Panos Sinaidis: 2:30
100%. Let's go. You know my story better than my mother knows my story. Well, I hope your mom's gonna watch this episode, huh? First of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation. I see that you're super professional. I saw almost off all of your uh podcasts. Uh congratulations for your job. I'm here to answer all of your questions. Amazing.
George Stroumboulis: 2:54
Panos, thank you. We've been probably the last couple years connected socially. Uh, I've seen you do, I think the Great Greeks podcast, right, with the Lías Cosmidis. Uh very nice guy from Australia. I see you online. I see like the constant hustle, right? Like you know, nothing was handed to you, right? So I get that, the grind. I've seen, you know, I've heard your story and basically coming from, you know, next to nothing in the States, right? And starting and building this up. Correct. Uh, and sitting here in 2025 with a business that's international right now, right? It's not just Miami, even though Miami is a pretty amazing market. And you're from Thessaloniki, Greece, which again, Greece is second largest city. Uh, we're sitting here right now. We're gonna show a view too for the viewers, but right now we just saw dolphins swimming in front of us.
Panos Sinaidis: 3:42
Unbelievable. And this is the first time I see dolphins in uh Thessaloniki. This is my lucky day.
George Stroumboulis: 3:49
See that we're bringing good energy, right? And Priscilla off camera right there as well. So, so talk to me, you know, how do you describe Yacht's Miami Vice? Let's start there.
Panos Sinaidis: 3:58
Yachts Miami Vice is different than all the other agencies that provide luxury charters all over the world. We engage with the people, with our clients, our guests in a different way. I'm not gonna say the secrets, but uh we provide an unforgettable experience. Uh, earlier you said about the extra services that we also provide after we do the bookings for the judge, and all this, uh along with uh the engagement with our guests, creates an unforgettable experience. As you said, we started from uh Miami in 2019 by accident, and uh we ended up now in 2025 to operate all over the world. People that they started uh choosing us in Miami when they travel in Greece, in Spain, and everywhere in the world, they always call me in order to provide our services. Incredible. So it's a luxury charter agency. We also do sales, we are licensed, and we provide exceptional services all over the world.
George Stroumboulis: 5:11
All over, and we're gonna put the links up to make sure people follow and see you know what you're doing. But you leave Greece, okay, after the crisis, during the crisis, your family has businesses here, right? But but you're you're in constraints, right? Just the economy, what's going on.
Panos Sinaidis: 5:26
You go visit the states, you know, what makes you want to move there, and what were you doing when you so to tell you my story from the beginning, I was a professional soccer player in Greece until I was 23 years old, from 15 years old to 23. Wow. I was well known in uh Thessaloniki. I also have a store, I had a store, we closed it recently. Uh, we were selling uh men's clothing, and uh I was really good here in United States in uh Thessaloniki financially, but my dream for myself is big. And I couldn't accomplish this uh dream here in Greece. The financial crisis, the political situation were the reasons that I was thinking to go in another environment. Since I was a little boy I had a dream to live in the United States. That came from my uncle Leonidas, the brother of my father, who gave me since I was a little boy a lot of ideas. He was telling me a lot of stories about the United States, so he put it in my mind, and this is what I did. I went to United States where I met a very beautiful lady at that moment, and uh okay, so you fell in love, but uh when your uncle was there, did you go live with him first? I've never been uh in uh United States until that moment. Okay, yeah. So I went in 2014, I met this uh lady, uh, we fell in love and uh we started our life there. I started to work as a server in the Greek restaurants uh where I did uh very good job and I was making good money.
George Stroumboulis: 7:19
In Miami. In Miami, yes. And any restaurants you can name?
Panos Sinaidis: 7:23
Yes, absolutely. It was uh the Eat Greek restaurant. Have you ever heard about it? I've heard it, yes, yes. The owner is Billy Dimotakis, he helped me a lot in the beginning. It was a very nice restaurant with a lot of clients where I had uh the first uh connections. I met all of my friends over there in the beginning. After that, I worked in the nightlife as a promoter.
George Stroumboulis: 7:47
Yeah, tough industry.
Panos Sinaidis: 7:49
It's very tough industry, but it worked really good for me for the business that I do right now. I met a lot of uh high-end clientele. And uh when the COVID came, it was uh the luckiest moment of my life. For many people, COVID was bad, right? Of course they lost their job. For me, it worked completely different. Um, it gave me the opportunity to be in the yacht industry. Out of a phone call of my client who wanted to come in uh Florida and Miami from New York. Uh he told me that he wants to enjoy his bachelor party with his friends, but back then all the nightclubs were closed. So I gave him the idea to rent a boat. And this is what uh he did. A friend of mine the previous day called me and he told me that he has a boat, he owns a boat. Uh, everything is closed. The nightclubs, uh, the bars, the restaurants. So the only thing that uh was operating uh legal was the boats that you could have 13 people and uh enjoy the magic experience with the views of Miami. Oh, it on the water away from okay. Exactly. We had a bartender for him, a DJ, his five friends, and uh we made it special. And this is how I did my first booking. I was not involved with the yachting at all, but I saw the opportunity of uh the chartering. And uh next day I went to Miami Beach Marina where I uh found a way to create a bigger fleet. The second day I had already seven boats in my fleet. Come on! Yes, the story is uh unbelievable. I cannot believe sometimes I think that it's a dream because it came out of nowhere just from a phone call. I saw the opportunity, I made from my living room during COVID $400 from the first booting, and I said, What I was doing all these years? I was going to work as a server to make $150, uh $200 in 12 hours sif, and now I made from my living room with my underwear $400 out of a phone call of 10 minutes, 10-15 minutes. That was your Eureka moment. Like, okay, and this is how I started the business.
George Stroumboulis: 10:18
Come on, so yeah, so up until then you were nightclub promoter, serving, so you're at the clubs till late night, right? Entertaining, doing all this, and then COVID happens, everything shuts down. And before your friend called you to basically push you in that direction without you knowing, what were you thinking? Like, what am I gonna do now? How am I gonna pivot? What other options did you have?
Panos Sinaidis: 10:43
It was a critical moment for me. I didn't have any options. I was desperate in my living room during COVID. I didn't have any income. All the nightclubs were closed, and as a promoter, I didn't have any other way to make money. Sure. Uh I didn't want to go back to serving uh in the restaurants. Most of them actually were closed as well, but I took this uh business, this profession out of my mind. I wanted to do my own business and uh make my dream true to be an entrepreneur, to make a good uh living out of the new business that uh I want to do and to make my dream true, to bring my family from Thessaloniki to the United States. That was your dream, yes, it is still my dream, yeah, and this is why I work 24-7 every day to improve my business and to become financially uh stronger in order to bring my parents and my sister uh to the United States.
George Stroumboulis: 11:52
I mean, talk about a goal, right? Well, at that point, was there ever an option like hey, you know what? Maybe I go back to Greece.
Panos Sinaidis: 11:58
I never had this uh option in my head. I only had plan A. There is no plan B for me. Right. And I never give up. This is the secret for me. I finalize, I make my goals true. I always finalize uh my my goals. I go there. There's no give up. There's no give up, yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 12:21
So dude, that's that's kind of crazy. Do you do you still uh are you still friends with that guy that called you that one day and said, Hey?
Panos Sinaidis: 12:29
Yes, absolutely. His name is Nick. He used to be my client for uh the nightclubs. I met him by accident outside of uh nightclub Wall, the Wall Hotel, W Hotel in uh Miami Beach. And yes, I told him about uh his help to make me uh be involved with the yachting industry. He's very happy and he sends me a lot of uh his friends as well. That's a big deal. So, yes, that's a big deal.
George Stroumboulis: 12:58
So friends, right? Like, think about that. You make your 400 bucks, you book it, and then literally the next day you're like, Oh, I'm jumping into this business.
Panos Sinaidis: 13:06
Is that correct?
George Stroumboulis: 13:07
And then you go down to the marina and you go, and and what's that process?
Panos Sinaidis: 13:11
You're you're just knocking on boats, and like, hey, can I so I woke up next morning, I wore my uh promoter suit, it was a black Lame, the one that is signing. Okay, yeah, and it was my only uh suit. I put my laptop in a nice bag to look good, and uh I went to Miami Beach Marina, which is the most popular marina in Miami, and um I was waiting outside of the dock for someone to come outside so I can sneak in because all these doors need a fob in order to get in. And this is what I did. I was pretending that I was on the phone, I went inside the dock, and on the right and left, you could see a lot of boats. I like the first one, and I saw a person on it. I said, Hello, I have a big portfolio of clients. I would like to add your boat in my fleet. I like it, can I come in? And the first person said, Yes. First person, yes. Okay, so I went in, I discussed with uh it was the captain of the boat. Uh he gave me the pricing, uh, he sent me photos, and this is how I created five more boats uh in my fleet. I went home that day and uh I realized that I had everything organized, uh, seven boats in total, uh pricing photos, but I didn't have clients for the boats. So I have to find a way to find clients. I called my friend in Greece. I was in Miami, it was uh 2 a.m. in Greece. He picked up a phone and he said, Panos, it's too late. What do you want? I said, Andonis, he's my website uh developer. Can you create a website and name it nightlife miamivice.com? He said, Yes, let's talk in the morning. No, no, I want you to put the idea down now, to write it down, what I need, because I was planning after COVID, I didn't know that COVID is gonna last so long.
George Stroumboulis: 15:19
Two months we'd be back, yeah.
Panos Sinaidis: 15:21
Correct. So I was thinking that I'm going back to be a promoter in the nightlife, and this way I'm gonna get clients from the nightlife and have them on the yacht so I can make it profitable both ways, which is the nightclubs and the yachts.
George Stroumboulis: 15:36
They complement each other too, right? The same correct.
Panos Sinaidis: 15:39
Next morning, uh Adonis woke up and he started to create my uh website, nightlife miamivice.com. That was the first one. That was the first one, okay. But I had uh uh nightclubs, I had uh Luxary Car Randalls and uh yachts. It was, if I remember well, November uh 2020. 2020. Okay. Adonis worked really hard to do this uh website, and uh suddenly uh he finalized it, but I didn't have any bootings. November, December, February. I hardly had uh like uh four or five bootings for the boats.
George Stroumboulis: 16:19
So, what were you doing for money in between then?
Panos Sinaidis: 16:21
Just uh I had some savings. Okay I had Priscilla uh telling me that uh I have to find a way to bring some income in the house, it was working as well, but I was so dedicated in this idea with the boats that I was putting all my effort, all my time to create uh this business perfectly. And suddenly on uh March I woke up at eight o'clock. Of course, I created the whole system with uh social media, Google advertisements, uh Instagram advertisements, and suddenly in the beginning of March, my phone started to ring from eight o'clock in the morning until 12 o'clock in the night, and I was making bootings, and I was screaming in the house. Every time I was receiving payments, I was like, Oh my god! And Priscilla was coming outside in the living room. I used to have my laptop and everything in the um um uh dining table. Yeah, Priscilla was coming. What happened? I just made 400, I just made 200 all day long.
George Stroumboulis: 17:32
I was making bookings, all from from the it was all advertising, no connections at that point.
Panos Sinaidis: 17:38
No connections.
George Stroumboulis: 17:39
But you were doing Google Ads, Instagram, all that stuff.
Panos Sinaidis: 17:42
Correct.
George Stroumboulis: 17:42
At this point, are you creating your online image that you have now?
Panos Sinaidis: 17:46
Yes. Uh I was always thinking that I have to put my face on the screen so I can make it more trustworthy for the clients that they see the advertisement. If you see an advertisement, having just a boat and saying, call this number to make a booking, it's not so trustworthy. But if I put my face, my image on the screen, they see a person. So that's the guy, yes. That's a guy. Yep. And we see that he has stories and videos from like three months ago or a year ago. So this uh legit business. We can go after him if something goes wrong. If you see just a boat, you're not gonna trust it so much because it can be scam.
George Stroumboulis: 18:35
Yeah, scam, and anyone can just Google images. Yeah, I got this boat, and it's like, who is it? But like your on pro your online profile is very strong.
Panos Sinaidis: 18:43
Correct. This is this is my personality as well. I'm not afraid to go on the screen, I'm not afraid to make a mistake. I'm there to make my clients happy. Mistakes can happen to everybody in all businesses, right? Absolutely. Uh, but uh I'm not afraid, and this is what I love. And when I love something, I put 100% of myself in uh what I do and uh I love.
George Stroumboulis: 19:08
But that's a that's a long like for people listening, right? Wherever they are in the world, they think, hey, I'm gonna start my business three months. I I worked hard and I'm launching it. Like you end of 19 before COVID, you already know, like, hey, I don't want to be doing this forever. Then you get that first booking, but then it was like planning websites, all the stuff, and basically you had another six, seven months until you started seeing it.
Panos Sinaidis: 19:32
Not uh six months, it was from November to March. Okay. November, December, January, February. So, yes, it was a critical decision to move forward and stay in this uh route in order to be successful. I never give up. Yeah. So I saw the potential and I went there to make it happen.
George Stroumboulis: 19:54
That's incredible.
Panos Sinaidis: 19:55
And it happened. I mean, the first uh year after March until the end of uh June, we had uh like 200 bootings. 200 bootings the first year is something crazy for someone that never stepped his feet on a boat. That's crazy. I've never been on a boat in my life. Yeah, I saw the potential and I studied about the business at that moment.
George Stroumboulis: 20:21
Right. Of those 200, most of them first timers or repeat, first timers.
Panos Sinaidis: 20:27
Wow, yeah, from uh Instagram, from but remember it was good timing because it was during COVID and people didn't have so many options, no nightclubs, no um uh restaurants, no bars, no uh things to do. Yeah, so they were going all of them to the boat in Miami.
George Stroumboulis: 20:48
They were living boats. You had that head start, but the rest of the country was still shut down, and Miami, Florida was open for business. Correct.
Panos Sinaidis: 20:55
So you everybody was coming from all over the United States to Miami, to Florida, because it was the most um the easiest way to enjoy life.
George Stroumboulis: 21:05
Open for business. The governor did an amazing job. Yeah, absolutely. And and looking back a few years now, they made the right decisions, correct?
Panos Sinaidis: 21:12
Right? But it was a risk as well because it was something that it was first time in the earth, right? Oh, yeah, uh, this uh uh situation with the COVID. So thank God everything went really good. We got established with a good reputation in Miami, and this is how I started to think about expanding the business in other locations. As I told you, from March to June we had almost 200 bootings, and then I decided to come for vacation for vacations in Greece. I came into Salonia, I stayed with my family, I saw them after many years actually, and uh then I went on October back to the United States to prepare for the next season. The season went really well, and then I had to come back in uh Greece again because the season. How long is it in Miami? In Miami, it's until the end of uh July for the bookings. After that, we have the bad weather, a lot of humidity, and uh the hurricanes.
George Stroumboulis: 22:16
Yep, so you have a six-month window every season.
Panos Sinaidis: 22:19
Correct. Okay. So when I came in uh Greece for my vacation the second time, I realized that I can do the same business model in Greece. Yeah. In Mykonos, Santorini, Kriti, the Ionian Sea, and you know what? All the people from Miami, from New York, for their vacation, they visit Greece. So I had a lot of phone calls. Yeah. Pano, do you have any connections in Mykonos? I didn't have any connections in Mykonos. And the same happened in Saint Tropez. A client of mine called me and he told me, Pano, do you have any connections in Saint Tropez? From Los Angeles, uh, the client. I didn't have any connections. Well, you said I said yes. Of course. There you go. You know what I did next day? I took the airplane from um Miami to Saint Tropez. I went uh to the marina, I found uh two boats, actually, one boat. I called the client from uh Los Angeles and we made the booking right away. Did you call him from Saint Tropez? Yes.
George Stroumboulis: 23:24
So instant credibility, like yeah, yeah, I'm here. What do you need? Yeah, amazing.
Panos Sinaidis: 23:29
I made sure that the people in Saint Tropez were reliable because in this business you can find a lot of people that are not trustworthy, they can take your deposit and disappear. So I made sure that everything was legit with the company that I work with, and we made the booting in Saint Tropez, which cost you a few thousand dollars just to go there to take that risk. In that specific uh booking, I didn't uh make money, I put money from my pocket, but I created the model, yeah, the same model. So we had already Miami, Mykonos, Santorini, and um uh Saint Tropez within the first couple years, yeah. Correct. In in uh two and a half years, yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 24:12
Out of nowhere, yeah, and and you're in the yachting chartering business when you weren't there two and a half years ago. Correct. So you you had mentioned why why you like it's it's a saturated industry, like anything. How have you been able to stand out in Miami? Like, why why do they book with Yachts Miami Vice and not the hundred other type of yachts?
Panos Sinaidis: 24:33
The reason that they come with me is because they see my face. This is very important. You believe that? Like you 100% they see my face all the time on social media, on the boats, and explaining how we do the bootings. We offer a very easy, smooth way of booting. It's just a phone call. We send them the we send our guests the options, they like the options, we always provide the discounted uh price for people that they rent the first time with us, and they just make the booting. We send them the invoice, we receive the deposit, and that's all. Simple. Then something that uh keeps us apart from all the other agencies is that we care even after we get the deposit from our guests, we care about uh them. We go to the boats, we inspect the boat before the charter, we make sure that everything, every single charter, even if it's a small boat or a mega yard. Wow. We make sure me and my team, we have 12 people in uh our team that everything is exceptional, everything is ready to go safety, number one, and then clean. I love to have my boats clean and uh all the extra services. We always make something extra for our guests to make them happy.
George Stroumboulis: 25:54
So you have uh a dozen people working for Yachts Miami Vice that so every charter that goes out, it's not like, yeah, got your money, just show up and correct.
Panos Sinaidis: 26:03
Most of the agencies, after they take the deposit, they don't really care. Yes, they are secure, they made their money, and they just wait for the day to come to connect uh the captain with the guest and uh go for their experience, which is not an experience. You have to be there, you have to welcome the client, you have to uh do the handshake or uh make them feel comfortable. Many of these people, yes, they come to show to their social media that they go for uh a boat, that they are rich. Yes, but when I'm there, I make sure that they're gonna enjoy the experience and they end up enjoying the experience more than they wanted to show off. Yeah, absolutely.
George Stroumboulis: 26:52
You understand what I mean? Over the years, I've chartered maybe four or five times in Miami before I knew you, right? So, like I still haven't since I've known you. You will see the difference when you charter with me.
Panos Sinaidis: 27:03
I'm telling you, you're gonna love it, you're gonna understand what I'm doing.
George Stroumboulis: 27:07
Absolutely. And my point to that comment is I couldn't tell you who or where I chartered it from. One of them was a work event, it's all just kind of online, and there's gonna be zero repeat business because nothing was uh correct. Nobody engaged with you, zero engagement and zero, like, hey man, any trips coming up? What's going on? Like so that is a big deal, you know, and your online personality of like what you're doing, that's that's a big deal. How many people want to see you there? You're only one person, you can't be running around to 300, 400 charters a year. Correct. Like, how do you how do you make sure like you train your team?
Panos Sinaidis: 27:43
Everybody has their own personality. I just want to make sure that the people that I send to the boats will welcome the right way the clients will make sure, as I told you before, that everything is perfect and ready for them. Safety and their happiness are the priorities for me. Um, so it's easy, but it's not easy at the same time for someone to make sure that everything is going under control. Right. I want a warm welcome for my guests, and this is what I'm trying to pass to uh the people that they work for Yachts Miami Vice uh to do when they go to welcome the clients. Amazing. I try to be everywhere, but of course, sometimes it's not possible, especially when you have 10 uh charters a day, and uh some of them are the same time, but uh I try to do my best.
George Stroumboulis: 28:36
Yeah, well, it shows. So, this obviously is a business podcast without educating your competition. You know, there's the future panos who is maybe 20 years old right now who wants to do this, right?
Panos Sinaidis: 28:50
Yes.
George Stroumboulis: 28:51
What advice would you give them to get into this chartering space? What advice would you give someone?
Panos Sinaidis: 28:57
This is not a competition for me. Miami has more than 1,000 agencies that they do boat randults, boat sales, and all over the world there are thousands of agencies. The reason that I come to the podcasts is to give these young people the knowledge and the information that whatever they put in their mind as a goal, they can make it happen if they put their effort, and no matter how many uh uh uh obstacles they face during this journey to succeed in to succeed their goal, they don't have they have to don't give up. So, my suggestion to all these young people is to follow their dreams and never give up because they can make everything happen if they believe in themselves in their dream. 100%, not 99%, 100% they have to. Talk to the universe. Loud. And everything that they think it's gonna it's going to happen. Just believe and don't give up. This is what I would say to the younger people that they start uh their businesses.
George Stroumboulis: 30:15
Yeah. Well, for you to have that's great advice, you to have the balls to that moment, like, huh, I can make this work, and you're at the marina the next day, and you're you're basically, you know, doing a great sales approach to get this. Like, that's not easy. Right now, I find like the youth are probably looking at you like, oh, I want to do that. And they're just saying that because there's money, it's a prestigious luxury, it's a sexy industry. But it's hard work. Like right now, where you're at right now, like you had to grind, right? You have that grind mentality, though. So talk to me really quick. We're we're I want to get back into Miami, but professional soccer, you just touched upon that. Playing professional soccer in Greece, like that just shows determination just to play professional. What was that like? Like, did you know you would you would go pro?
Panos Sinaidis: 31:00
And how long were you able to stay there? Since I was a little boy, I was a very good athlete. I was very disciplined as well. Um, I found out in the age of 14, 15 that I can be professional because I was very competitive and I saw the other people, and I said that they were already professionals. I said, I can do it as well. I trained really hard and I succeeded to be professional in the age of uh 16. Until the age of 23. Soccer helped me a lot on what I am right now. My communication skills, my competitive uh skills, to know how to work as a team. Uh but uh in the age of 23, I realized that here in Greece you cannot uh make uh money. I want to be clear on that. Yeah, I couldn't make money, money was the goal for me in order to help the people around me as well, so I I I stopped playing football.
George Stroumboulis: 32:01
But but give the listener an idea, like a professional player in Greece.
Panos Sinaidis: 32:06
Yes, uh in second division, not first division.
George Stroumboulis: 32:08
Yeah, second division, but uh maybe you're making a thousand euros a month?
Panos Sinaidis: 32:13
I was making like two thousand uh uh euros a month, but uh for a professional soccer player, just the nutrition it's 1500 a month.
George Stroumboulis: 32:23
Right, right, right.
Panos Sinaidis: 32:23
So you cannot uh even uh yeah live a nice life with uh $2,000.
George Stroumboulis: 32:29
But your average Greek here makes less than a thousand a month. So when you hear 2,000, you're like, oh that's great, yes, but what's the future?
Panos Sinaidis: 32:36
You're not always gonna be playing, correct? Right? I would uh play until the age of 35 maximum, yeah, and then I would uh go to work as a taxi driver, maybe. Yeah. No, my my dream was bigger than that. That's why I left and I went to the United States, the country that gives you the opportunity to accomplish all your dreams. Yeah, I knew that since I was a little boy because of my uncle, and this is uh why I follow this uh and you're living it.
George Stroumboulis: 33:04
You became a citizen of the United States last year. Last February. Last February. Okay, congrats, man.
Panos Sinaidis: 33:09
Thank you so much. Uh this is uh the biggest uh the the second biggest accomplishment of my life. The first one being the first one is uh that uh I became um special forces uh and paratrooper in uh Greece in the Greek army. That was uh a very hard for me to do. I did it, and that was, in my opinion, uh my biggest accomplishment.
George Stroumboulis: 33:36
Oh, so you have that determination of like military soccer, yes, yes, yes.
Panos Sinaidis: 33:42
I I loved it. I loved it. I love Greece. We said a lot of things about the United States, but I have also to say about Greece. Maybe in Greece we don't have we we are limited to do things, but Greece is a wonderful country. Hopefully it's going to improve, and I see Greece improving a lot. I love Greece. I I wish things were different so I could spend more time here, but um United States is uh my second country.
George Stroumboulis: 34:10
Yeah, so that's home now for you, right? But but okay, so talk about Greece, economy aside, who you are is you. You can't change that, right? So, like Greeks are known for philotimo, uh phyloksenia, right? Like being able to be hospitable on another level, right? Talk about everything, but how how is that transcended? Like, do you think your upbringing here has helped you differentiate who you are over there and the service that you offer over there?
Panos Sinaidis: 34:36
Absolutely. The Greek hospitality is something that we offer with Yods Miami Vice and makes the difference. Since the acid year, the Greeks are known for their philoxenia, hospitality. This is what we do with Yodz Miami Vice, and we keep our we keep our uh guests engaged because they they love what they receive from us, uh, and they come again and again with uh Yods Miami Vice. So, yes, uh being Greek helped me a lot. Uh my culture helped me a lot with the services that I provide in my business in uh Miami with Yods Miami Vice.
George Stroumboulis: 35:15
What's their reaction like when you have a group of bachelorettes coming or bachelor parties and all this, and and they meet you for the first time. What's typically their reaction when they're like, oh, you're Greek?
Panos Sinaidis: 35:26
Like when you say my background, like is it positive? Absolutely. They they all love Greece. Yeah, they all know about the Greek history. Um, the way I approach them is totally Greek. They love it. I break the ice with my behavior, and also the people that uh work for Jodschmaya and Weiss learn how to uh break the ice when we meet uh the clients. We we try to make them feel comfortable because for the specific time that they book this million-dollar yacht charter, we make them feel that they own the boat. That's the feeling you want them to feel. Correct. At this moment, I would like also to thank the Greek community of the United States because they support me so much. People that come from New York, Chicago, California, when they come to Miami and they would like to rent a boat, they always come with me. Yeah, it's unbelievable the love and the support that I get from them. It's uh that's special, right? Amazing. I love it. I love it.
George Stroumboulis: 36:34
That's special, like to have that that backing. So I read this morning before we met, which by the way, I met you, met your girlfriend, like great people. I feel like I've known you forever, right?
Panos Sinaidis: 36:46
And we feel the same for you as well.
George Stroumboulis: 36:48
You guys are I mean, we're having coffee, and you dude so gracefully like brought this beautiful icon, religious icon. Oh, yeah. That I can't wait to put up. And like you guys are who give a little talk talk to us about Agios Paisios.
Panos Sinaidis: 37:02
Just uh since I was a little boy, Agios Paisios was my favorite, let's say, uh Saint, yeah. His story and uh his reputation uh gives power to many religious people in Greece, and the most important is the love that he tries to teach us that we have to share our love, even to our haters. This person helped a lot of people. He made people that they had diseases feel uh good. He helped a lot of people in general, and I found uh his icona. How we the icon today in the morning in my house, and I said that this will be a very nice gift for you, George. I did it with my heart, and surprisingly, you knew about uh I just Paisius. I'm very happy that you're religious as well. I'm very honored, man. Our religion uh shares love, yeah, and uh it helps me personally very much. Uh I go to Mount of Athos every every summer, every time I visit uh Greece, and I get a lot of power to continue my life talking with uh the priests over there. It's a very nice experience. Thank you for uh um putting this in our conversation.
George Stroumboulis: 38:27
Absolutely, man. Very important and uh very honored. Just the yachting industry, really quick, because you have your vision right now, you've been crushing it. I read the yacht chartering business economy in the United States is uh over one and a half billion dollars.
Panos Sinaidis: 38:42
It's almost two billion.
George Stroumboulis: 38:43
It's almost two, okay. In Europe, I read it's almost four billion, and then Greece alone is around 30 million, right? So, like the the potential, right, and the markets. Uh, are you gonna be going stronger into Europe and trying to capitalize on that? Like, what are your expansion plans over the years?
Panos Sinaidis: 39:00
So we already uh operate in 15 locations uh all over the world. Miami's our base, Mikono Santorini, Ionian Sea, which is amazing, Santrope, Monaco, Kansas, uh Ibiza, Majorca, Dubai, uh, New York. I think at the moment we are everywhere. Uh we would like to speak with the people that they take decisions in Greece in order to improve some details in uh Greece because we have amazing places that are not approachable with uh boats. If we fix some things in Greece, we can make the yachting industry even bigger. People always choose Greece, they have to choose the yachting in order to explore the other islands that are not approachable. This is my goal at the moment. Every year that I come to Greece to bring more tourists to make more charters, not only for my profit, but to show people the beauty of Greece. This is true. This is my goal to show uh the people that they come outside of uh Greece the beauty of Greece. They know already, but with the yachts, they can explore different things that they cannot even see uh online.
George Stroumboulis: 40:22
Yeah, well, while we're enjoying this incredible view, you were saying right here like how come there's no marina here in Thessaloniki right at right at the point.
Panos Sinaidis: 40:30
Imagine Thessaloniki, people that they know Thessaloniki, imagine Thessaloniki to have a nice luxury marina like Miami Beach. Yeah, it will give another energy to the city, it will bring huge income. Yeah, people from the Balkans that they don't have sea will bring their yachts and they can start their vacation from Thessaloniki. This will bring a lot of income to Thessaloniki, a lot of money. I don't know. Probably there is a reason. I don't think that uh they do it on purpose. There must be a reason that they don't do a marina here in um Thessaloniki, but this is will this will be a dream.
George Stroumboulis: 41:03
Let's get some of the uh the Greeks in uh America, Canada to to lobby and get a get a marina here.
Panos Sinaidis: 41:09
The the Americans uh and the Canadians can help that uh happen. Uh I'm sure about that. Yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 41:16
Let's get into some details on actual charters. I know you can't share client lists, but you know, tell me like some of the craziest charters you've ever done, like some of the requests, parties, you know, anything that comes to mind.
Panos Sinaidis: 41:30
I had many celebrities uh the last uh six years and uh uh with George Miami Vice. I had uh Kanye West, he came on a big houseboat. I don't know if you ever see this house. It's like a floating villa. Okay. We had him with uh 50 of his friends enjoying uh the charter in Miami, and uh he booked for eight hours, and something happened on the boat, and he cut he terminated the charter in two hours. Are you kidding me? Yes, we had Leonardo DiCaprio in our 55 van Teds.
George Stroumboulis: 42:08
Um did he only allow 25-year-old and under women, this guy?
Panos Sinaidis: 42:14
Such a great guy. Uh, unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to meet him in person. I was talking with his manager, but my captain told me that he was amazing. He gave uh almost $5,000 uh tip to the captain for a charter of three or four hours. I think it was three hours. Um great uh great uh guy. We had other we had 50 Cent. We had um Guna, Ghana, the rapper. Ghana, okay, Ghana, I think. Uh he had his video clip on a nice hundred-footer azimuth with us, exceptional guy as well. We attract a lot of uh celebrities, that's it. And this is because their managers watch my videos uh online, believe it or not. It's uh unbelievable. That's incredible, man.
George Stroumboulis: 43:02
Yeah, you you had mentioned the tipping. Yes. What is standard practice? I mean, look, the tipping culture in general has become crazy, right? Like this is pissing me off. Like you go to the airport, you buy your own checkout, your gum, and this and that at a tip up for what?
Panos Sinaidis: 43:19
Because it's only in the United States, right?
George Stroumboulis: 43:21
Yeah, it's gotten crazy, but now you're starting to see it, you're starting to see it in other places. The state's tipping culture, and and again, I grew up in the service industry. I'm the best tipper when there's service given. Yeah, if it's but you cannot have it included. You can't, and and your default can't be like, oh, 30%, just be just for what?
Panos Sinaidis: 43:39
Because what did you do above and beyond? We are so flexible with the tipping and Yachts Miami Vice because we have all of our crew well trained, they're licensed, they know what they do. So I always tell the clients when they ask me about tip that it's optional. If you like the service of my crew, tip them 100% of all times they tip because the crew gives exceptional service. All of uh our crew, the captain, the stews, uh, exceptional service. I agree that when you go to buy um a gum, uh cigarettes, and do a pickup for a coffee takeaway, you don't have to tip uh unless the service is exceptional. But for luxury services like the yachting, I mean, yeah, the people that they work in the yachting industry give more than they can in order to make our clients happy, and I believe that they deserve a good tip. And most of our clients uh all of our clients uh tip uh very well.
George Stroumboulis: 44:50
You you had mentioned the the captain, that's not part of your like the the the crew comes with the boat. How does that work?
Panos Sinaidis: 44:58
So in Miami we have uh in Florida actually we have uh a law which is very strict for bare boat charters. The client rent the boat, but he has to select the crew. This is very strict, okay. So we give them a list of uh five uh captains and they choose who they like. Oh, the client chooses them. The yeah, okay. The we have a small description about every captain and uh their licenses, so they choose according to the availability of the captain as well. This is how it goes in uh Miami in Greece. It's different, every boat has its own captain and oh, so you're renting that.
George Stroumboulis: 45:43
Okay, it's different. Talk to me a bit like what's what's been the most expensive charter that you've ever done?
Panos Sinaidis: 45:50
We have uh two uh really nice moments with Yodge Miami Vice, one in Dubai, where uh American Indian uh client spent his uh New Year's Eve in 2020, 22, 21 to 22, New Year's Eve. Uh he paid 120,000 for eight hours for the fireworks in Dubai. Come on, and um another very good client of ours uh spent uh $550,000 for five days uh in Miami for a local charter, and he showed up the third day. Are you kidding? The first two days he didn't even uh go to the boat, and we had masseuses, we had a private chef, um we had bartenders, um decoration. It was for the birthday of his uh wife. They had a very nice uh luxury suit uh suite in uh Faena Hotel. I'm sure you know Faena, it's one of the best hotels in Miami.
George Stroumboulis: 46:59
We're doing their new lighting in uh New York one, they're opening up. That's amazing.
Panos Sinaidis: 47:02
That's amazing. I love this hotel, by the way. They send us all of uh their clients that are interested for yots. We work with all the best hotels of Miami. All the concierges send us the clients that they are interested for the jobs because they trust us.
George Stroumboulis: 47:19
But but that's you grinding and getting in with the doormen, getting in with everyone, is that correct, correct?
Panos Sinaidis: 47:24
I personally go to speak uh with the management of each hotel, and uh I just tell them try us one time. They try us one time, we have them forever. Because the feedback that they get from uh their clients is 10 out of 10.
George Stroumboulis: 47:40
10 out of 10.
Panos Sinaidis: 47:41
Yes.
George Stroumboulis: 47:41
Do you have to share in profits when you get those relationships? Now I'm diving too much on the business, but but if I told you before that you can ask me everything anything you want, I'm here to answer. So can you put the W-2 up after we're gonna put on the system? But but how does that how does that work? Like referrals and stuff like that?
Panos Sinaidis: 48:00
In Greece, we say that the machine needs oil in order to move. Yep. This is everywhere, and this is the right thing to do. When George sends me a client, I'm gonna take care of the client the best way, I'm gonna give a discount to the client. If you see my website, I have my retail price. Always the client will take a discount, but George has to be happy as well. This is business. We are friends, we can go for coffees, we can go for uh dinners, but business is business, and this is what I learned in the United States. You have to take care of everybody without, of course, overcharging the client. Sure. And uh keep the business going on. And it feeds the machine, right? It keeps feeding the machine. Yeah, that's why the United States is the greatest country in the world. They have this system, yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 48:53
And you grew up in the system, so you appreciate it even more. Exactly. Versus someone that was born and raised there, they don't know what it's like in another system.
Panos Sinaidis: 49:01
Correct.
George Stroumboulis: 49:01
Right?
Panos Sinaidis: 49:01
So it's it's a big deal. Correct. For example, if I tell a friend of mine that, you know, you have a clothing store, I'm gonna bring a client to spend $10,000 in your store, and you have to take care of me. Here in Greece, he's gonna say, Oh, Pano, how you became like that. But wait a moment, my friend. Yeah, I bring you business, you have to take care of me in some somehow. Yep. Maybe it's not uh giving me money, maybe it's taking me out for to enjoy. You have to do something, my friend. Yeah. In the Greek years, it sounds bad. Aggressive, maybe exactly, but that's a difference with the United States. That's why it's the best place to live and become a businessman.
George Stroumboulis: 49:49
It is very transactional, right? Like you, you know, and as long as you know that and it's part of your being, like it's transaction. It's like, all right, do this and that. Did you agree with that, George? I do, I do. And uh when I first moved there again, I was born and raised in Canada, and again, similar, but the US is on another level. It really hit me how transactional it is. Like, hey, you do this, there's there's a cost, there's a benefit to it. Um, but I agree. And I agree, even in my work, it's like, hey, you know what? You're doing a new lighting project. Let's get in there together. Thank you. We got you, right? And it's all legal, it's all above board, but you you got to take care of each other, you know.
Panos Sinaidis: 50:26
Absolutely. This is business.
George Stroumboulis: 50:28
Absolutely.
Panos Sinaidis: 50:29
When it's business, it's business. When we have uh good time, we can uh have a good time.
George Stroumboulis: 50:34
Yeah. Talk to me like uh a couple more things. This has been awesome, by the way. Uh so what is like good advice for a client? So I'm coming down to Miami with 10 friends. Uh, what's advice as a client? Like, I'm sure you've had some negative experiences on like maybe they were disrespectful to the crew or the boat, or what's advice to be a good client to you?
Panos Sinaidis: 50:58
To follow, first of all, the instructions of the crew because they are there for a reason to keep you safe. It's dangerous sometimes. For example, I had uh some negative some negative uh feedbacks from my clients when for my crew when the clients didn't listen to him through in the beginning of every charter, our captain does a speech, safety speech. When you don't follow that, it's dangerous for you. I can terminate the charter because of that, because I don't want you to get hurt, to injure yourself, or even die. You know, in Miami, no thank God not in my charter. Several times people kill themselves by jumping in from the back of the boat and the propel kills them. Jeez, just thinking drunk, I'm gonna dive in. Correct. So, what I suggest number one, when you come to the marina for a boat charter, don't come with your car. Take an Uber or a taxi because you're gonna have an amazing time. Probably you're gonna have some drinks. I want you to go back to your house, your hotel, safe. Don't drive. Yeah. This is number one. Number two, please listen to the speech, the safety speeds. It's very important for your safety. Listen the crew anytime. The crew is there to serve you, but to keep you safe as well. Sure. Other than that, uh I believe that with Yotz Miami Vice, the clients always always have a good time. Just listen the crew. Yeah.
George Stroumboulis: 52:36
But the jumping overboard, like that that's a thing, eh?
Panos Sinaidis: 52:39
Like people You can do that when the boat, and the captain will give you the green light when the engine is off, right? When the propel is covered, when it doesn't move, when you are in safe waters, and the captain tells you, here we stop, you can jump in the water. We have many floating uh toys, we have slides, we have floating mats, we have jet skis, seabobs, everything that they can enjoy, but they have to go according to the safety rules. Absolutely. This is my advice for my guests, and I we always keep saying that. We make sure that they're gonna get bored listening to the safety things again and again for their safety.
George Stroumboulis: 53:20
Yeah, and you want to cover your ass and make sure that staying alive is a good thing, you know. Absolutely. Um let me ask you just any advice, first-time visitors coming to Thessaloniki, which by the way is the second largest city in Greece, about a million population. I think uh it's two million. But is it really? Yeah, yeah. Okay, yeah, beautiful area. But like, what's advice? What are you known for here? Like the Bugatsa, you're known for that. Like, what talk to me about Thessaloniki?
Panos Sinaidis: 53:48
When someone uh comes to Thessaloniki, they the first thing that they have to do after they land uh in Thessaloniki, they have to take a taxi and come to downtown Thessaloniki to walk in Paralia.
George Stroumboulis: 54:03
Yeah.
Panos Sinaidis: 54:03
In this beautiful, you have to show some videos of Paralia. You have an amazing apartment here, by the way, to walk in Paralia to get these vibes of freedom. In Thessaloniki, the filoxenia, the hospitality is amazing. It really is. So you feel free right away. You have to enjoy the amazing Greek food that uh the people from uh uh the Greeks from Turkey most likely brought in Greece. The politican politic cuisine, yeah. Um, amazing food, different kind of cuisines uh in Thessaloniki. You have to enjoy the nightlife. 100% Thessaloniki is the best night has the best nightlife, the best nightclubs, bars, coffee places, top, top all over Greece, and a lot of young people. And I'm gonna tell you something: the nightlife of Greece, Athens, and Thessaloniki is better than uh Miami, believe it or not. Wow, so you're going on record to say that? How so? It's a different vibe. The the Buzuka, for example, the singer makes an effort to make people enjoy the money that they spend. The price are obviously lower. In the United States, I see the rappers and all the artists, they just go to play music for for themselves. Sure. Unfortunately, this is how I get it. Maybe I'm wrong, but my opinion is this in Greece, you go out, you're gonna have a good time 100%, and during the summer in Mykonos, the vibe is exceptional. You go to Scorpios, it's it's a vibe. You've been in Scorpios, right? It's uh it's another level. Also, I figure that the stores, the design of the stores is completely different than in the United States. In the United States, they go more for the consuming. Here they go also for how you feel.
George Stroumboulis: 56:10
Yes, yes, yeah. Well, you'll see in the States like the cafes, you you go in, you grab your coffee, you get out in and out.
Panos Sinaidis: 56:18
Here in Thessaloniki, you uh order a nice uh cappuccino, freddo cappuccino, we call it the iced uh cappuccino here, and you can stay with your friends for three hours and enjoy the beautiful sun, and uh it's another, yeah, but spending three hours in a coffee place doesn't give you the opportunity to grow sometimes, right? Business-wise.
George Stroumboulis: 56:41
Exactly.
Panos Sinaidis: 56:42
So you get some uh um uh positives and some negatives out of that.
George Stroumboulis: 56:48
Absolutely. To close out, tell me Yachts Miami Vice. Where can they get in contact with you? And then where are you gonna be in the next five, ten years? Like where you're a young guy, right? Your late 30s, mid to late 30s. Is this something that this is the rest of your your life? Like you're you're gonna build this and keep doing? Like, what are your plans?
Panos Sinaidis: 57:06
So Yachts Miami Vice got involved in uh yacht uh sales for the last uh three years. I'm uh licensed uh with a Florida license to be a broker so I can sell uh and buy boats in a legal uh way. And uh we also uh uh are members of the IYBA, which is the International Youth Broker Association, that has maximum 2,000 members, which is a big accomplishment. As for the chartering, we are all over the world, and um the information in order to connect with us is through our website GeorgeMiamiVice.com. Our social media, George Miami Vice, and my personal Panos Miami Vice. I'm open for any inquiry, but also something very important: I'm open to all the young people or any age of people that they want maybe my advice on how to do things, how I began I beg I began my journey in this business, and maybe it's gonna be helpful for them. A conversation with me will be helpful for them to grow in business or any other uh aspect of their life. I'm open to all the people. I got a lot of love from Americans, from Greeks, Greek Americans, a lot of help, and I would love to give it back to the people. So, yes, panosmiami vice, yachts miami vice, yachtsmiami vice.com that's what I like, and don't forget my slogan.
George Stroumboulis: 58:46
Let's see. Take a look. Take a look. Honestly, dude, it's working, right? Keep doing it. I think this was a great story just for people to hear again, you know, how you started. And I guess like the the takeaway out of all this, sometimes the best opportunities in life, you don't come up with them, they're they're handed to you. It's what you do with it.
Panos Sinaidis: 59:08
You just need to grab them from the hair. Yeah. In Greece, we say he grab the opportunity from the hair. Yeah. In United States, you have a lot of opportunities. Grab them. I respect though, something that I forgot to tell you, I'm sorry. No, please. When you decide to not be a businessman, to work nine to five, to enjoy your life after that, to go to work and then go home and enjoy your life without having any business in your mind. People have to respect the decision of the other person as well. Not everybody is to be a businessman. We have to respect for sure. The most important choice for me is to go to sleep at night and be happy without having any bad thoughts. Yes. In the bed. Absolutely. If you succeed. Do that, no matter if you are a millionaire, billionaire, or poor, this is the most important. You are rich when you go to sleep and you're happy.
George Stroumboulis: 1:00:08
Peace of mind.
Panos Sinaidis: 1:00:09
Yes.
George Stroumboulis: 1:00:09
Yeah. I agree with that, man. Buanos, this was amazing. Of all the places we got to do it here in Thessaloniki. I loved it. All right. And next time it'll be in Miami.
Panos Sinaidis: 1:00:17
I can't wait to have you in Miami. It was a pleasure. You are such a great uh person. Uh, I enjoyed having this uh conversation with you, and I'm looking forward for Miami on a luxury yacht. Yeah, let's go, man. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Appreciate you, man. Thank you. Excellent.
George Stroumboulis: 1:00:36
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CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO
00:00:00 Welcome From Thessaloniki
00:01:04 Meet Panos And Yacht Miami Vice
00:03:50 From Greece To Miami Ambition
00:07:55 COVID Pivot To Charters
00:12:50 Building A Fleet Overnight
00:17:40 Ads, Brand, And First Momentum
00:22:30 Expanding To Europe And Beyond
00:27:25 Service Standards That Stand Out
00:32:20 Mindset, Grit, And No Plan B
00:37:15 Greek Roots And Hospitality Edge
00:42:20 Market Size And Policy Hurdles
00:46:15 Celebrities, Tips, And Crew Rules
00:51:30 Safety, Guest Etiquette, Best Practice
00:55:45 Thessaloniki Travel Tips
01:00:20 Partnerships, Referrals, And Growth
WHAT IS YACHT CHARTERING AND WHY IS THIS AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY
What Yacht Chartering Means
Yacht chartering is the business of renting or leasing private yachts—ranging from small motorboats to ultra-luxury superyachts—for leisure, corporate, or event purposes. Clients typically book charters for set durations (a day, a week, or longer), with customized itineraries, crew, and onboard services.
Unlike traditional cruises, yacht charters offer privacy, flexibility, and exclusivity — every trip is tailored to the guests’ preferences, whether it’s island-hopping in Greece, celebrating in Miami, or cruising the French Riviera.
Why It’s an Important Industry
1. Major Economic Driver
The global yacht charter market surpassed $10 billion annually and continues to grow steadily, fueling jobs across shipbuilding, tourism, hospitality, and logistics. It supports thousands of crew members, brokers, shipyards, and destination economies.
2. Tourism & Luxury Synergy
Chartering sits at the intersection of luxury travel and marine tourism, attracting high-net-worth individuals and aspirational travelers alike. It promotes coastal tourism, marina development, and hospitality growth in destinations like Miami, Mykonos, Ibiza, and Dubai.
3. Sustainability & Innovation
Modern charters are pushing toward greener propulsion systems, solar-assisted designs, and waste-management solutions — turning luxury travel into a testing ground for cleaner marine technologies.
4. Accessibility Through Technology
Online booking platforms, digital marketing, and social media (led by brands like Yachts MiamiVice) have democratized access to yachting. What was once reserved for billionaires is now accessible to broader premium audiences through day charters and group experiences.
5. Cultural & Experiential Shift
Today’s travelers value experiences over possessions, and yacht charters deliver the ultimate curated escape — privacy, adventure, and prestige wrapped into one.
HOW LARGE IS THE YACHTING INDUSTRY AROUND THE WORLD AND WHY IS IT SO POPULAR
🌐 Size of the Global Yachting Industry
In 2023, the global yacht market was estimated at around USD 9.39 billion.
Forecasts project that by 2030, the market will grow to over USD 13.29 billion (CAGR ~5.1%)
Meanwhile, the luxury yacht segment is expected to reach USD 10.12 billion by 2025 and grow toward USD 13.8 billion by 2030.
The yacht charter market itself (the business of renting yachts) was valued around USD 8.39 billion in 2024, and is projected to reach USD 18.30 billion by 2034 (CAGR ~8.11%).
Other sources place the overall global yacht market at USD 12.4 billion in 2024, with expectations to expand toward USD 22.7 billion by 2034.
So, this is an industry with tens of billions in annual revenue, healthy growth trajectories, and strong investor and consumer interest.
📈 Why Yachting Is So Popular — What Drives Demand
Luxury & Status Symbol
Yachts represent the pinnacle of wealth, lifestyle, and exclusivity. For many owners and charter clients, owning or renting a yacht is a visible emblem of prestige and success.
Unique Experiences & Escapism
Yachting offers privacy, customization, freedom, and adventure — more so than resorts or cruises. You control your itinerary, destinations, onboard experience, and pace.
Rising High-Net-Worth Populations
As wealth increases globally, more people enter the luxury segment. The ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) circle expands, fueling demand for yacht ownership and chartering.
Tourism Synergy & Destination Growth
Coastal destinations, islands, and marinas benefit economically from yacht tourism. Yachting amplifies luxury tourism, resort development, and local service sectors.
Technological & Design Innovation
The industry is evolving — hybrid propulsion, sustainable materials, smart systems, and design customization make modern yachts more appealing.
Charter Access & Democratization
Yacht chartering lowers the barrier to entry. People can access the luxury yacht experience without owning one. Platforms, agencies, and digital marketing make this easier.
Global Mobility & Lifestyle Flexibility
Yacht owners and charterers can move seasonally — Mediterranean summers, Caribbean winters, Asia-Pacific adventures — offering lifestyle flexibility that few other assets allow.
BLOG POST
From Server To Superyachts
Building A Global Yacht Brand From Miami To Mykonos
How A Single Phone Call Sparked A Worldwide Yacht Charter Empire
He Made One Booking, Then Accidentally Built Miami’s Most Instagrammed Fleet
When Hospitality Becomes A Moat In A Saturated Luxury Market
A chance phone call during lockdown turned into a global yacht charter brand—and Panos Sinaidis tells us exactly how he made it happen. From pro soccer and Greek special forces to serving tables and promoting nightclubs in Miami, Panos followed a simple rule: show up fast, put your name on the line, and let service do the talking. One $400 booking from his living room became seven boats in two days, then 1,500+ charters across Miami, Mykonos, Santorini, Saint-Tropez, Dubai, Ibiza, and New York.
We dig into the playbook: run ads that feature your face to build trust, pair a clean booking flow with high-touch hospitality, and make safety the non-negotiable. Panos shares how his 12-person team inspects every vessel, coordinates chefs, DJs, and toys, and keeps guests safe with clear briefings and crew leadership. He breaks down Florida’s bareboat rules, tipping expectations in luxury settings, and why a warm welcome beats a glossy brochure. You’ll also hear wild charter stories—celeb yachts, a $120k New Year’s in Dubai, and a half-million Miami celebration—plus the partnerships with hotel concierges that keep the engine humming.
At the heart of it is mindset: no Plan B, speak your goals out loud, and let Greek philoxenia turn a rental into a memory. Panos makes a case for smarter marina infrastructure in Greece, imagining Thessaloniki as a gateway for Balkan yachting, and shares practical tips for travelers chasing food, nightlife, and sun on the Aegean. He’s now licensed for yacht sales and part of IYBA, pushing growth while staying accessible to younger founders who want guidance.
If you’re building a services brand, scaling luxury experiences, or just dreaming of your next charter, this conversation brings strategy you can use and stories you’ll replay. Subscribe for more entrepreneur journeys, share with a friend who loves the sea, and drop a review with your dream yacht destination—we might feature it next.
BLOG
George sits down in Thessaloniki with Panos Sinaidis, the founder behind Yacht Miami Vice, to unpack a rare kind of entrepreneurial story: an instinctive pivot that meets relentless execution. The arc starts with a former pro soccer player who left Greece for Miami hungry for scale and impact. During COVID, a single client call turned into a proof of concept—boats were open when everything else was shut. Panos made $400 from his living room and realized service, safety, and brand could converge on the water. He built a fleet by walking marinas in a shiny black suit, pitching captains face-to-face, and then ignited demand through Google and Instagram ads that featured his own face to build trust. That combination—direct outreach plus transparent, personality-led marketing—became his engine.
The episode dives into how he scaled from Miami to Mykonos, Santorini, Saint-Tropez, Dubai, Ibiza, and New York, with more than 1,500 successful charters under his belt. Panos explains why hospitality is his moat in a saturated yacht charter market: he and his 12-person team physically inspect boats, prioritize safety, and create bespoke experiences with DJs, chefs, and meticulous cleanliness. That hands-on approach drives repeat bookings, word-of-mouth, and partnerships with top hotel concierges. He also demystifies tipping culture and crew dynamics, clarifies Florida’s bareboat rules where clients select captains from a qualified list, and contrasts European models where boats come crewed. It’s a practical look at operations, compliance, and service design in luxury travel.
Equally compelling is the mindset: no Plan B, talk to the universe, and never give up. Panos shares how pro soccer and Greek special forces forged discipline, teamwork, and grit. He frames the U.S. as an opportunity machine—transactional, yes, but transparent and scalable if you deliver. He’s candid about referral economics, keeping partners happy without overcharging clients, and building a recognizable personal brand to de-risk online bookings. Beyond Miami, he argues Greece could unlock more yachting growth with better marina access, highlighting Thessaloniki’s untapped waterfront and the potential for Balkans tourism. Greek hospitality—philoxenia—isn’t just culture; it’s a service philosophy that warms cold luxury and turns charters into memories.
Listeners also get practical guidance: how to be a great charter guest, why safety briefings matter, when it’s safe to swim, and why you should Uber to the marina. The celebrity stories land like case studies—Kanye’s floating villa, DiCaprio’s generous tip, a $120k New Year’s Eve in Dubai, and a half-million-dollar Miami celebration—showing how high-touch service travels in the influencer economy. Panos closes with expansion plans in yacht sales and IYBA membership, plus a public invitation for aspiring entrepreneurs to reach out for advice. The takeaway is clear: see the moment, show up fast, lead with your face, and let hospitality compound. In a world of agencies, being present—online and dockside—is what turns a booking into a brand.
MORE EPISODES
George Stroumboulis sits down with Yachts Miami Vice's Panos Sinaidis in Thessaloniki, Greece on the Invigorate Your Business Podcast to talk about all things luxury yachts, chartering business, international expansion, building an empire from scratch and so much more.