Author: Lucie

  • What Is a Visitor Management System for Yachts?

    What Is a Visitor Management System for Yachts?

    The Complete Guide for Superyacht Captains, Crew & Owners

    Running a superyacht means managing far more than navigation and five-star hospitality. Today’s yachts operate as floating estates, with strict security demands, high-profile guests, rotating crew, and constant contractor access. In this environment, knowing exactly who is on board, when they arrived, and why is no longer just good practice; it’s crucial.

    That’s where a Visitor Management System (VMS) for yachts comes in.

    While many land-based solutions exist, the yachting industry faces completely different challenges. CrewBoard by YachtCloud is designed specifically for superyachts.

    What Is a Visitor Management System?

    A visitor management system is a digital tool that tracks, records, and manages the flow of people boarding and disembarking a vessel, such as crew, guests, contractors, day workers, agents, and more. But unlike land-based offices, yachts face unique requirements:

    • Frequent harbour changes
    • High-security profiles
    • Changing crew rotations
    • Limited space for paperwork
    • ISPS/MLC compliance obligations
    • Interaction with port authorities and security gate staff

    A yacht-specific VMS must combine efficiency, mobility, and security, while staying simple enough for the busy crew to operate.

    Why Yachts Need a Dedicated Visitor Management System

    1. Enhanced On-Board Security

    Superyachts often host UHNWIs, charter guests, or celebrities. Security teams need instant visibility over:

    • Who is on board
    • When they last checked in
    • Their purpose of visit
    • Whether they have completed safety briefings

    With CrewBoard, this data is available in real time, from any device, anywhere on the vessel.

    2. Replace Paper Logs With Digital, Tamper-Proof Records

    Traditional logbooks are slow, error-prone, and difficult to audit.
    A digital VMS automatically records:

    • Arrival & departure timestamps
    • Visitor identity details
    • Crew rotations
    • Muster lists and headcounts

    This results in clean data, faster reporting, and peace of mind during inspections.

    3. Streamlined Guest & Contractor Check-In

    Superyachts rely on a constant flow of personnel, including chefs, engineers, florists, personal trainers, provisioning staff, AV/IT specialists, and more.

    Features ideal for yachts include:

    • Printed guest badges
    • NDA or safety video acknowledgment
    • SMS/email notifications tothe crew when a visitor arrives

    4. ISPS & MLC Compliance Made Simple

    Port authorities increasingly expect accurate digital records.
    CrewBoard supports compliance through:

    • Accurate access logs
    • Emergency muster data
    • Automated sign-in/out reporting
    • Audit-ready documentation

    During safety drills or real emergencies, captains and security officers can instantly access a full list of all persons on board.

    5. Better Crew Management

    Yacht crew operate on tight schedules and rotations, making crew tracking just as important as visitor tracking.

    CrewBoard includes tools tailored for maritime operations:

    • Crew sign-on/sign-off
    • Rotations and leave tracking
    • Overnight status
    • Alerts when crew members are overdue to return

    This increases operational efficiency and minimises risk.

  • GEST for high-end corporate offices

    GEST for high-end corporate offices

    GEST for Corporate Offices

    A Smarter, Discreet Way to Deliver Exceptional Service

    In modern corporate life, time, discretion, and service quality matter more than ever. Whether you are running a high-level meeting, hosting important clients, or managing a team of busy executives, the ability to request support quickly without disrupting workflow is essential.

    GEST, the luxury service call system from YachtCloud, is designed precisely for this environment. Inspired by the high standards of superyachtsGEST delivers the same level of service, privacy, and efficiency in corporate offices, executive suites, government spaces, and private client areas.

    A Service Call Button Designed for Corporate Life

    Phones, messaging apps, and internal chat systems may be convenient, but in a meeting or executive setting, they can also be distracting, inappropriate, or simply too slow. Walking out of a room to seek assistance disrupts concentration and diminishes the professional atmosphere.

    GEST solves this with a single, elegant solution:
    A discreet button that quietly alerts the right team, at the right moment, without a word being spoken.

    Clients feel attentively cared for, executives stay focused, and your staff can work more efficiently.

    Meeting Rooms: Support Arrives the Moment You Need It

    Every meeting room has its pressure points, last-minute technical issues, missing refreshments, or the need for documentation mid-discussion. These moments often disrupt the presentation’s pace or require someone to step out to seek assistance.

    With GEST, your team can request:

    • IT support
    • Coffee or refreshments
    • Administrative help
    • General assistance
    • Do Not Disturb mode for private discussions

    All without breaking eye contact or pausing the agenda.

    For visiting clients, this feels polished and professional. For internal teams, it simply makes life easier.

    Executive and Private Offices: Quiet, Effortless Service

    Executives operate under constant pressure, and their environment needs to support them, not slow them down.
    GEST provides a discreet way to summon assistance without picking up a phone, sending a message, or interrupting the flow of a meeting.

    It is ideal for:

    • CEO and board-level offices
    • Government and ministerial spaces
    • Private banking rooms
    • High-security environments where discretion is essential

    Whether the request is for documents, refreshments, technical support, or support staff, GEST ensures it is handled quietly and efficiently.

    Waiting Areas and Client Spaces: A Higher Standard of Hospitality

    First impressions matter. GEST helps your team deliver attentive, five-star service in waiting rooms, lounges, reception areas, and private client zones.

    When guests arrive, your staff can respond quickly by preparing refreshments, arranging meeting rooms, or coordinating internal teams. Service becomes smoother, more personal, and far more efficient.

    Custom-Designed to Reflect Your Corporate Identity

    GEST is not a generic call button. It’s a purpose-built technology designed for a luxury corporate environment.

    You can tailor it to match your brand perfectly:

    • Up to four fully custom call actions + general service
    • Your company logo is engraved on the central button
    • Your values, mission words, or an emblem engraved on the outer ring
    • Custom finishes to match your interior design

    The result is a service tool that looks and feels like a natural part of your space—powerful, discreet, and unmistakably yours.

    Simple Deployment, Smart Insights

    Despite its refined appearance, GEST is remarkably easy to integrate into your operations:

    • Connects via WiFi, no complex wiring
    • Quick installation across multiple rooms or entire floors
    • Sends real-time notifications to your service teams
    • Provides analytics and monthly reports to help you measure performance

    You gain a clear understanding of how your teams work, where bottlenecks appear, and how service can be improved, turning data into stronger operations.

    Why Corporate Leaders Choose GEST

    Organisations that value efficiency, privacy, and premium service quickly see the advantages of GEST. It removes friction from everyday tasks and enhances the experience for both staff and guests.

    With GEST, your company can:

    • Deliver more efficient internal support
    • Strengthen hospitality for visiting clients
    • Improve the rhythm of meetings and executive work
    • Maintain privacy in sensitive conversations
    • Create a more polished, luxury corporate environment

    It’s a small device that quietly and powerfully changes how your workplace operates.

    Elevate Your Office Experience

    GEST enables your team to request service anywhere, at any time, with complete discretion and efficiency.
    For companies that value professionalism, hospitality, and brand excellence, it becomes an essential part of daily operations.

  • Empowering Property Managers with Smart Call Technology for Staff Coordination

    Empowering Property Managers with Smart Call Technology for Staff Coordination

    Managing a luxury residence or private estate demands a level of precision that leaves little room for delay or miscommunication. Property managers, residential managers and Family Offices are expected to maintain a seamless environment where staff move with purpose, requests are handled promptly, and principals experience consistent comfort. Smart call technology is now becoming central to that expectation.

    GEST, YachtCloud’s luxury service call ecosystem, offers a practical and refined approach to staff coordination. Rather than adding complexity, it gives managers a reliable way to orchestrate operations across large homes, estates and private properties.

    A Smarter Way to Manage Requests

    Traditional methods of passing on requests, verbal instructions, notes, radio calls or messaging apps, often create fragmentation. Information slips between channels, or staff become overloaded by multiple points of contact.

    GEST resolves this by providing a single, coherent system for service requests. Whether initiated through the physical luxury call button or the GEST connect app, every request enters the same operational flow. For a property manager overseeing multiple rooms, guest areas or service zones, this consistency removes guesswork and maintains a steady rhythm of work for the team.

    Two-Way Communication That Reduces Uncertainty

    A defining strength of GEST is its two-way communication. When a resident or guest makes a request, staff can acknowledge it immediately. Managers gain transparency over:

    • who accepted the request
    • how long it takes to respond
    • where follow-up may be needed

    But more importantly, staff gain quiet confidence in their tasks. In the world of luxury houses and family offices, where discretion matters, this contributes to a smoother staff presence and a calmer atmosphere.

    Strengthening Staff Operations Across Large Estates

    Large properties often involve multiple layers of service: housekeeping, maintenance, front-of-house, private chefs, security and lifestyle support. Smart call technology ensures each team receives only the information relevant to them.

    GEST’s portal manager allows property managers to organise zones, roles and priorities. A single press of a luxury call button in the study can notify the correct team member, while a virtual button in the spa suite might route to a different group entirely. Staff no longer need to monitor irrelevant requests, which keeps operations lean and well-paced.

    Adaptable to How Residences Actually Function

    Every private residence functions differently. Some operate with hotel-style service flow; others prefer minimal staff movement. GEST adapts to both.

    • Physical luxury call buttons suit formal rooms or areas where technology should remain discreet.
    • GEST Connect App supports principals who move frequently or prefer to manage their environment digitally.
    • Mobile access ensures managers can coordinate operations from anywhere on the property.
    • Wearable compatibility gives staff instant updates without returning to a central station.

    By working across devices, GEST suits the varied routines of modern luxury living.

    Visibility for Property Managers, Calm for Principals

    For the residents themselves, smart call technology removes friction. Requests are handled quietly, with predictable response times and fewer interruptions. For property managers, the benefit is oversight: data on response times, volumes and staff patterns helps refine operations over time.

    This combination, calm for principals and clarity for staff, is ultimately what sets a well-run luxury residence apart.

    A Modern Standard for Luxury Service

    Smart call technology is no longer a novelty; it is becoming the expected standard in luxury houses, private villas and family office–managed estates. Systems like GEST provide a practical foundation for reliable service culture, where staff coordination happens behind the scenes and the household runs with precision.

    GEST’s ecosystem of physical and virtual call options, combined with structured staff operations and two-way communication, offers property managers a valuable tool: one that respects the pace, discretion and expectations of luxury living.

  • Why Privacy-First Smart Tech Matters in Today’s Luxury Homes?

    Why Privacy-First Smart Tech Matters in Today’s Luxury Homes?

    Why Privacy-First Smart Tech Matters in Today’s Luxury Homes?

    The Evolving Landscape of Privacy Threats

    As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the sanctity of one’s home is often the last bastion of personal security. For discerning homeowners and their trusted staff, safeguarding it requires more than traditional measures; it demands a sophisticated, integrated approach to privacy.

    The Evolving Landscape of Privacy Threats

    The digital age has ushered in unparalleled convenience, yet it has also introduced new vulnerabilities. A recent study revealed that 49% of connected device owners have encountered privacy or security issues, and 75% of households express concerns about data protection (source: westcosecurity.com). These statistics may be tangible risks to personal safety and financial security for affluent families.

    Family offices, which manage the wealth and affairs of UHNWI, are particularly susceptible. Deloitte reports that nearly three-quarters of family offices are either underinvested or only moderately invested in the operational technology needed to run a modern business (source: Deloitte Italia). This technological lag can expose sensitive information and create inefficiencies, undermining the privacy these families seek to protect.

    Integrating Technology with Discretion

    To preserve privacy without compromising on luxury, technology must be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the home. Consider the following solutions:

    1. GEST: The Silent Concierge

    The GEST service call button exemplifies discreet luxury. With its elegant design, it allows residents to request services without drawing attention. Whether it’s summoning a staff member or requesting a coffee, GEST ensures that every interaction is handled with the utmost confidentiality.

    2. CrewBoard: Managing Access with Precision

    For properties with staff or frequent visitors, CrewBoard offers a sophisticated solution. This platform enables homeowners to monitor and control access, ensuring that only authorised individuals enter the premises. Maintaining a detailed log of entries and exits provides an additional layer of security without intruding on daily operations.

    3. OMNIYON: Entertainment Without Exposure

    The OMNIYON media and control system integrates seamlessly into the home’s infrastructure, offering intuitive control over entertainment and environmental settings. Its design prioritises user experience while ensuring that personal preferences and activities remain private.

    ECHO: The Invisible Network Manager

    Echo serves as the home’s digital backbone, managing the network infrastructure with silent efficiency. By monitoring and controlling connected devices, it prevents unauthorised access and ensures that the home’s digital footprint remains secure.

    The Role of Family Offices in Privacy Management

    Family offices play an essential role in overseeing the implementation and maintenance of these technologies. However, the integration of advanced tech solutions often encounters resistance due to concerns over cybersecurity and return on investment (source: Finextra Research). Yet, as the digital landscape evolves, so too must the strategies employed to protect it.

    Adopting operational technologies has proven beneficial, with 38% of adopters reporting improved privacy and control, and 30% noting enhanced scalability and flexibility (source: FundCount). These advancements not only bolster security but also streamline operations, allowing family offices to focus on what truly matters.

    Looking Ahead: The Future of Privacy in Luxury Living

    The future of privacy in luxury homes lies in the harmonious blend of technology and discretion. Innovations such as confidential computing, which protects data in use by performing computations in a secure environment (source: Fortinet), and AI-driven threat detection systems are setting new standards for privacy management.

    For UHNWI and their families, embracing these technologies is not just about staying ahead of potential threats; it’s about ensuring that their homes remain safe.

  • How GEST Elevates Your Guests’ Cruise Experience

    How GEST Elevates Your Guests’ Cruise Experience

    On a cruise, guest satisfaction is everything. Exceptional service is what turns a good voyage into an unforgettable one. Yet, even the most attentive crew can struggle with missed requests, unnecessary interruptions, or outdated communication systems. This is where GEST, a luxurious service call system, comes in.

    GEST is designed to help crew members provide high-level, personalised service by streamlining communication and making interactions seamless, discreet, and reliable. Here’s how it can transform your guests’ cruise experience.

    Seamless, Smarter Communication

    champagne service call button gest
    GEST button with glasses of champagne

    GEST allows guests to communicate with crew instantly, without needing to leave their cabin or interrupt other activities. Requests are delivered directly and discreetly to staff, enabling immediate response without disrupting the flow of the cruise.

    Key Benefits:

    • Discreet requests: Guests can call for service without drawing attention.
    • Immediate alerts for staff: Reduces missed requests and ensures prompt attention.
    • Improved operational flow: Crew can manage requests efficiently, avoiding unnecessary interruptions.

    By enabling seamless communication, GEST ensures guests feel cared for while maintaining the elegance and tranquillity of the cruise environment.

    Eliminates Missed Requests

    Traditional service systems can be bulky, unreliable, or outdated, leading to delays and frustrated guests. GEST is engineered to prevent this, ensuring every request reaches the right crew member instantly.

    Key Benefits:

    • Reliable delivery: Requests are never lost or overlooked.
    • Faster response times: Guests receive service more quickly.
    • Higher guest satisfaction: Eliminating missed requests builds trust and enhances the onboard experience.

    With GEST, cruise operators can provide the kind of attentive service that differentiates luxury voyages from standard experiences.

    Reduces Unnecessary Interruptions

    Interruptions can affect both guest comfort and crew efficiency. GEST streamlines communication so crew members only attend to requests when needed, avoiding constant checks or disruptions in guests’ private time.

    Key Benefits:

    • Peaceful guest environment: No intrusive knocks or calls.
    • Optimised crew workflow: Staff can prioritise tasks effectively.
    • Enhanced overall service quality: Guests receive timely attention without an overbearing presence.

    This system creates a smoother, more refined atmosphere onboard, aligning perfectly with the expectations of luxury cruise guests.

    Luxurious, Minimal Design

    GEST combines advanced technology with elegant design, ensuring it fits seamlessly into a luxury cruise environment. Unlike other systems that can feel industrial or intrusive, GEST’s discreet appearance maintains the aesthetic of your cabins and public spaces.

    Key Benefits:

    • Stylish and unobtrusive: Blends with luxury interiors.
    • Intuitive to use: Guests can make requests easily without complicated instructions.
    • Trustworthy experience: Reliable and secure, giving guests confidence in the service.

    The design of GEST reflects the sophistication expected in high-end cruise settings, adding to the perception of luxury and attention to detail.

    Enhances Crew Efficiency and Guest Satisfaction

    By centralising service requests and delivering them in real-time, GEST allows crew to work more efficiently while providing attentive service. This means more time for personalised interactions, proactive care, and ensuring every guest feels valued.

    Key Benefits:

    • Streamlined staff communication: Crew members know exactly where attention is needed.
    • Reduced stress and errors: Fewer missed requests and miscommunications.
    • Elevated guest experience: Guests receive prompt, attentive service without effort on their part.

    In short, GEST empowers staff to exceed guest expectations consistently.