Saltwater Stone began working for Karpaz Gate Marina in 2012, a $100 million investment on the untouched Karpaz Peninsula in the East Mediterranean. A stunning development, it was the first modern marina in North Cyprus, which was then a relatively unknown cruising destination in an internationally embargoed country. Because of this, the marina and its management company at the time, Sea-Alliance Group, realised there was an imminent need to raise the profile of the area as part of its business strategy to grow. Saltwater Stone created and implemented a PR and communications strategy to support this. Today, Karpaz Gate Marina is an award-winning and expanding development which continues to introduce the North Cyprus region and cruising area to superyacht and yacht visitors from around the world.
Karpaz Gate Marina and its then management company Sea-Alliance Group approached Saltwater Stone following a recommendation, soon after it opened. The task was two-fold; to promote the unique marina, consisting of exceptional berthing, leisure and technical facilities, first-class service and personnel, ideal for all yachts including superyachts, and secondly, as a new and exciting sailing destination offering an exclusive experience for visitors.
Following a successful pan-European media campaign in 2013 focusing on major events in the marine and superyacht industry, Saltwater Stone continues to implement an integrated global PR strategy and programme for Karpaz Gate Marina. This is achieved through content writing, marketing support, social media and events support services. Media relations tactics involve placing features in key publications, issuing press releases and organising press visits. Karpaz Gate Marina also benefits from Saltwater Stone’s expertise in managing its social media platforms, which has increased awareness of the marina globally. Saltwater Stone provides content and design input for the marina’s weekly e-newsletters and client communications, while continuing to deliver on ongoing media relations campaigns.
“Our long-standing partnership with Saltwater Stone has played a key role in raising the profile of Karpaz Gate Marina in the global yachting industry and has helped us engage with different audiences including boat owners, captains, crew and potential visitors. From our opening phase, through our successful growth and expansion, we always know we can rely on their integrated PR, social media and marketing support, experience and industry knowledge as we progress to the next stage of our development.” Liza Singer (MD, Karpaz Gate Marina Resort)
In 2013, Karpaz Gate Marina was awarded 5 Gold Anchor status and, since 2017, has also been honoured in TYHA’s Marina of the Year Awards regularly, with Saltwater Stone running successful social media campaigns to help gather votes. The recognition has enabled Saltwater Stone to continue its main objective of increasing awareness of the destination among elite marinas of the world. Following that success and the opening of the new on-site boutique hotel in 2021, Saltwater Stone is able to champion the various benefits of the marina and the region, with a focus on both the superyacht and mid-size yacht sectors. This in turn has helped Karpaz Gate Marina become more widely known and increased its visibility in new markets. By building a long-term partnership, Saltwater Stone has successfully assisted the marina in welcoming an increasing number of boats and superyachts as short-term visitors and long-term clients.
February 14, 2022
