fastest superyacht in the world

The 20 Fastest SuperYachts in the World

By Alex Holmes

Updated on August 14, 2023

Yachts were always associated with leisure, comfort, and luxury, floating gently in a gorgeous location or cruising unhurried to the next, but somewhere along the way, something changed. Yachts started becoming faster and more powerful, and their owners more obsessed with these characteristics than anything else. But that’s the way with every kind of vehicle these days, isn’t it?

Mankind is obsessed with speed. That’s a given. And it applies to everything, including superyachts, which, despite their size, can achieve impressive speeds over water.

Whether that speed is actually needed is debatable, but one can’t ignore that there are quite a few capable yachts out there and that the competition for the fastest superyacht in the world is a fierce one, as in everything that involves the man’s thirst for speed.

The following superyachts manage to blend both the need for speed and the craving for luxury. But these are above everything else, the fastest yachts in the world right now.

Let’s have a look.

• 20. Cara Montana – 45 knots

Cara Montana is a smaller yacht, manufactured in 2019 by a shipyard based in Genoa, called Otam. It’s a gorgeous maritime vehicle which spans only 25.9 meters in length, but is beautiful and powerful enough to impress.

Powered by twin MTU engines, outputting a total of 5,200 hp together, and equipped with twin surface drives, Cara Montana is able to reach a top speed of 45 knots, or just under 52 mph.

• 19. Alamshar – 45 knots

Completed in 2014 after a waiting time of 13 years spent in the manufacturing process, the Alamshar yacht can reach 45 knots, thanks to its twin Rolls-Royce Marine engines and three waterjets.

The naval architecture of the vessel was made by Donald L. Blount & Associates, the exterior design by Pininfarina, and the interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon. The whole project was put together by the Devonport shipyard in Falmouth, United Kingdom.

The Alamshar is 50 meter long, and costed a jaw dropping $200 million, paid by Aga Khan IV, for whom the custom yacht was made.

• 18. Moon Goddess – 45 knots

Another lovely vessel from the superyacht world is the Moon Goddess. It’s on the smaller size, being only 35 meter long, but it’s capable of reaching 45 knots. The ship was built by Danish Yachts, with the naval architecture and exterior designs made by Espen Øino, a superyacht design icon.

The Moon Goddess can take up to six guests in three posh cabins, two twins and one for the owner, plus a crew of five. It’s propelled to a cruise speed of 25 knots, or the maximum of 45, by twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines which generate a combined 7,498 hp.

• 17. Shergar – 45 knots

The acclaimed German shipyard Lürssen built Shergar in 1983 to be among the fastest yachts in the world. Decades later, it still holds its own among better and more technological advanced vessels.

Equipped with two MTU 12V 396 TB83 diesel power plants, and two Allison 571-KF gas turbines, the Shergar is capable of cruising at 40 knots and reaching a top speed of 45 knots.

• 16. Seafire – 46 knots

Seafire is a super yacht manufactured by AB Yachts, an Italian shipyard known for some impressive vessels. This one is among their fastest, able to reach a top speed of 46 knots.

The 42 meter super yacht is powered by a setup of three MTU 16V M94 units and three waterjets, giving it the possibility to cruise at an impressive speed of 43 knots, only 3 below its top speed.

• 15. Octopussy 007 – 53.2 knots

Built back in 1988 by the renowned Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts and carrying a little of James Bond in its name, the Octopussy 007 is a 43.5 meter super yacht that can accommodate up to 10 guests and 7 crew members.

The vessel is powered by three MTU diesel engines that deliver 10,440 hp together, propelling the Octopussy forward at a cruising speed of 25 knots and a top speed of 53.2 knots.

It was on display at multiple boat shows around the world, and it changed owners for the last time in 2021. The naval architecture was done by Mulder Design, the exterior by Gerhard Gilgenast, and the interior by Art Line and Joachim Kinder Yacht Design.

Inside, it comes with 5 posh and extremely comfortable guest cabins, 1 master, 1 twin, and 3 double.

• 14. Daloli – 54 knots

The Daloli, also known as Pandion, built by Heesen Yachts, is a 36.5 vessel that enters the category of super yachts and impresses with a top speed of 54 knots, the equivalent of just over 62 mph.

The ship has a crew capacity of 6 and can host up to 8 passengers. There’s four cabins in total on its three decks, and the sheer beauty of its design can be seen both inside and on the outside.

It’s a real beauty, and a fast one as well.

• 13. Why Not U – 55 knots

Originally named Nobody, the Why Not U was designed in 2001 by Overmarine as a deluxe super yacht that’s capable of getting his 9 guests and 3 crew to their next dream destination with a top speed of 55 knots. The power comes from a setup of Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines.

When it comes to living on it, it offers an impressive range of amenities on its teak decks. There’s several dining spots, entertainment and lounge rooms, sun bathing areas, and plenty more to be had on board of this stunning super yacht.

• 12. Ermis² – 57 knots

The 37.5 meter super yacht Ermis², manufactured from special materials by the New Zealand shipyard McMullen & Wing, is among the fastest vessels out there, capable of a top speed of 57 knots, which is just a little over 65 mph.

The ship came out in 2007, but is still among the most innovative yachts in the world given the mix of composite materials, aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium for its lightweight body.

That low weight, combined with the 10,944 hp outputted by the three MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines, allow this stunning yacht to reach that max speed of 57 knots.

• 11. Chato – 57 knots

Chato is another small sized and powerful super yacht. It was built in 1986 by Baglietto from aluminium and was equipped with twin MTU 16V 396 TB94 diesel engines, which push it to a cruise speed of 35 knots and a max speed of 57 knots.

Chato is only 25.79 meters long, and that helps with a lower weight and a smaller profile under the surface of the water.

• 10. Azimut Atlantic Challenger – 60 knots

The Azimut Atlantic Challenger strays away from the usual design of luxury yachts, but that only because it was built for a very different purpose, which was to win the Blue Riband award, an unofficial accolade given to a ship for making the fastest transatlantic crossing.

Unfortunately, the Azimut Atlantic Challenger failed to win, but it remained one of the fastest super yachts in the world, currently holding the 10th position, with a top speed of 60 knots.

It was built in 1988 by the Italian shipyard Benetti, with the exterior designed by Pininfarina. It’s a 26.82 meter aluminum monohull vessel and is powered by four CRM diesel engines, capable of outputting a combined 7,400 hp.

• 9. Jet Ruban Bleu – 60 knots

The French built Jet Ruban Bleu is on par with the Azimut Atlantic Challenger and two other super yachts, at least when it comes to the top speed. They can all do 60 knots.

Jet Ruban Bleu is 25 meter long, was designed by Gilles Ollier and Coste Design & Partners and created by Multiplast. It was outfitted with a single MTU engine capable of 3,500 hp alone.

• 8. Oci Ciornie – 60 Knots

Oci Ciornie was a super yacht project that was realized by American shipyard Palmer Johnson, the Dutch Vripack, and the well known naval architect Don Shead in 1998.

The vessel features an aluminum hull, and uses two 1,800 hp MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines, a 4,600 hp AVCO Lycoming gas turbine, plus Arneson surface drives. This combination propels the Oci Ciornie with a top speed of 60 knots.

The ship is able to carry up to eight guests in a master suite, a double cabin, and a twin room. There’s a nice and streamlined deck that features a superb saloon and outside areas for relaxation, while the interior takes inspiration from aircraft designs.

• 7. Brave Challenger – 60 Knots

With the same 60 knot top speed of the above ships, the Brave Challenger is to be lauded, since it’s much older, being built back in 1960. The project was completed by Vosper Ltd in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, with the intention of becoming a Brave Class fast patrol boat. It was only later that the ship was converted for private use.

The Brave Challenger is powered by three Rolls-Royce Proteus gas turbines, which output a total of 13,500 hp, which combined with the only 31 meter length and lower weight, can push the boat to the top speed of 60 knots.

• 6. Kereon – 62.3 Knots

The Italian yard AB Yachts, the one behind Seafire above at number 16, built in 2004 one of the fastest super yachts in the world, the Kereon. It’s capable of hitting a top speed of 62.3 knots, and that thanks to the three CRM diesel engines that produce a good 6,300 hp.

Since the total power is so low in comparison to others on this list, it makes sense that a shorter length of 27 meters and a performant hull design are at play to aid in reaching those speeds.

The ship has a very sporty aesthetic, all metallic silver, and can cruise at 50 knots for about 900 miles.

• 5. Gentry Eagle – 63.5 knots

Gentry Eagle was a special project done by Vosper Thornycroft in 1988 for the legendary Tom Gentry, who achieved almost everything he could achieve in terms of powerboat speed records during his lifetime, including the coveted Blue Riband. The vessel, capable of 63.5 knots, helped him win the Blue Riband in 1989, with a record time of 62 hours and 7 minutes.

Gentry Eagle’s design was done by Grant Robinson and Peter Birkett, with the interior by Robin Rose. In 1992, the ship became a private super yacht.

• 4. Galeocerdo – 65 Knots

Galeocerdo is a very futuristic looking ship, with sleek lines and a hull designed to maintain high speeds in rough sea conditions. It measures 36 meters in length, and is capable of hitting 65 knots.

The vessel was built in 2003 in Italy, by Rodriguez Yachts and is powered by three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each tied to a Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jet. The total power output rises to a whooping 16,800 hp.

• 3. Destriero – 66 knots

Destriero was launched back in 1991 by the Italian shipyard Fincantieri. It has a length of 68.18 meters and features a design made by Pininfarina and Donald Blount. This ship was again built with the sole purpose of winning the Blue Riband by breaking the old record of crossing the Atlantic.

She did it in 1992, after it crossed the ocean twice without refueling, setting a new record of 58 hours, 34 minutes, and 5 seconds. but the Blue Riband award was denied for her, since it’s awarded only to passenger vessels and not private yachts.

What allowed Destriero to set a new record was the power of 54,000 hp, given by the Codag engine and the three GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines, pushing the ship to a max speed of 66 knots, or 76 mph.

• 2. World Is Not Enough – 67 Knots

The Dutch superyacht World Is Not Enough, built in 2004 by Millenium Super Yachts, comes second place with a top speed of 67 knots. The vessel is powered by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines, which give an output of 20,600 hp, and a good 3800 nautical miles cruising range at a cruising speed of 10 knots.

With its 42.4 meters of luxury and beauty, World Is Not Enough can accommodate up to 10 guests and 7 crew members in five extravagant cabins, offering plenty of comfort and areas for relaxation. The vessel features formal dining spaces, indoor bar, and al fresco dining and lounge areas on all decks, for the ultimate pleasure away from civilization.

• 1. Foners – 70.1 knots

The Foners is currently the fastest super yacht in the world, with a 70.1 knots top speed, keeping the first spot since its delivery back in 2000. The power behind its top speed comes from two MAN engines and three Rolls Royce gas turbines, combining together to output a whooping 21,380 hp.

Her cruising speed is 12 knots, and allows her to reach a range of 1,800 nautical miles.

But of course speed isn’t everything here, as the eye is impressed a lot when stepping on board. Built by the Spanish shipyard Izar, Foners comes with splendid interiors, formal dining rooms, and plenty of space on the decks for al fresco dining. Its 6 crew and up to 8 guests can be accommodated on board, in luxurious cabins.

These are the fastest super yachts in the world, a competition that keeps on going, dominated for the last two decades by the Spanish vessel Foners.

As technology progresses, it will be interesting to see how it holds up against newer yachts.

About Alex Holmes

With over 10 years of experience in media and publishing, Alex is Luxatic's director of content, overlooking everything related to reviews, special features, buying guides, news briefs and pretty much all the other content that can be found on our website. Learn more about Luxatic's Editorial Process .

2 thoughts on “The 20 Fastest SuperYachts in the World”

Bolide by VICTORY DESIGN is now by far the fastest yacht; speeds up to 76 knots have been recorded by this 80ft full carbon pleasure Yacht, powered by three MAN V12 2000 diesel engines.

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Boat of the Week: The World’s Fastest Yacht Can Transform Into a Floating Dance Club at Night

The 85 mph-plus bolide 80 is the world's first hyper muscle yacht. but the futuristic interior is just as outrageous., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories, this new 72-foot yacht’s new hybrid propulsion system is the first of its kind.

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With the 80, the designer is not exactly throwing sustainability to the winds—but he’s not embracing it, either. Any yacht with 6,000 hp is clearly not eco-friendly. But, counters Acampora, the Bolide (Italian for “fireball”) is more sustainable than traditional motoryachts in its class. The 80 consumes half the fuel at 50 knots that a similar-sized flybridge would use running at 25 knots. “You get from point A to point B in half the time, using half the fuel,” he tells Robb Report during a tour at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Calling the 80 the “culmination” of his career as a designer, Acampora penned hull number one for an experienced client who wanted a new definition of high performance. He got it.

The 80 breathes speed all across its long, slender profile, from the steps in the hull to the air scoops along the side, to the three massive surface-piercing propellers at the stern. The boat is powered by triple 2,000 hp MAN diesels that are staggered to fit in the engine room. But they deliver a ridiculous top end, making it “the fastest yacht in the world,” according to the designer. So much so that it’s the first in what will be an even more ridiculously named category, the Hyper Muscle Yacht, or HMY. Bolide has four other models in design to fill in the gaps.

This Bolide isn’t for everyone—and, in fact, is really for one person—but anyone who stepped on board at Monaco, much less got to do a sea trial, had to admit it was very cool, even if they didn’t like the concept. It stood out among the vanilla superyachts at Monaco.

To gain the low weight but retain the structural integrity needed for churning through the ocean at high speed, the 80 is built of carbon-fiber composites. Across the exterior, Acampora also made good use of the exposed carbon to give it a space-age look. The black-nickel topsides work well with the gray cockpit, which is offset by burnt-sienna upholstery.

The styling, from the three center steps at the stern to a large u-shaped seating area for 12, emphasizes curves and fluidity. The hardtop also undulates with an aerodynamic shape matching the profile.

The helm is also in keeping with the rest of the boat, featuring an Alcantara F-1 steering wheel, a single, 32-inch electronics console panel, and three tall seats so the driver and passengers will feel like they’re cocooned in at those blistering speeds.

But the 80’s real surprise is the interior by Loro Piana, a dark, elegant man cave with leather trim nearly everywhere, interspersed with carbon fiber. It’s no surprise that the two-stateroom layout (it also comes in three cabins) is unusual, customized for the owner.

Acampora refers to it as the owner’s “suite.” It includes a small guest cabin to port, large center salon in the center and main suite up front.

The salon is much larger than expected, with surprising headroom, skylights, and lounges on either side. Leather is everywhere, from the couches to the stylized, pullman-style drawers and cabinets, to the curved ceilings.

Forward is what Acampora calls the “vestibule,” a small corridor with storage that leads to the main suite. This area is much brighter up front, with a monochromatic white bed and walls, offset by a bright, mustard-colored leather dresser.

The ensuite and shower return to the darker theme, with a black marble sink with stylized (black, of course) handles. The black toilet and bidet are, naturally, carbon fiber. Even items like the fire extinguishers are noteworthy since they’re finished in mirror-polished stainless steel, and the leather straps on the dresser drawers replace latches to prevent rattling.

It’d be easy to get lost in the wonderland interior, but the Bolide 80 is still, at heart, a fast yacht. “Too many vessels these days focus on style and aesthetics,” says Acampora. “We’re really focused on performance.”

The Bolide 80 will come in a limited-edition series of 10 customized boats, costing about $10 million.

Click here for more photos of the Bolide 80.

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These boats prove that size doesn’t have to mean slow.

When American businessman John Staluppi embarked on his yachting journey, it was to break records. He wanted his first yacht to be the first boat over 100 feet to exceed 30 knots, or 34.5 mph. He achieved it with the 118-foot  For Your Eyes   Only,  delivered in 1985. It was also the first motoryacht in the US to have a combination of MTU diesel engines with water-jet propulsion.

His second yacht would smash all previous records. Delivered by Heesen in 1988,  Octopussy  fulfilled the Bond enthusiast’s aim to break the then 50-knot barrier with a top end of 53.17 knots (61 mph)—a speed that every other shipyard at the time said couldn’t be done.  Octopussy  immediately entered the record books as the world’s fastest yacht.

“That record was important to me because when you pull into any place there’s always a bigger boat or a prettier boat, but there aren’t many people who can say, ‘Hey, this is the fastest yacht in the world,’” Staluppi told  us .

Heesen’s latest delivery, the 197-foot Ultra G, is one of the Dutch yard’s fastest projects these days, with a propulsion package totaling 22,000 horsepower, including four water jets that deliver a top speed of 37 knots (42.57 mph).

Of course, 43 mph is a paltry number compared to many of the yachts on this list, including the new Bolide 80. That Italian stallion, which will make its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show, runs at a blistering 84 mph. It shows that speed, even in the large motoryacht category, is very much alive.

Here are 13 of the fastest motoryachts, past and present, that have ever been on the water.

Photo : Victory Design

1. Bolide 80 | 84 mph

Victory Marine calls the Bolide 80 its first “Hyper Muscle Yacht,” which will be part of a limited-edition series from 60 to 170 feet. Designer Brunello Acampora and his tema of engineers pulled out all the stops on this 80, creating a full-carbon-fiber boat with more than 6,000 horsepower. The multi-stepped hull helps propel the Bolide to its top speed of 70 knots (84 mph), while accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of burning about half the fuel of a much smaller flybridge motoryacht at lower cruising speeds. The designer took care to give the Bolide a streamlined profile, with aerodynamic shapes to reduce resistance. The interior includes the captain’s cabin, a full-sized galley, open salon, and a forward owner’s area with a bedroom, en suite and wardrobe area. It will make its global debut at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Photo : Wikipedia

2. ‘Foners’ | 80.56 mph

Clocking a thrilling 70.10 knots (80.56 mph), the 136-foot  Foners  has maintained pole position as the world’s fastest superyacht for over 20 years. Powered by two 1,280hp MAN engines coupled to three Rolls-Royce 6,700 hp gas turbines driving three KaMeWa water jets, the all-aluminum boat is less about piercing waves and more about parting the seas. Delivered in 2000 by Spanish shipyard Izar as the King of Spain’s royal yacht, no expense was spared, including a superstructure lined with Aramid fiber for the express purpose of bulletproofing the interior.

Photo : File photo

3. ‘World Is Not Enough’ | 77.1 mph

You need to only look at the 007-inspired name to know that  World Is Not Enough  is another rapid racer commissioned by John Staluppi, this time with an opulent interior designed by his wife Jeanette in partnership with Evan K Marshall. Delivered in 2004 by Millennium Super Yachts, the 139-footer is powered by two Paxman diesel engines and two Lycoming gas turbines to produce a staggering 20,600hp and a breathtaking 67 knots (77.1 mph). When not leaving other boats behind,  World Is Not Enough  has a cruising range of 3800 nautical miles at a comfortable speed of 10 knots.

Photo : File/Rodriguez Yachts

4. ‘Galeocerdo’ | 74.8 mph

Wally founder Luca Bassani designed the 118-foot  Galeocerdo  to maintain speed in rough seas. Launched in 2003 by Rodriquez Yachts, the boat racks up an eye-watering 65 knots (74.8 mph), thanks to its three Vericor TF50 gas turbines, each driving a Rolls-Royce KaMeWa water jet. Another performance-enhancing feature is the lightweight titanium exhaust system designed to resist the extreme temperatures generated by the gas turbines. Wind tunnel tested at the Ferrari facility in Maranello, Italy, the boat generates 16,800hp and a 45-knot (51.8-mph) cruising speed that’s faster than most motoryachts running flat out. It also enjoys a highly futuristic exterior design.

Photo : Italian Sea Group

5. Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 | 72.5 mph

When Italian supercar brand Lamborghini teamed up with yachting stalwart The Italian Sea Group, the end result had to be style and performance. The Tecnomar for Lamborghini 63 is all about the power of ‘63’. Designed and built to celebrate the year 1963 when Ferruccio Lamborghini founded his car company, the 63-footer delivers a whiplashing top speed of 63 knots (72.5 mph). And naturally, it’s one of just 63 in the series that will ever be made. Built out of carbon fiber, it’s fitted with two MAN V12-2000HP engines. MMA fighter Conor McGregor took delivery of hull number one in 2020, which reportedly cost $4 million.

Photo : Courtesy Baglietto

6. ‘Chato’ | 71.9 mph

Back in the mid-1980s, passionate Baglietto customer and leading US Porsche and VW dealer Baron John von Neumann, commissioned a new 85-ft. speed demon from the Italian builder. The entrepreneur was tired of his 34-knot (39-mph) Baglietto getting creamed from Monaco to St. Tropez by faster cruisers. With a hull design by the legendary Alcide Sculati, the all-aluminum  Chato  came with MTU’s latest 3,480hp V16s coupled to KaMeWa waterjets. Weighing 60 tons, and packing almost 7,000 hp, the military-looking superyacht with its battleship-gray paint and bright-red diagonal hull stripes, hit an astonishing top speed of 62.5 knots (71.9 mph) during sea trials.  Chato  is currently for sale in the South of France for $715,000.

Photo : Palmer Johnson

7. ‘Oci Ciornie’ | 69.04 mph

Oci Ciornie’s Vripack-designed interior may take inspiration from aircraft designs, but it’s the boat’s naval architecture by Don Shead and the combination of two 1,800hp MTU 16V 2000 M90 engines, a 4,600 hp AVCO Lycoming gas turbine and Arneson surface drives that put it on this list. Delivered in 1998 by Palmer Johnson with an aluminum hull, the 82-foot boat thrusts through water at 60 knots (69.04 mph), giving all eight guests the waterborne ride of their lives.

Photo : Courtesy Fincantieri

8. ‘Destriero’ | 68 mph

The numbers almost defy logic. With a length of 224 feet, the all-aluminum superyacht  Destriero  is massive. Now add a trio of GE Aviation LM1600 gas turbines totaling an insane 60,000 hp and the incredulity only increases. Flat out,  Destriero  could scythe through waves at a staggering 59 knots, or 68 mph. Back in 1992, just one year after its launch, the Fincantieri-built rocketship showed its chops by challenging the famous Blue Riband trans-Atlantic speed record. Averaging 53.09 knots for the 3,106 nautical-mile run,  Destriero  shattered the record, only to be denied the trophy for being classed as a private yacht and not a commercial passenger vessel. Sadly, today the iconic yacht lies largely abandoned at one of Lurssen’s yards in Germany, awaiting rescue.

Photo : McMullen & Wing

9. ‘Ermis²’ | 65.59 mph

Some yachts feature slippery hull designs, others are propelled by rockets, but the McMullen & Wing-built  Ermis²  is one of the fastest yachts on the superyacht circuit thanks to its lightweight materials. Built from a combination of carbon/epoxy, aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium, the 123-foot boat taps out at 57 knots (65.59 mph.) Delivered in 2007, its 10,944 horsepower comes from three MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines. Designed inside and out by Rob Humphreys, its classic looks disguise the speed demon within.

Photo : Overmarine

10. ‘Why Not U’ | 63.3 mph

Why Not U  is a yacht that comfortably cruises at 47 knots (54.1 mph)—a speed most owners only dream of reaching. When time is of the essence, the boat cranks up its Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines to max out at 55 knots (63.3 mph). Delivered by Overmarine in 2001,  Why Not U ’s 4.3-foot draft makes it well suited for cruising shallow waters, while its sunbathing areas allow guests to catch some rays traveling at the speed of light.

Photo : File Photo

11. ‘Alamshar’ | 52 mph

Alamshar  is another custom collaboration between Donald Blount and Pininfarina commissioned by Aga Khan IV, this time with interiors by Redman Whiteley Dixon. It was reportedly built for an estimated $200 million at the Devonport shipyard in Falmouth, United Kingdom, and took 13 years to complete. When it was eventually delivered in 2014, Alamshar’s top speed of 45 knots (51.78 mph), generated by twin Rolls-Royce Marine engines and three waterjets, seemed worth the wait.

Photo : Camper & NIcholsons

12. ‘Moon Goddess’ | 51.78 mph

Exterior designed by Espen Øino with an interior by Franco Zuretti, the all-aluminum Moon Goddess is a 115-foot yacht with a turquoise hull that matches the color of its oversized leather sunpads. When cruising at 30 knots (34.52 mph) or tearing up the oceans at 45 knots (51.78 mph), most other boats just catch a glimpse of sea spray that the planing yacht leaves in its wake. It’s powered by twin MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesel engines with twin water jets, which generate a combined 7,498 hp.

Photo : Courtesy Lurssen

13. ‘Azzam’ | 35.7 mph

At a staggering 590 feet bow-to-stern, the Lurssen-built  Azzam  earns the title of world’s longest privately owned gigayacht. But with its remarkable-for-the-size top speed of 31 knots (35.7 mph), it’s also the fastest. Twin 12,000hp MTU V20 turbo-diesels do the day-to-day powering at up to 18 knots (20.7 mph). But crank up the twin GE LM2500 gas turbines, coupled to four Wartsila waterjets, and there’s a staggering 94,000hp on tap. Of course, like  Azzam ‘s original owner, it helps if you own a few oil wells: At max speed, the yacht reportedly burns 13 tons of fuel an hour. Launched in 2013 at a reported cost of some $600 million,  Azzam  accommodates 30 guests pampered by up to 80 crew.

• superyachts

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Fastest Yachts Unveiled: The Top 10 Luxury Yachts for Speed Lovers

Embark on a journey of luxury, speed, and elegance as we unveil the crème de la crème of the world’s fastest luxury yachts. Imagine yourself on deck, with the wind in your hair and the open sea before you, aboard one of these magnificent vessels. Join us as we explore the top 10 luxury yachts, each one a masterpiece of engineering and opulence that will make your dreams of high-speed cruising come true.

1. “World Is Not Enough” (Length: 42 meters) one of the fastest yachts in the world

At the top of our list is “World Is Not Enough,” a stunning superyacht with a length of 42 meters. This floating palace is powered by a combination of gas turbines and diesel engines, producing a jaw-dropping speed of up to 70 knots. Imagine cruising the Mediterranean at this incredible pace, all while enjoying the yacht’s lavish amenities and spacious decks.

2. “ Azzam ” one of the largest and fastest yachts in the world (Length: 180 meters)

“ Azzam ” claims the title of the longest luxury yacht globally, measuring a staggering 180 meters in length. This engineering marvel is equipped with a combination of two gas turbines and two diesel engines, enabling it to reach speeds of up to 30 knots. Its opulent interior and world-class service make it a dream come true for those seeking the ultimate luxury experience.

3. “Eclipse” (Length: 162.5 meters)

The “Eclipse” yacht, with its 162.5-meter length, exudes elegance and power. Its propulsion system features four diesel engines and two gas turbines, propelling it at a swift 22 knots. This yacht is known for its privacy-focused design, complete with an anti-paparazzi shield, making it a favorite among celebrities and dignitaries.

4. “Fountainhead” (Length: 88.8 meters)

The “Fountainhead” yacht may be slightly shorter, but it packs a punch with a top speed of 20 knots. Its propulsion system includes two diesel engines, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey for its lucky passengers. With spacious decks and luxurious cabins, this yacht offers an unforgettable cruising experience.

5. “Seven Seas” (Length: 86 meters)

“Sailing the Seven Seas” takes on a whole new meaning aboard this 86-meter luxury yacht. Powered by two diesel engines, it can reach a top speed of 20 knots. The yacht’s exquisite design and amenities make it a favorite among discerning travelers looking for adventure in style.

6. “Savannah” (Length: 83.5 meters)

“Savannah” is renowned for its eco-friendliness and innovation. With a length of 83.5 meters, this superyacht boasts a unique propulsion system that includes a combination of a traditional diesel engine and electric motors. This groundbreaking design not only allows for a top speed of 17 knots but also reduces its environmental footprint.

7. “ Octopus ” (Length: 126.2 meters)

“Octopus” is a legendary yacht, measuring 126.2 meters in length. It features eight diesel engines and two electric motors, providing a cruising speed of 20 knots. Owned by a philanthropic billionaire, this yacht is not only a symbol of luxury but also a platform for marine research and exploration.

8. “Lionheart” (Length: 90 meters)

The “Lionheart” yacht, with its 90-meter length, roars onto our list with a top speed of 16 knots. Powered by two diesel engines, it offers a regal cruising experience, complete with stunning interior design and outdoor lounging areas fit for royalty.

9. “Coral Ocean” (Length: 73.6 meters)

The “Coral Ocean” luxury yacht, at 73.6 meters, combines classic elegance with modern technology. Propelled by two diesel engines, it reaches a comfortable cruising speed of 15 knots. Its beautiful interior and generous deck spaces provide an intimate and relaxing journey.

10. “Lady S” (Length: 93 meters)

Last but certainly not least, “Lady S” graces our list with a length of 93 meters. This superyacht boasts a hybrid propulsion system, combining diesel engines with electric pods. This innovative setup allows it to cruise at 16 knots while minimizing environmental impact. “Lady S” offers a luxurious experience for those who appreciate cutting-edge technology and impeccable design.

Fastest Yachts: A Thrilling Tale of Speed and Luxury on the High Seas

In the world of luxury yachts, there’s a niche where speed and opulence converge. These are the fastest yachts, where cutting-edge engineering meets lavish living. Join us on a journey to uncover the story of these exceptional vessels.

These yachts aren’t just about leisurely cruises; they’re built for thrill-seekers who crave speed on the high seas. From powerful propulsion systems to luxurious interiors, these yachts redefine what it means to sail in style.

Discover the fascinating world of the Fastest Yachts, where engineering meets extravagance, and adventure knows no bounds.

In conclusion, these luxury yachts offer an extraordinary blend of speed and opulence, making your dreams of sailing the seas in style a reality. Whether you seek ultimate speed, eco-friendliness, or timeless elegance, there’s a luxury yacht on this list that will take you on the journey of a lifetime.

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The Top Five Fastest Yachts in the World

By Jenna Mehdi

We took a look at the top five fastest superyachts and luxury yachts on the water today. Ranging from speeds of 62 Knots up to a whopping 70 Knots, these breakneck builds are sure to satisfy the cravings of the most insatiable adrenaline junkies...

1.  World Is Not Enough - Millennium Superyachts - 70 Knots The fastest yacht in the world reaches a record-breaking top speed of around 70 knots. The Milennium 140 World Is Not Enough  has retained the title of the world’s fastest yacht since she was delivered in 2004 to one of the most public superyacht owners in the world, John Staluppi. Incredibly for a superyacht of this size, World Is Not Enough is a fully fledged and outfitted superyacht at 42.4m, complete with advanced audio-visual systems and accommodation for 10 guests in 5 luxurious cabins. 

The superyacht achieves her racing speeds by virtue of an all-aluminium build, V-shaped hull, and two 18VP185 Paxman Diesel engines providing 5300 hp each combined with twin Lycoming TF40 turbine jet engines - able to generate a total power of 20.000 HP. The result is an extremely streamlined, exhilarating and comfortable feel as the yacht cuts through the water, offering minimal noise levels and vibration underway.  

2. Foners - Astilleros Bazan - 70 Knots In joint first place at a similar top speed of roughly 70 knots is the 41.5m Foners (ex Fortuna). Boasting a colourful and intrepid history, Foners was built in 2000 by Spain’s Astilleros Bazan yard for then-Spanish King Juan Carlos I as a gift by businessmen in the Balearic Islands, and has since been renounced by the royal family in a display of austerity. Powered by two 1280 HP MAN engines and three Rolls Royce 6,700 HP gas turbines driving three KaMeWa water jets, Foners was the fastest superyacht in the world upon delivery until World Is Not Enough matched her high-octane abilities in 2004. 

3. Galeocerdo - Wally Yachts - 65 Knots Galeocerdo (118 Wallypower) is the 36m ultra light carbon fiber boat built for Luca Bassani, founder of Italian shipyard Wally Yachts. The fascinating design of the boat, composed of geometric shapes, extensive use of glass, a simple and clean interior layout and sage colours, gives her an impressively futuristic character despite having been delivered in 2002. But this is not the only appeal of the iconic yacht; at top speeds of 65 knots, Galeocerdo can shift from luxury superyacht to speed boat in a matter of moments, with minimal noise or vibrations. Galeocerdo is powered by three DDC TF50 gas Turbines and two Cummins 370 horsepower engines; a combination quite common on smaller warships but not so on super yachts. She can achieve a range of 380 nautical miles while cruising at a speed of 60 knots or 1,500 nautical miles at nine knots.  

4. Gentry Eagle - Vosper Thornycroft - 63 Knots Gentry Eagle was delivered in 1988 by Vosper Thornycroft, built for American racer Tom Gentry in an attempt to break the record for fastest Atlantic crossing (held at the time by Virgin’s Richard Branson). The 35.6m yacht was damaged on the first crossing, and returned a year later to steal Branson’s title, making a journey time of just over 62 hours. Revamped in perfume mogul Thierry Mugler’s Couture Collection a few years ago, Gentry Eagle retains a timeless and iconic appeal for its proud history, iconic design and lightning speeds. The speedy superyacht is powered by two Lycoming TF40 Engines reaching a combined horsepower of almost 24,000. 

5. Kereon - AB Yachts - 62.3 Knots Kereon, the 27m luxury yacht delivered in 2005 by AB Yachts in Italy to industry acclaim. A masterpiece of Italian craftsmanship and performance, Kereon’ s streamlined profile is made up of carbon and kevlar allowing for a lightweight and high-speed structure. Not much is known about Kereon , other than that she is powered by twin 20KW Kohler engines and accommodates for six guests comfortably in three staterooms.   

Superyacht aficionados and lovers of fast yachts in 2020 may notice that the heyday for high speed luxury yacht deliveries seemed to reach its peak in the early to mid noughties. Is fast yacht build a thing of the past? And if not, who will be next to break the long-held record?

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A Look at the Fastest Superyacht of Its Time

Meet the ultimate Bond girl: the famed 1980s-era superyacht, M/Y Octopussy . Interior designer Jeff Lincoln takes us aboard the refurbished, retro-chic ship.

It began with a phone call. “Want to check out the Palm Beach Boat Show?” It was late March, and I was working on the home of a longtime client in south Florida. He also happens to be a childhood friend, so when he called with the invitation, it seemed like a fun afternoon diversion. The annual show draws some of the most impressive yachts from all over the world, and if you leave your shoes on the dock, you can come aboard and wander their decks and cabins.

It wasn’t clear to me that my client was seriously considering purchasing a yacht that day. I am not sure if he even knew. He’s an athletic guy and avid fisherman, so I thought at the most he might be considering a new sportfisher.

I’ve been an interior designer for some 30-plus years, so I naturally spent the better part of the show compiling my own “dock appeal” assessments of the boats (free as I am from the financial consideration of such a purchase!). While the smaller boats were primarily bright and well- designed reflections of their intended purposes, I couldn’t help but note that the interiors of most of the larger boats were dull and oddly lacking in soul. Then we came upon the blue-hulled beauty known as M/Y Octopussy . A renowned yacht from the 1980s, the 43-meter vessel was among the fastest superyachts of its kind when she was introduced by Dutch builder Heesen and helped usher in the era of the luxury superyacht (defined today as any commercially crewed yacht larger than 24 meters in length).

There were bigger boats that day, and newer ones too, but none had the sheer presence of this one. The interior—with its low-slung main saloon, five staterooms, and capacious dining areas—was redolent with 1980s riffs on chrome and lacquer befitting its Bond-inspired moniker, along with acres of Art Deco–inflected cabinetry.

“What do you think?” my client asked.

“Now this is a boat with style,” I replied.

To be clear, much of the vessel’s 1980s style bordered on kitsch, but the passing of time suddenly made it appear fresh to my eyes. Besides, those dispiriting forays on those other yachts gave me a renewed appreciation for the funky aesthetic.

He bought her, and a few weeks later, he called to ask if I would help him with refurbishing the interiors.

Octopussy Gallery

I’d designed a boat before this one, a 90-foot Viking sportfisher—not small, but nothing like this elegant vessel. I recalled the Hollywood adage that “nobody knows anything” about making movies. I quickly decided this was also true for yacht interiors and set out to plot my own course and embrace her 1980s lineage. I coated existing cabinetry and millwork in the living areas with bright white lacquer and upholstered unsightly round metal columns in tufted white leather. Against this clean canvas, I layered in lots of blue. (While pairing blue and white at sea may not be the most original idea in the world, I am a firm believer in not doing things because you want to be “designery.” To me, design should be—first and foremost—comfortable and appropriate to its environment. Then you can throw in a few surprises.)

So, in came curvy Vladimir Kagan sofas and vintage polished-steel Karl Springer tables, their flowing forms making communal spaces easy to navigate (in other words, no bruised shins). A couple of Warhols reinforced the vivid palette and the era.

The staterooms, however, were a different story. No amount of clever recontextualizing was going to save these sorry and dated spaces. I reimagined them instead with maximum sleeping capacity and comfort top of mind. All of them except the master stateroom are belowdecks, so I leaned on color to help make the most of limited light.

Today the boat is a happy place for my client and his energetic young family. In Lyford Cay and other Bahamian ports, the kids take daredevil dives from the upper decks while my client and his wife watch from the newly added sky deck. Thanks to her refurbished Rolls-Royce engines, M/Y Octopussy is once again one of the fastest boats of her size on the seas. Catch her if you can. Featured in our July/August 2019 issue.

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The 10 Fastest Superyachts in the World

Yachts used to be all about leisurely cruising surrounded by luxury, but somewhere along the way power and performance came into the equation as well. Coupled with cutting edge technology and the demand that yachts meet increasingly high standards, the superyacht was was born. The top vessels in this class not only look amazing, but can cruise faster than 50 knots.

Here are 10 of the fastest superyachts in the world.

1. Moon Goddess – 53 knots

Moon Goddess is a 35 meter motor yacht that was built by shipbuilder Danish Yachts in 2006. Its engineering and gorgeous exterior are the work of yacht designer Espen Oeino. It has three luxurious cabins — two twin cabins and one owner’s cabin — that can accommodate six guests. There’s also room for a crew of five on this superyacht, which can reach top speeds of 53 knots.

2. Daloli – 54 knots

Heesen Yachts’ Daloli, also referred to as Pandion, has a cruise speed of 37 knots and a top speed of 54 knots, making it one of the fastest superyachts in the world. The 36.5 meter vessel can host up to 8 passengers and a crew of 6 in four cabins. Daloli has three decks and its interior looks as stunning as its exterior.

3. Why Not – 55 knots

Why Not, which was originally called Nobody, has a name that doesn’t quite match its lavish features. Designed by Overmarine in 2001, this yacht accommodates up to 3 crew members and 9 passengers. Vericor TF40 gas turbine engines allow Why Not to reach a top speed of 55 knots, while teak decks and a planing hull give it a distinctive profile. Multiple dining, entertainment, lounging, and sun bathing areas ensure that anyone who steps aboard this superyacht will be thoroughly entertained and enveloped in luxury.

4. Ermis² – 57 knots

Ermis² reaches a top speed of 57 knots and is among the fastest yachts built by McMullen & Wing. The high speed composite motor yacht is comprised of aerospace grade carbon fiber and titanium to create a body that’s light, yet very powerful. It’s over 37.5 meter long, has four fabulous cabins, and accommodates eight guests and a crew of four. The price tag for Ermis² tops $14.3 million.

5. Brave Challenger – 60 knots

One of the fastest superyachts in the world is also one with a very interesting history. Brave Challenger was crafted by UK based Vosper Thornycroft in 1960, and the custom vessel has been turning heads since it first set sail. Originally dubbed Mercury, Brave Challenger is over 31 meters long and reaches a top speed of 60 knots — considering the size of this yacht, that’s quite impressive. Three GM diesel engines and triple screw propellers provide its speed.

Brave Challenger hosts a crew of up to six members and ten guests. It’s a boat that’s built for entertaining and enjoying the water and has been going strong for decades. That Brave Challenger has been in commission for over 55 years and still holds a top spot in the yachting world is a testament to its fine craftsmanship and engineering. Inside, this yacht has a gorgeous vintage feel. Rich oak, luxurious fabrics, and smooth charm all combine to create a retreat that’s truly timeless.

6. Galeocerdo – 60 knots

Galeocerdo is one of the more unique looking superyachts in existence, and it’s also quite speedy. At first glance, you may think it belongs in a sci-fi or action movie — this boat is very distinctive and has a futuristic profile. Sharp lines, stark angles, and an imposing stature give Galeocerdo a presence that’s not easy to miss.

This nearly 36 meter vessel reaches a top speed of 60 knots and was built in 2003 by Wally Yachts. Its power is courtesy of two Cummins diesel engines, and it’s made of super light carbon fiber. When it’s time to cruise, Galeocerdo glides along the water at 9 knots and has plenty of amenities onboard to give passengers a comfortable, pleasurable experience. Galeocerdo is available for charter and has been around the world. Its price tag tops $33 million.

7. Gentry Eagle – 63 knots

The 34.11 meter Gentry Eagle is a superyacht with plenty of power, speed, and style. It hosts up to six passengers and a crew of four members and was built by Vosper Thornycroft in 1988. Back then, it was named 2768 — “Gentry Eagle” is definitely a more fitting name.

In 1992, the vessel was retrofitted and made into a yacht that’s not only a great performer but a beautiful sight inside and out. Its sizeable flybridge, aerodynamic components, and luxurious features have given the Gentry Eagle its sterling reputation as an example of superb shipbuilding.

8. Foners – 68 knots

Foners was formerly known as Fortuna, and was first used as the royal yacht of the King of Spain in 2000. Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Bazan custom made the vessel and outfitted it with incredible amenities, as well as Aramid fiber lining to make it bulletproof. Inside, Foners has a huge salon with luxury seating, handcrafted tables, a large screen television, formal dining area, and plenty of entertainment areas.

There are four cabins aboard Foners that host up to eight guests. The two twin suites are quite spacious, and the VIP stateroom is the epitome of sophisticated. The grandest of all the cabins is the master suite, which is insanely beautiful — after all, this superyacht was created for royalty.

As gorgeous as its interior and exterior are, Foners was engineered first and foremost to have great power. It has two MAN engines that provide 1,280 hp and three Rolls Royce gas turbines to give it a top speed of 68 knots. Foners was put on sale in mid-2014 for over $9 million.

9. Alamshar – 68 knots

Alamshar is one of the top two superyachts in terms of speed, but it also took a very long time to build. After 13 years in the making, Alamshar was finally completed in 2014. Pininfarina, Redman Whiteley Dixon, and Donald L. Blount and Associates collaborated to design the striking vessel, which reaches top speeds of 68 knots. Alamshar was custom built for Aga Khan IV and cost a staggering $200 million.

10. World is Not Enough – 70 knots

With a name like “World is Not Enough”, it’s only right that this superyacht is the fastest on the planet. The Millennium 140 vessel is 42 meters long and races at 70 knots. Of course, it’s also ultra-luxe inside and no detail or expense was spared to design and built it.

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Sailing the fastest offshore monohull, the ClubSwan 125

• Toby Hodges
• October 19, 2021

Yachting World's Toby Hodges sails the radical new ClubSwan 125 Skorpios and gives you a tour. Skorpios is the largest entrant in the Fastnet ever and took line honours weeks after launch in 2021

It’s tricky to gauge speed and scale against anything else when you have to sail a few miles offshore to avoid dredging the English Channel. Nevertheless, sailing onboard the new ClubSwan 125, I could tell that great stretches of the UK’s coastline, passages that would normally drag by over hours, were ripping past at a velocity that made me question my knowledge of known landmarks.

Aboard Skorpios , the imposing new ClubSwan 125, we’re not talking outright silly peak speeds, but more the sheer unrelenting consistency of the high speeds. At 140ft including bowsprit, Skorpios is, by any scale, a beast which, under its substantial sail area, becomes an uncompromising, fiendishly powerful mile-muncher.

Standing at the windward helm when powered up feels so high above the water it’s akin to leaning out of a second storey window. And with over 20 top professional crew sitting on the rail in front of you it is an awesome, slightly terrifying and utterly captivating experience.

However, this is not a Swan built for helming pleasure, rather with a ruthless brief to be the first monohull home in the big offshore races and to rewrite ocean records.

Skorpios is skippered by the Spanish Olympic Tornado gold medallist Fernando Echávarri,  a former Volvo Ocean Race skipper.

The adrenalin of sailing the ClubSwan 125 Skorpios is perhaps heightened by the fear of the unknown: everything about this yacht seems to be on another scale altogether. This is, by some margin, the biggest offshore racing monohull, and certainly the largest ever racing Swan. It boasts possibly the deepest draught non-lifting keel (7.4m) and the largest sailplan combination ever conceived. In short, Skorpios is a seemingly limitless source of superlatives.

Skorpios is the largest monohull to have raced in the Fastnet Race to date, and, as its designer Juan Kouyoumdjian pointed out with a certain glee, it has been issued with the highest IRC rating ever awarded.

Not that handicaps will be of concern – it’s out for line honours only. That it duly succeeded at such a task at the first time of asking is all the more impressive considering the gun for this year’s particularly boisterous Fastnet start was fired just two months after the boat splashed.

This was also the first offshore race for the yacht’s owner Dmitry Rybolovlev. Sometimes it takes an ambitious owner with a substantial chequebook to make a meaningful step forward in design and engineering, and produce a ripple effect in technology.

In the case of ClubSwan 125 Skorpios it was Russian businessman and philanthropist Rybolovlev who fell for the idea of a record breaker after tasting racing victory on his ClubSwan 50 . The contract was signed in February 2017 and, four years and a pandemic later, his near three times larger version was wheeled out of Nautor’s famous Pietarsaari yard.

Just a month after its June launch, and during an intense work up period before the Fastnet, I was invited to join Skorpios for a day’s race training.

Science project

The isle of Portland is one of the few safe ports around the English Channel with a deep enough berth for Skorpios . From Dorset’s Jurassic Coast cliffs miles to the west, a single mast stands out on the horizon and as I approach through the commercial dockyard, the scale of Skorpios seems to keep increasing. It’s simply enormous, unlike any other yacht I have seen.

Enough sail? Skorpios off the Dorset coast. The ClubSwan 125 is named after owner Rybolovlev’s famous Greek island, where Jackie Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

Testing systems and sea trialling for race prep takes a significant amount of sea room on a craft of this size. Thankfully we have ideal 17-22 knot conditions to encourage a long day afloat.

“We’re going to stay two to three miles offshore and sail down to the Isle of Wight,” Fernando Echávarri announces to the crew. The quietly spoken team skipper, a Spanish Olympic Tornado champion, assembled a crack team around him during the build and seems to have the unflappable composure needed for such an endeavour.

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I crane my neck as 660m2 of black 3Di mainsail is hoisted up a mast that scales 59m from the waterline, high enough for the enormous 5.5m gaff of the squaretop to be in a totally different weather system.

“This boat’s a real science project,” says Miles Seddon, reading my mind as he joins me on the aft quarter rail. The British pro navigator has stepped aboard to give some local knowledge during the Fastnet build-up.

“There are so many systems, load sensors, fibre optics etc all trying to integrate… and all are logged at 10Hz so everyone can monitor it (aboard and ashore).”

The giant ClubSwan always sails heeled and the apparent wind never really goes aft of 80º. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

With loads too high for human power onboard the ClubSwan 125, the grunt is all left to hydraulic pumps to drive winches and movable appendages. Hence the ability to monitor all loads constantly is reassuring and educational.

Nevertheless, I recognise many of the faces of the international crew who have amassed dozens of America’s Cup , Volvo Ocean Race and Olympic wins between them. The size of this craft and its level of tech places it in a high-risk category, so the ability to sail this ‘project’ safely and to the optimum, particularly with such a short training period, requires all their skill and experience.

Key crewmembers talk sporadically through their headsets, which are covered by neck scarves to try to protect against apparent winds that are typically gale force. It’s all coded language, acronyms and target talk – we are in test pilot territory here.

thrill of a lifetime as YW’s Toby Hodges gets behind the wheel. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

As 1,300m2 of A3 (asymmetric spinnaker) is unfurled we accelerate from a 10 knot canter straight to the high teens. Then out come the J4 (jib) and IRS – the bright orange sail which rates as a storm jib – to fill the large slots and Skorpios is immediately into the 20s.

I record the angles and speeds throughout the day and, looking through these later, it’s their consistency at which I marvel. “We are sailing with nearly 2,400m2 in a 59-tonne boat – so it’s pretty powerful!” Echávarri remarks. Indeed the sail area to displacement ratio of 67.8 is mind boggling.

50% Movable ballast

“Designing a racing sailboat, able to reach a speed in the region of 15 knots upwind and that will always be faster than the wind speed downwind is something unique,” comments Juan K.

The Argentinian designer, who was aboard for our trial, explains that he chose a canting keel in order to keep the displacement under 60 tonnes, which allowed for the necessary righting moment with a smaller bulb.

However, this was not always the plan. The ClubSwan 125 was originally conceived by Nautor as more as a performance cruiser-racer with teak decks and a full interior.

The decision to remove these saved an estimated six tonnes immediately. And once the owner said he wanted to go really fast, the design was continually re-evaluated. The original keel proposal was a complex telescopic/canting mechanism, so replacing that saved another 2.5 tonnes. The interior was also adapted, designed by Adriana Monk to be very minimalist and practical for offshore sailing.

The canting angle of the keel increased from 38° to 42° and a trim tab was added. The potential lift and righting moment benefits this can give were one of the areas the crew were looking at during our sail.

sailing triple-headed makes for a lot of halyard tails and sheets to keep tidy. The smart dodger was a late addition, for protection and to keep the companionway dry. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

“With a canting keel you need another appendage to produce the required side force. That is provided here by a C-foil, a hydrodynamic asymmetrical foil, but symmetrical from port to starboard, that can be tacked each side of the boat,” Juan K explains.

He estimates that this is less weight than two daggerboards and can help the boat reach a ‘skimming’ attitude when reaching. “It doesn’t give you the performance of side foils, but without the C-foil there would be 5-7° leeway. With the foil, there is zero or even negative leeway with the keel canted.”

Then there is also the equivalent weight of an average 40ft cruising yacht in water ballast, housed in 5,000lt and 3,000lt tanks each side. These take 45 seconds to fill and 30 seconds to transfer from one side to another.

“It’s righting moment without the weight in light airs,” Juan K elaborates. When more than half the weight of the boat can be shifted from side to side, pushing the correct buttons becomes imperative.

After a couple of hours in downwind mode, we’re now somewhere south of the Island and furl to gybe. An army of muscle manhandles the trunk of furled A3 onto the deck and into a bag so it can be lifted by halyard and deposited across the aft deck in preparation for the first upwind leg.

It is while briefly parked like this that the alien noises, reverberations and discomfort start. Every element of this craft is designed around speed, so restrained like this, the giant Skorpios groans and shudders like a tethered animal and the raw vibrations are felt right through to the aft deck.

ClubSwan 125 weight and windage

We’re given a steady 20 knots true for our first beat, which is on the limit of a reef in this sea state. Yet with or without a reef, we still average 14 knots at 25° to the apparent wind.

The single C-shape daggerboard is moved hydraulically from side to side to negate leeway and when fully retracted still sticks out by 80-90cm. Sensors continually inform the crew about the loads on the board. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

The harmony of the rig and sail package on the ClubSwan 125 is impressive. Southern Spars designed the high modulus mast, 60ft boom and 23ft reaching strut in combination with sister company North Sails and its Helix structured luff technology. The company says it’s one of the most advanced rig packages it has ever delivered.

The tack points were originally designed to take much higher loads, but the advances in structural luff technology and load sharing means that these point loads have greatly reduced, project manager Bob Wylie tells me. “The J2 was originally designed for 45 tonnes, yet the current tack load is around 25 tonnes.”

Future Fibres’ Aerosix rigging minimises windage. “Considering the speeds and the close apparent wind angles you’re sailing at, everything contributes to speed,” comments Echávarri, who is most impressed with the comparative reduction in vibration this rigging brings.

The highly raked mast can be finely tuned with checkstay and backstay deflectors. “To set all the sails needs a bit of play between the mainsheet trimmer and the runner trimmer,” Echávarri explains.

“The J0, which is tacked to the bowsprit, is 550m2. So with the 660m2 main we can go upwind with about 1,200m2, which is a big load!” the skipper exclaims. Occasionally we slam through or over a wave and the vibration is gut wrenching.

Otherwise, however, it’s comparatively quiet speed sailing, with hardly any noticeable wake, just the firehose of a rooster tail spraying from the stern as Skorpios planes along continuously like a giant 49er.

Twin rudders are used for control as Skorpios always sails heeled. These have Juan-K’s trademark sawtooth profile which he compares to the tubercles of a whale. They are designed to limit drag when dipping in and out of the water and to prevent the blades from stalling.

The toe-in system, which changes the angle of attack of the rudders, is adjusted from on deck using a geared system first developed for the VO70 Groupama. “You want the windward one to have the least drag,” Juan K explains. “For downwind VMG sailing we’re looking at 11-15° heel, reaching is 20-25° and upwind is 25°. At around 21° the windward rudder stops touching the water – it’s ideal when it’s just kissing the water.”

Life at heel

While you are certainly aware of the near 30ft of beam when sailing upwind on the ClubSwan 125, it doesn’t feel like alarming levels of heel. Skorpios tracks along on its chine, while on deck the SeaDek closed cell foam decking provides excellent grip and the aft companionway and mainsheet plinth help to break up the large cockpit spaces.

The deck design is remarkably uncluttered and kept deliberately simple, meaning minimal winches and lines on deck. The use of multiple furling foresails, similar to a racing multihull or IMOCA 60, helps simplify manoeuvres. One of the neatest features is having the furler lines all lead under deck.

Sailing Skorpios requires the balancing of phenomenal sail area with moveable ballast and righting moment, while keeping the boat on a narrow (heeled) waterline beam. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

“They have to be,” comments Wylie, “imagine a 450kg sail sitting on them – they wouldn’t shift!”

A keyboard of constrictor clutches are also used under the deck and the headsails are all on halyard locks, as are the three mainsail reefs. Lights and alarms display when these locks are engaged and then there are sensors everywhere, says Echávarri – “in the hydraulics, linear sensors between cables and sails, on vertical shrouds, on winches etc.”

During our second uphill leg I spend some time at the forward end of the rail’s crew stack filming and getting duly soaked. It really hits home how relentless and potentially exhausting it is sailing in such high apparent winds. It’s little wonder IMOCAs and Ultimes have dramatically increased their protection and aero packages.

Meanwhile, out to windward the chase boat bounces along with photographer Mark Lloyd aboard trying to steady himself. Not many powerboats could keep up with the ClubSwan 125 Skorpios in these seas, but this is no ordinary tender. Theirs is a 15m carbon catamaran, complete with 1,200hp of outboard propulsion, which was built in New Zealand in parallel development with Skorpios .

“When we decided to go lighter and lighter, the anchor became a big factor,” Echávarri elaborates. With a 7.4m deep keel, Skorpios will have to rely on its anchor gear, so the tender was designed to carry and deploy the main anchor and 600kg of chain. And because of the mothership’s restrictive draught, this chase boat also has the tanks to fuel bunker, while a sawn-off bow allows it to nudge up to the transom to unload supplies and swap sails. The sheer scale of this project!

And then it happened… one of life’s golden moments. I am offered a glory spell on the wheel. We are smoking along, sheets ever so slightly cracked, making a steady 15-16 knots in 18 knots of breeze and Skorpios is like a freight train, unwavering in its speed and line.

Occasionally I glance the long way down to the leeward rail and see the whitewater shooting past. It makes me giddy. Concentrate on the numbers Toby, this is no time to lose focus.

Minimalist saloon with canting furniture. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

So much power is felt through that foam-gripped composite wheel. On the pedestals are a hydraulics cut-off, a Jonbuoy release button, a high load alarm, and controls for the canting keel and trim tab. Needless to say I keep my hands on the wheel. The sheets are left alone as we charge back towards Portland, full steam, while I try to log every second in my long-term memory bank.

When the decorated Olympic and round the world sailor Xavi Fernandez turns round from the rail and asks me how it feels on the helm, I am lost for words and simply grin.

Echávarri sums up our sail more casually; he’s concerned with stats not emotion. “Today was a good day. Let’s say we were pretty good in performance – 95-98% of VPPs, which is good when there’s still a lot to learn.”

I simply tremble with nervous adrenaline… for days.

Building a beast

“The opportunity to work together with the greatest boatbuilders, designers and technicians around the globe, was awe-inspiring,” says Leonardo Ferragamo, Nautor’s Group president. Nautor’s Swan conceived and built the yacht in Finland, but with so many teams and subcontractors involved, Skorpios is more a custom race boat than a conventional Swan.

“A team of 30 was initially brought in to laminate the hull,” says Bob Wylie, while explaining the challenge of maintaining a workforce during Covid times. Grand-Prix raceboat construction techniques were used, including unidirectional prepregs and honeycomb nomex cores, with monolithic construction below the chine.

engine room contains the twin 400lt carbon hydraulic tanks and the mast base (mast jack load at full dock tune is around 90 tonnes!). Otherwise it’s just an engine and a spare genset, but no domestic batteries, chargers or inverters. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

Post sailing we have a chance to look below decks of the ClubSwan 125 and it’s way more Spartan than I had been expecting. There is some cabin comfort for overnight races and a focus on safety in the saloon for guests. That’s it.

“As you get faster and faster you start to think of the security on board,” Echávarri explains. “We developed a super light, safe interior which is minimalist and nice looking.” The saloon seats rotate over a central hinge to suit the heeling angle and the table cants at multiple angles on titanium hinges. The ‘galley’ is a gimballed microwave on a central bulkhead unit with fridge below (“this is all we allow them,” Echávarri grins). Otherwise it’s just pipe cot-style bunks each side of the saloon and a day heads/shower.

The forepeak is known as the cathedral for its exhibition of bare structures, stringers, bulkheads and longitudinals. Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images

The minimalist nature encourages you to focus on the build and finish quality, which is quite remarkable. A closer look at the bulkheads and doors reveals they are all bare carbon. Bar the deckheads and sole panels there are no liners, no panels, not even a drop of paint. It really is a Formula One shell built and finished with Nautor quality.

Move forward from the saloon and you won’t find any of the luxury cabins or accommodation you might expect on a large Swan, just a bare central engine room, the foil casing and acres of the black stuff. See for yourself on our walkthrough video on yachtingworld.com

What’s the goal?

“At the moment the challenges are the races – the Fastnet, the Middle Sea Race,” says Echávarri. “And slowly we will see the real potential. The concept didn’t start with a record breaker brief and we don’t know if it will be faster than Comanche yet. If we feel like it has the potential, we would like the north Atlantic.”

Whether speed is best measured for you on a Moth, SailRocket, an Ultime trimaran or this goliath, those who push for line honours and records will always make headlines. The ClubSwan 125 could potentially set a new bar in that respect. And by taking line honours in its first event, Skorpios has already proved it’s got the necessary sting in its tail.

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The fastest superyacht tenders in the world

Technohull sea dna 999 (81 knots).

Speed is serious business among yacht makers, with several yards vying to create  the world's fastest superyachts , and it's only fitting that your tender should be able to keep up with the mothership.

Blowing the competition out of the water is the latest model from Greek boatbuilder Technohull. The Sea DNA 999 is a 10.3 metre RIB tender with a claimed top speed of 81 knots, as proven by her recent sea trials. This means owners can cruise from Athens to Mykonos in less than two hours — ideal for a speedy weekend getaway.

This staggering performance is possible thanks to a deep V hull slicing through the water and either twin 400hp outboard engines on the back or a sleeker 530hp inboard set-up (pictured above), which is still good for 63 knots flat out. The Sea DNA 999 is offered in three bow configurations: cabin, open and delta — the latter of which is ideal for relaxation, with sunpads covering the entire area forward of the helm position.

SV Alpha (78+ knots)

Launched at the 2017 Miami Boat Show and billed as "the world's fastest luxury yacht", the 11.7 metre SV Alpha has a claimed top speed in excess of 78 knots. This speed machine gets its power from a pair of 700hp Mercury Racing SCI engines paired to SSM6 surface drives, although a more sensible twin 520hp version is also offered.

Premium features include bespoke sunpads, a champagne cooler, underwater lighting and a high-end stereo system. Ideal for daytime entertaining, the SV Alpha can carry up to 15 guests on the ride of a lifetime.

Midnight Express Quintessence43 (78 knots)

For a long time, sticking three outboard engines on the back of a centre console boat was a big move in the horsepower game, then came the five-engine Midnight Express Quintessence43.

Powered by a quintet of 400hp Mercury outboard racing engines, the Quintessence43 flies by at a whopping 78 knots (90 mph).

Thanks to a twin-stepped hull design, she gets up onto the plane quickly for added comfort and a smooth ride at such high speeds, as shown in this video of the new Midnight Express Quintessence43 , making her a great fast superyacht tender choice.

Wahoo Ribs RX700 (70 knots)

Anyone who catches a glimpse of the four bright orange bucket seats on the RX700 will think the same thing — speed. And they are not wrong, the 9.6 metre RX700 tender from Wahoo Ribs is not for the faint-hearted.

The outstanding performance characteristics of the Wahoo hull combine with the twin 350 horsepower, super-charged Mercury Verado outboard engines, to fire it to a staggering 70 knots (80.5 mph).

However, the meticulous design means the RX700 isn't just about speed. According to Wahoo it is also "perfectly behaved at sea in a sedate superyacht tender environment".

The large 700 litre fuel tank means the RX700 is not just a one-trip wonder either. With a range of over 300 nautical miles it can easily venture ahead to the next destination along the coast, without having to wait for the mothership.

Wahoo Ribs LX600 (65 knots)

The technically advanced 9.6 metre LX600 has a hull that was inspired by the race boat designs of legendary naval architect Lorne Campbell , but reconfigured by Wahoo's own designer for improved performance.

Twin 300 horsepower Mercury Verado outboard engines power the LX600 to an impressive 65 knots (75 mph). It is the only rib of its kind to have Mercury's innovative joystick control system, making for super easy handling.

The LX600 has space for 12 guests to fly across the waves in superyacht style. The custom JL Audio Marine speaker system can blast a superyacht worthy 1300 Watts through 12 speakers, three sub woofers and two amplifiers.

The LX600 was delivered in November 2015 to join its 85.5 metre Oceanco mothership, Sunrays .

X-Craft X-Line (55+ knots)

They might look more utilitarian, but few yacht tenders can beat the sporty handling and dry ride of a RIB.

The X-line from X-Craft is one of the fastest yacht tenders around, running at top speeds exceeding 55 knots (63 mph) and capable of catching some air along the way.

The deck configuration is customisable from eight to nine metres, meaning up to 11 customers can be carried in comfort.

Novamarine Black Shiver 140 (48 knots)

Italian yard Novamarine is no stranger to building high-performance custom powerboats, with 40 models sold to the Qatari Coast Guard alone, but the Black Shiver 140 is the pick of the bunch when it comes to speedy superyacht tenders. Motoring along at 48 knots even in choppy conditions, this aggressively styled tender cuts through the wave and boasts sporty handling without ever losing grip.

Available in both cabin and open guises, the 13.85 metre Black Shiver 140 can be fitted out with a small galley, heads compartment and shower. Engine options include inboard, outboard and jet-drive set-ups for a maximum output of 1,050hp. And with a triple 400hp Mercury outboard version on the way, this design looks set to rise even closer to the top of our list in 2017.

Picture courtesy of Aqua Luxe

Goldfish 23 eFusion (47 knots)

As well as being one of the world’s fastest superyacht tenders, the Goldfish 23 eFusion is part of a fast-growing trend for  electric tenders .

Powered by a 194hp UQM electric motor, this 5.5 metre Scandinavian speedster boasts a twin stepped hull that can achieve a hair-raising 47 knots.

Williams Turbojet 445 S (46 knots)

Don't let the petite dimensions of this RIB fool you, though the Williams Turbojet 445 S is only 4.54 metres LOA, she packs a serious punch. This fast tender can get up to a maximum speed of 46 knots (53 mph), leaving much larger yacht tenders in her wake.

Not just for running ship to shore, the Turbojet 445 S can also tow water-skiers, making her an ideal all-around tender for yachts with limited garage stowage space.

Castoldi JT21 (40.5 knots)

Italian jet drive specialist Castoldi knows a thing or two about speedy superyacht tenders, and the 6.24 metre Castoldi JT21 is the fastest in its collection, driven by a 260hp Yanmar engine to a top speed of more than 40 knots. The central helm position leaves room for up to 12 guests sitting forward and aft, while the jet drives are not only safer for watersports and swimming, but they also reduce the risk of running aground in shallow waters.

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The Women Shaping Travel’s Future

Brash. Over-Ambitious. Maybe a little bossy. These are all words that likely have been tossed around about the 25 leaders on Skift’s inaugural list  Generation Next: The Women Shaping Travel’s Future .  The result: These women leaders are the industry’s disruptors, innovators, and you can bet they’re on more than one shortlist for the next big thing. Underestimate them? Go ahead, but do so at your own peril. 

When we sat down to think about who Skift wanted to write about for  Generation Next , we decided we were looking for the sector’s next big thinkers, along with those who were already stirring the pot. But most of all, we wanted to profile a woman who, when her name is mentioned, makes everyone knowingly smile because – she’s an absolute force.

With that, Skift proudly presents  Generation Next: The Women Shaping Travel’s Future .

– Sarah Kopit Skift, Editor-in-Chief

Amber Asher

Standard international ceo.

Amber Asher is the powerhouse behind the operations and marketing at Standard International, the hospitality group whose brands aim to make your Instagram feed seethe with envy. Now she’s planning her next career move, following Hyatt’s acquisition of Standard last month.

Asher took a unique path to the glitzy world of hotels. She grew up in a small town in Michigan and went to law school.

Asher has been with Standard International for 13 years and its CEO since 2021. She combines the precision from her legal background with the creativity needed for luxury and lifestyle hospitality.

Under Asher’s watch, The Standard has gone from too cool for school to the popular kid who actually talks to everyone at the party. Asher has helped take the brand global, planting its iconic upside-down logo everywhere from north London to the Maldives.

She has nurtured and grown brands, including The Peri Hotel and Bunkhouse, and added two new brands this year: The StandardX and The Manner.

In Asher’s world, no detail is too small, from the font on the “Do Not Disturb” sign to the exact shade of neon in the rooftop bar. This obsession with the little things — which she shares with Standard International’s executive chairman Amar Lalvani — turns a hotel stay from “meh” to “OMG, I’m never leaving.”

She must have done something right: Hyatt is paying up to $355 million for Standard .

It’s unclear what Asher will do next. “I’ve decided that, after the transition period, I will be leaving the company to pursue new endeavors,” Asher told us. “While I was offered the opportunity to stay, and the decision was certainly tough, I believe the end of the year is the right time for me to embrace a new challenge.”

“Working with the Standard International team and seeing our global growth come to fruition has been the highlight of my career,” she says.

– Sean O’Neill

Amelia DeLuca

Delta chief sustainability officer.

Amelia DeLuca has a task that some say is almost nearly impossible: helping a major airline achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The airline industry has been notoriously difficult to make more sustainable. Currently, sustainable aviation fuel, commonly known as SAF, is not able to be produced at a wider scale. Climate change is also already affecting airlines — record-high summer temperatures are beginning to limit aircraft takeoffs and causing greater turbulence.

Despite the naysayers, DeLuca is confident that Delta Air Lines can become a sustainable airline.

As Delta’s chief sustainability officer, DeLuca has spearheaded projects like eliminating single-use plastics on board and testing a more sustainable paper cup. She’s also leading one of Delta’s more ambitious goals: That 10% of fuel on flights will be SAF by 2030.

So far, Delta has built coalitions and partnerships across the industry to promote more investment and production into SAF.

“All roads lead to climate. I hear people from all ages, all levels, all positions, all backgrounds connect to this often in different ways,” DeLuca said in an interview with Shell. “The younger generation says, ‘This is critical and I’m anxious because I’m afraid I don’t have a future.’”

DeLuca didn’t start her career in sustainability. Instead, she held multiple roles in Delta’s network planning, revenue management and global sales team before leading the airline’s most ambitious climate change initiatives.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, DeLuca said she realized she wanted to contribute to solving climate change after listening to a kids science podcast about climate change while driving with her two daughters.

“That gave me clarity of what my role is: that we’ve got to get a running start on this,” she said to The Journal.

– Meghna Maharishi

JetBlue Ventures President

Sustainable aviation fuel, electric vertical takeoff and landing, and AI-powered flight operations technology are some of the most futuristic ideas in aviation.

That’s where JetBlue Ventures President Amy Burr comes in.

As the head of JetBlue’s venture capital arm, she oversees which startups the airline invests in and eventually works with. Some of JetBlue’s most high profile investments include ones in eVTOL startup Joby Aviation, Aether Fuels and Turnkey.

“One of the challenges with especially airlines is that we just have a really legacy tech stack,” Burr said. “And so I spent a lot of time thinking about what is going to move the needle and what are things that are realistic to implement.”

Burr didn’t get her start in venture capital. In fact, she made her career working in the operations side of the airline industry. After a stint at Continental Airlines working in revenue management and airline partnerships, she made her way to Virgin America, which she helped launch.

Burr said the experience helped her understand the startup mentality. Burr said she was constantly thinking of the future of travel and transforming the industry.

“Back then it was definitely the coolest job,” Burr said. Now she thinks that honor goes to her role with JetBlue’s venture capital arm, which she joined in 2018.

Burr didn’t initially think of pursuing a career path in airlines. When she was in business school, Burr originally wanted to go into consulting, but after receiving an offer from Continental, she decided to take a risk.

“I got sucked into the airline industry, spent four years at Continental Airlines and then kind of recognized that I wanted to do something different in this industry,” she said.

“Travel is so aspirational and inspirational,” Burr said. “What are the things that people love to do in the world? Travel is one of them. It’s exciting to be part of an industry that meets that need for people.”

Now, Burr said she mentors younger women in travel and helps them break into the industry.

“It’s tricky,” she said. “We are an industry that is, you know, definitely not at parity.”

JetBlue, along with JetBlue Ventures, might have the most gender diversity in the airline industry. Joanna Geraghty became the first female CEO of a major U.S. carrier in February and more than half of JetBlue Ventures’ team is made up of women.

Crystal Vinisse Thomas

Hyatt vp and global brand leader.

Crystal Vinisse Thomas is a Miami native who took a winding path to become vice president and global brand leader of Hyatt’s lifestyle and luxury brands.

While studying at Cornell University, the former track star discovered a passion for the hotel business. After school, Thomas landed a marketing job at Starwood. Later, she moved to Brussels as the European regional brand manager for W Hotels, one of Starwood’s lifestyle brands.

In 2016, Marriott bought Starwood, and in 2018, Thomas jumped to Apple, where she led the sports vertical of brand marketing of Beats by Dr. Dre.

In 2019, Hyatt called. It offered Thomas a chance to put her stamp on the first brand it had built in-house in decades. She gave the new brand, Caption by Hyatt, a more social focus for travelers who want to feel young at heart but who don’t want to pay high Thompson brand rates.

Thomas has been at Hyatt since, rising from a brand director role to her current job. She believes storytelling is critical to brand marketing. Too often, she says, hotel ads show generic guest rooms and swimming pools. Instead, her philosophy is that hotel companies ought to tell emotionally relatable narratives like iconic brands such as Nike do.

“Travelers should be able to see themselves in the story,” Thomas said.

To achieve this, she has sought collaborations with advertising creatives new to the hotel sector. Internally, she has encouraged recurring brainstorming sessions with “NBD” or “Never Been Done” as the aspirational goal.

Exhibit A of fresh thinking: Thomas’s team oversaw Andaz’s first new brand campaign since that luxury lifestyle hotel brand debuted in 2007. The theme: Be Like No One’s Watching . Thomas’s team hired real guests to appear in the ads, capturing them as they pursued personal passions like dancing at Andaz properties.

“While you don’t want to be all things to all people, you certainly want to create a space where people can feel that they can be who they are and bring their authentic selves,” Thomas said.

Marriott International Executive VP and Chief Customer Officer

Peggy Roe leads Marriott’s data strategy, operations teams, and loyalty program. With a background in customer behavior at Harvard Business School and work on “voice of the customer” methodologies at GE Capital and Amazon, Roe found her way to hospitality after a chance encounter with a life coach at an airport.

At Marriott, Roe first gained notice by working on TownePlace Suites, a then-new brand that was underperforming. Over four years, she studied customer expectations and fine-tuned the brand’s operations and marketing.

The result? TownePlace Suites became one of Marriott’s fastest-growing brands. “In this industry, it’s all about telling the customer upfront what they’re going to get and delivering on exactly what you said,” Roe says. “If those things are mismatched, you’ll miss the mark.”

Marriott sent Roe to Asia. She spearheaded the hotel giant’s joint venture with Alibaba, the e-commerce colossus. The partnership continues to deliver a significant portion of the company’s customer base and bookings in China, now Marriott’s second-largest market. Roe continues to serve as board chair of the venture.

Today, Roe focuses on Marriott Bonvoy, a loyalty program with over 210 million members. Her strategy revolves around understanding traveler preferences and passions. She has implemented marketing research panels of about 10,000 customers and non-customers, complementing this insight with data from guest surveys and other sources.

“The big unlock in value comes from better understanding who our customers are and what they’re passionate about,” Roe says. “Loyalty comes from how we make people feel, and the faster we can positively affect someone’s emotion, the more loyalty we can create.”

Reflecting on her career, Roe considers her move to China pivotal. It deepened her belief in seizing opportunities that feel right, even when the outcome isn’t certain. “Ripping the Band-Aid off and trying new things generally pays off over time,” she says.

Looking ahead, Roe’s ultimate goal is to understand and respond to travelers’ feelings in real-time. “We’ve created our Gen AI studio as part of our Innovation Labs and I do think that that will be a transformative space for our industry.”

Gilda Perez-Alvarado

Accor group chief strategy officer and orient express ceo.

Gilda Perez-Alvarado holds not one, but two important titles at Accor. She is the hospitality group’s Chief Strategy Officer, as well as the CEO of Orient Express.

Born in Costa Rica, her global outlook was defined by her international upbringing. Perez-Alvarado lived in North Africa, Europe, and Central America, all before moving to Indiana at 13.

She had early dreams of becoming a scientist and initially studied chemistry at Cornell before shifting her focus to hospitality. Perez-Alvarado says she was inspired by previous generations of influential women in her family. Her mother managed the largest hotel in Costa Rica, while her grandmother ran a hotel and restaurant. It’s here that she says she discovered her true passions.

Before joining Accor, Perez-Alvarado was the Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality. After 19 years at the real estate giant, it was time for a change. Speaking to Skift in February , she said the move came at “the perfect time.”

Today, Gilda Perez-Alvarado is based in Paris. In her new Accor strategy role, she has quickly become a critical player at Europe’s largest hospitality company – one that includes Raffles, Ennismore, and Fairmont among its dozens of brands.

Perez-Alvarado also leads a team pushing the traditional boundaries of one of the world’s best-known heritage hospitality businesses. By 2026, Orient Express will expand its reach with new trains, three hotels, and even a yacht. Summarizing not only the challenge but also her enviable skillset to Skift, she said: “We want to pay homage but also be entrepreneurial.”

Throughout her career, Gilda Perez-Alvarado has been a powerful advocate for women. Speaking to Hispanic Executive in 2021, she said: “The workplace has been designed for men. We need the people at the top to redesign the workplace so it works for everyone.” Gilda Perez-Alvarado’s dizzying ascent up the corporate ladder should place her in a prime position to help realize her vision for a more equitable future.

– Gordon Smith

Heidi Durflinger

Ef world journeys president.

When Heidi Durflinger was growing up in Kansas, her parents welcomed students from all over the world through the American International Student Exchange Program to come and stay with them.

Students came from Sweden, Norway, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Ecuador, and Italy. “I was from a small town in Kansas,” Durflinger said. “These experiences changed my life.” 

Durflinger, now the president of EF World Journeys, started as an entry-level tour consultant 20 years ago and climbed the ladder from sales trainer to vice president of sales to her current role. EF World Journeys is a tour operator focusing on culturally immersive, educational experiences. The brand serves tens of thousands of travelers a year. 

Throughout her tenure, she has focused on bringing a sense of community to the workplace and customers. She led the launch of a community feature on the mobile app, which allows travelers to meet before they take their journeys. She is now working on expanding adventure and active travel with tours that have running and hiking themes. Staying active is a passion: “It’s sort of a third pillar of who I am,” she said.

Durflinger was instrumental in expanding solo travel offerings. She helped navigate partnerships with Nalgene Outdoors to promote sustainable travel and America’s Test Kitchen to offer immersive culinary tours, and she introduced a loyalty program called Club Go to reward repeat travelers.

She credits her career to her childhood and her parents, who were small business owners. And she devotes her work to giving travelers the immersive experience of the world that she grew up with. “I learned so much from having this cultural and global classroom in my home,” she said. “That’s the concept of the tours. We want to bring people out into the world so that they learn more about the world and about themselves through travel and bring that back home.”

– Jesse Chase-Lubitz

Leah Chandler

Discover puerto rico cmo.

Leah Chandler, the chief marketing officer of Discover Puerto Rico, wants you to always be thinking of the island – not just when you’re planning a vacation. For her, it’s a lifestyle brand.

Chandler was the second employee at Puerto Rico’s destination marketing organization, founded in 2018, the same year that Hurricane Maria devastated the island. In her first few years, her focus was to get Puerto Rico’s own destination brand off the ground, with a focus on its unique culture, distinct from other sun and sand islands.

For example, Discover Puerto Rico created an exclusive Sunshine Puerto Rico color and an exclusive Piña Colada ice cream flavor. She rejects advertising pitches and partnerships that have been done before. “We want to be the first DMO to do it,” said Chandler.

Chandler makes appearances at major events like SXSW and Cannes Film Festival to share Puerto Rico’s storytelling and innovation.

One of the DMO’s most successful campaigns was the locals-centered Live Boricua. It’s currently in its third iteration. The word “Boricua” comes from Borinquen or Borikén, the name given to the island by indigenous Taínos.

The U.S. territory was the fastest-growing destination in overseas visitation in 2023, having jumped 85% from 2019, according to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.

– Dawit Habtemariam

Leslie Hale

Rlj lodging trust ceo.

“I am humbled and honored to be the first, but I have no interest in being the only.” That was how Leslie Hale put it to the Washington Post in 2018, when she was named CEO at RLJ Lodging Trust, which made her the first African American woman to be chief executive of a publicly traded real estate investment trust.

She had been appointed chief financial officer in 2007 and chief operating officer in 2016. Hale is the granddaughter of a Tennessee sharecropper. Later, her family moved from Tennessee to Los Angeles before she moved away to study business and finance at Howard University and then Harvard Business School. In addition to her role at RLJ, she is on the board of Macy’s and a trustee at Howard University.

As CEO, she has managed several high-quality and premium acquisitions, including a portfolio of hotels from White Lodging, the Hyatt House in Chelsea, New York, and the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Austin, Texas.

Hale drove the adoption of data analytics for revenue management and enhancing guest experiences. RLJ Lodging Trust now has 96 hotels across the United States with approximately 21,200 rooms.

She has also fostered a sense of collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment among her employees. She has focused on adding diverse leadership into the company and finding ways to provide mentorship and sponsorship for individuals from lower-income backgrounds to land high-earning positions.

“The most impactful thing to do is to add diverse leadership on the leadership team because those individuals will directly and indirectly drive diversity throughout the organization,” Hale said to the industry magazine, mpamag , in 2020. “And while it’s important to add diversity in the lower ranks, that won’t necessarily help you drive it through the organization.”

Ho Ren Yung

Banyan group deputy ceo.

Everything about Ho Ren Yung screams “next-gen” – from her sense of style to her unwavering commitment to wellbeing, to the fact she is literally the next generation of leadership at Banyan Group. The daughter of Banyan founders Claire Chiang and Ho Kwong Ping, Yung experienced the family business growing up and saw an opportunity to transform it later on.

In August 2024, Yung was promoted to deputy CEO of the company, now working across every aspect of the business to drive its growth.

Before her move up, she handled brand, digital and wellbeing as VP of brand HQ since 2016. Her approach has been to find ways to diversify the business, hone in on customer experience and ensure Banyan is one of the most environmentally-conscious operators in the biz – both in design and operations.

As a teenager, Yung enjoyed being in the marine lab of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, which is where she found her love for the environment. She went on to study economic development and sociology, but when she joined Banyan in 2009, she sought to focus heavily on wellness.

Today, Banyan Group has 10 brands, and in 2024, it will open the most hotels in a year since the group started in the 1980s. Last year, the luxury operator saw revenue increase 46% to about $300 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Under her watch, Banyan has pushed into new markets like Saudi Arabia and Dubai, with the Bahamas on the horizon and an ever-growing presence in China. This is all while she juggles her own co-working space business and an ethical clothing brand called Matter.

– Josh Corder

Sonia Cheng

Rosewood hotel group ceo.

Sonia Cheng is known for bringing culture, heritage, and history to her role as CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group, a global luxury hotel management company. Appointed in 2011 to CEO at age 30, Cheng has focused on making the 45-year-old luxury hotel group “purpose-driven” and welcoming to the younger generation.

Cheng was born into one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest families. She is the daughter of a Hong Kong property developer and the granddaughter of a real estate and jewelry billionaire. She worked as an investment banker in New York and Hong Kong before joining the investment firm New World Hospitality – the family business –- in 2008. The group became “Rosewood Hotel Group” following the acquisition of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.

When she took over Rosewood as CEO in 2011, she expanded the brand globally and brought it into the modern era.

Cheng’s leadership is largely defined by her dedication to bringing a “sense of place” to each property. She has tried to make the hotels feel like someone’s home and match the local culture. London’s Rosewood property has drawings by British illustrators, for example, while the Beijing location integrates elements of traditional Chinese architecture.

When Cheng first became CEO, there was some skepticism from rivals about how much she could achieve. Cheng spent her first few years learning about every aspect of the industry, from housekeeping to operations to marketing.

Today, Rosewood’s portfolio boasts 50 hotels in 23 countries, with 33 more in development​. She has overseen the transformation of iconic properties like The Carlyle in New York and Hôtel de Crillon in Paris​. Cheng has also introduced innovative concepts such as Asaya, an integrative wellness program, and the Rosewood Explorers Club, enhancing family travel experiences​.

– Jesse Chase-Lubit z

Staci Mellman

Destination marketing leader.

Staci Mellman has sat at high levels in America’s destination marketing industry. Until August this year, she was chief marketing officer for Brand USA, America’s destination marketing organization. Before that, she was chief marketing officer for Visit Florida, the DMO for one of America’s most-visited states.

Mellman effectively managed agency relationships, branding, and marketing plan development, said Will Seccombe, who hired her during his time as Visit Florida’s chief executive. “She is a grinder who gets things done,” he said.

Amid the pandemic and global lockdowns, Mellman helped drive Floridians to take more vacations inside the state and explore their own backyard with a marketing campaign that highlighted Florida’s attractions, landscapes and experiences.

During her time, she was focused on positioning Florida as a destination that is inclusive of travelers with disabilities. She was also pivotal in building a coalition of tourism boards from Tampa, Orlando and Miami to each invest $150,000 and bring in the Michelin Guide to review their restaurants in 2022.

“Prior to our partnership with Michelin, 37% of respondents in a survey that we do saw Florida as having unique local cuisine,” said Visit Florida CEO and President Dana Young. “Two years into our partnership with Michelin, 51% of respondents see Florida as having unique local cuisine.”

Florida’s culinary scene has not only gotten more attention, it’s also attracting talent hoping to work at Michelin-starred restaurants.

In November 2022, Mellman joined Brand USA as senior vice president of integrated marketing. After a year, she was promoted to chief marketing officer.

At Brand USA, she helped the DMO take on a more innovative approach. Brand USA partnered with Expedia’s media division to launch GoUSA, the DMO’s own streaming channel showcasing what the U.S. has to offer.

Mellman also helped craft Brand USA’s “This Is Where It’s At,” the organization’s single largest consumer campaign in its history. In 10 countries, the campaign highlighted America’s lesser known destinations and variety of experiences, from serenity to adventure to family fun.

Zina Bencheikh

Intrepid travel managing director of emea.

Zina Bencheikh has been an outspoken advocate of empowering women through tourism and breaking down gender barriers. One of her biggest successes was to bring more women into Morocco’s male-dominated travel industry.

Bencheikh actually started with a career in corporate finance at KPMG in Paris, but found travel was her passion. When she moved back to Marrakesh in 2010, she took up a job as finance manager with Intrepid Travel. She quickly rose to general manager for Morocco and Europe.

Starting out, she found it “very complicated” to hire women tour guides. Only 9 in the entire country were qualified by the government to be mountain tour guides.

Through lobbying the government and leveraging Intrepid’s size, she was able to convince government officials to simplify the process. She told the tourism minister: “We’re a big business, we bring money here. If you want us to stay here and continue to grow, give us more human guides.”

Intrepid now has 150 women tour guides.

She is frequently invited to speak at travel industry events around the world about the economic opportunities destinations unlock when they encourage more female employment in leadership positions.

At the Latin America Travel Association’s Expo this year, for example, Bencheikh spoke about how stereotypes and ‘macho’ culture have been a barrier to women rising to top leadership roles in the industry.

Bencheikh has overseen Intrepid’s expansion in several markets like Iceland, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Morocco. She has been heavily involved in developing Intrepid’s Women’s Expeditions, tours led by women and for women travelers. Its latest launch was in Saudi Arabia.

In times of crisis, Bencheikh is an important voice in the industry, encouraging travel to destinations hit by natural disasters. After an earthquake struck Marrakesh in September 2023, she spoke to news outlets to inform viewers that local communities need tourism income to feed their families.

To lead with example, on December 1, Intrepid restarted tours to one of the villages disconnected due to damaged roads. “It was quite fast because we really needed to send a strong message and make sure that our communities don’t get a double impact from this devastating earthquake,” said Bencheikh.

Neha Parikh

Waze former ceo.

Neha Parikh became one of the few women CEOs in travel when she took the top job for the Google-owned navigation app Waze in 2021.

Though Parikh was able to carve out a space for herself in the industry, she explained that it’s an ongoing battle to contribute a perspective that peers and customers often don’t share.

“I think I’m constantly fighting to find my voice, and even if I have something different to say, that I would actually have the confidence to say it,” Parikh told Skift in 2022. “If you’re in a position to amplify someone’s voice and to help give them the confidence, please do that because it makes a difference. I’ve had people do that throughout my career.”

Google in 2023 absorbed Waze into its Geo business, which oversees the company’s portfolio of mapping products that include Google Maps, Google Earth, and Street View. As part of that move, Google cut the CEO role for Waze and Parikh exited the company. During her time there, the app hit 151 million active monthly users.

Before Waze, Parikh had 10 different jobs and lived in five different cities during a 12-year stint at Expedia.

Her last role at Expedia was as president of flight and hotel booking service Hotwire. Earlier in her career there, she helped build the first loyalty program for Hotels.com, which was called Welcome Rewards.

Parikh is also a board member of online used car retailer Carvana, a Fortune 500 company.

– Justin Dawes

Shruti Challa

Investor and former sonder chief revenue officer.

Shruti Challa, a former Sonder chief revenue officer and currently an active investor, was not the first entrepreneur in her U.S. immigrant family.

Growing up in Kansas, Challa’s dad was a physician and serial entrepreneur who came to the U.S. from India. He loved “solving unique medical problems and building something from scratch,” Challa says. “So I was around an entrepreneur as a young girl. And I was Daddy’s little girl. So I really got the feel for it and love for it early on.”

She also credits her success to her education at Stanford, where she was a champion debater, an internship at PayPal when she was 19, and then another one at the Founders Fund. “Peter Thiel,” who co-founded PayPal and The Founders Fund, “had this kind of a PayPal mafia and it was a big thing,” Challa recalls.

“They really mentored me and got me into investing really early, but also gave me the confidence to be an operator at a really young age,” Challa says. “ So since then, those two things, [the mentoring] and Stanford, facilitated this career and operating over the last 15 plus years, 10 of which have basically been in travel.”

In 2014, Challa joined Rocket Travel and served more than four years as general manager/senior vice president of new business and partnerships. Booking Holdings acquired the company in early 2015.

Then she met Sonder co-founder and CEO Francis Davidson, “who supports people who don’t fit a mold.” Challa joined Sonder in 2019 and helped lead both data science and brand at the short-term rental/hotel company. “It’s a hard business at its core,” Challa says, referring to Sonder. She helped take it public, but it has been unprofitable and its share price has swooned.

“It’s not a tech business first,” Challa says of Sonder. “It’s probably a hospitality-first business. I think it probably grew too fast in a way that was unsustainable.”

Sonder’s revenue grew from $60 million when she joined and hit $610 million by the time Challa left in March 2024. She remains a believer in Sonder’s long-term potential. Last month, Sonder signed a licensing deal with Marriott and secured additional financing.

As for her leadership style, Challa says her teams “love her and hate her and I think that’s the best compliment, the one I love. You were the hardest manager, but the one who’s been the most impactful. And it’s because I believe people can reach and do things they think they can’t do.”

– Dennis Schaal

Garine Ferejian-Mayo

Sonesta chief commercial officer.

Garine Ferejian-Mayo, chief commercial officer at Sonesta, has, in her own words, been “tapped on the shoulder” many times to take the next step in her hospitality career.

Ferejian-Mayo arrived in the U.S. at age 11 from Lebanon. Starting at the front desk part-time at a Holiday Inn in Los Angeles while still going to school, Ferejian-Mayo has worked along the way at eight hotel brands, including IHG, St. Regis, Westin, W Hotels, and Fairmont.

She spent a half dozen years working for the management company Interstate Hotels & Resorts. “Every two, three years, they would tap your shoulder to say, ‘Are you ready for your next move,’” Ferejian-Mayo says.

Interstate selected her to become front office manager and then rooms director in Seattle, followed by a stint as director of reservations in San Francisco.

Ferejian-Mayo has managed housekeeping, food and beverage, done revenue management, and overseen sales organizations and commercial operations.

At Sonesta, where she started as chief commercial officer in March 2021, Ferejian-Mayo oversees sales for both managed and franchised properties, global sales, and leads revenue management.

“I’m probably one of the few, as a commercial leader, who knows and understands how each department works, and how it functions,” Ferejian-Mayo says. “And I think that has really built a very strong foundation for me in my career.”

If revenue management seems an unexciting field, Ferejian-Mayo is having none of it. “My God, no,” she says. “It’s not at all. It’s all about strategy. And that’s the passion I have. I’m very, very strategic.”

Ferejian-Mayo recalls that Sonesta generated $1.2 million from “the Taylor Swift impact” – “I want to know her next set of dates to make sure that we’re ready to yield and drive performance.”

She adds: “We also don’t want to gouge our customers. But if the market is demanding $500, you can’t sit there for $200. You’re leaving money on the table.”

Noha Abdalla

Choice hotels cmo.

Noha Abdalla, the chief marketing officer at Choice Hotels, considers herself a problem solver, and she’s had several marketing positions over the years where she’s worked as a quasi-internal consultant charged with taking on a new challenge.

At Choice Hotels, which she joined in 2022, the goal was to expand beyond the company’s traditional focus on the franchisee, and to improve the guest experience. You may have seen the series of Stay for Any You TV commercials, touting Choice brands Comfort and Cambria, for example, and discounts for direct bookings.

Abdalla overseas marketing, loyalty and external communications. “This includes traditional and performance marketing, as well as our CRM channels, and brand creative.”

She almost didn’t become a marketer. “I historically, from high school to college and MBA, was a straight A student,” Abdalla says. “I got one B-plus in my life — in marketing.”

“Fast forward 27 years, I think I had something to prove to that professor,” she quips.

Abdallas’s first marketing job was for the American Red Cross, promoting the need for ongoing blood donations. She subsequently spent seven years at the Discovery Channel, and then Capital One, before she was “tapped on the shoulder by a former boss to go to Hilton and start its Social Media Center of Excellence,” she says. “I got my global job in there.”

When the pandemic hit, Abdalla worked on how to engage with Hilton customers when they weren’t traveling, a matter of considerable internal debate. Her first idea was to share the DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie recipe, but some pushed back that guests wouldn’t visit the hotels if they already had the recipe. She won out and it was a success.

Beyond the chocolate chip cookie, the campaign ended up also revealing the recipe for the Waldorf salad, and touting the fact that the Piña Colada was supposedly invented at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, she recalls. The origin of the Piña Colada, however, is also open to debate.

While many Hilton owners are institutional investors, when she made the jump to Choice, Abdalla said she had a greater appreciation for working with franchisees, in addition to guests. “Here you are also helping with the American dream and helping build generational wealth for these owners,” Abdalla says.

Abdalla advises women starting their careers to have more confidence in themselves and be willing to take risks.

“I think women — not wanting to make a huge generalization — sometimes tend to have that inner voice that finds all the reasons you’re not as qualified to do a job versus a man,” Abdalla says. “You know what, I got 60% of this, I’m fine.”

Kristie Goshow

Ksl resorts cco.

Kristie Goshow’s career journey, much like her personality, is anything but conventional. Goshow’s love affair with the world began young, inspired by her father’s travels as a petrochemical engineer. “He would come back from these far-off places, full of stories and new languages,” she recalls. “He taught me that it’s safe to leave and try something new.”

Her career started later than most. “I wasn’t ready for university until I was 23,” she admits. “My friends would call me ‘consistently inconsistent.’ I wasn’t built for repetition — unless it’s making a grilled cheese sandwich.”

This wandering spirit eventually led her to jobs at Virgin Atlantic, Le Meridien, Jumeirah Group, Sabre and many other hospitality, travel and technology companies. Working with Virgin Atlantic became a pivotal chapter in her journey. “Every aircraft carries the dreams, hopes, and desires of over 300 individuals,” she says. “Travel is a catalyst for humanity’s growth. It’s a privilege and a great responsibility.”

Her career is a tapestry of experiences across aviation, travel technology, and hospitality. She sees each role as a calculated move, a building block that contributes to her broader vision. The hospitality industry, in particular, has been transformative.

When asked about advice for young aspirants in her field, Goshow, who is now the chief commercial officer of KSL Resorts, emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and adaptability. “Don’t fixate on titles,” she advises. “Look at the potential impact of your next opportunity. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.”

Her vision for the industry is encapsulated in her mantra, “Defy the corner chair.” “It’s about challenging irrelevant traditions,” she explains. “Take the ubiquitous corner chair in hotel rooms. To this day, we can still find ‘a corner chair’ in most hotel rooms. What if it wasn’t there? What could that space be used for instead? I wish my legacy will be a ‘what if’ mindset.”

Goshow’s personal passions seamlessly blend with her professional life. Her love for real estate is about unlocking potential, whether in residential or commercial spaces. “It’s like playdough for adults!” she says, delighting in the metaphor.

And then, there’s her love for cooking — specifically, Indian curries. “Growing up in the UK, how could I not love a curry?” she laughs. Chicken tikka masala, Britain’s unofficial national dish, has long been a family favorite. But it’s Madhur Jaffrey’s Butter Chicken that truly holds a special place in her heart.

– Peden Doma Bhutia

Shannon McGehee

Expedia senior director, global hotel partnerships.

Shannon McGehee remembers visiting the Embassy Suites in Orlando at age six, tagging along on her mom’s business trip.

She didn’t get to travel a lot so this trip was special and made a lifelong impression. “I thought it was the epitome of adventure and luxury,” she says. “I thought it was Eloise at The Plaza.”

By age 17, McGehee landed her first job as part of a team that opened a Hilton Garden Inn at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. She rotated through virtually every department at the property, and her love affair with the hospitality industry had become part of her DNA.

McGehee resolved to become a general manager of a large hotel but her career took a turn in 2011 when she became revenue manager at Hotwire, an Expedia Group company.

In the early 2000s, McGehee recalls, there weren’t a lot of women hotel general managers.

“I think that only drove my ambition and my seeking roles that challenge the status quo, which then drove me to Expedia,” she says.

McGehee hasn’t become a hotel GM — yet — but since late 2022 she’s served as Expedia Group’s senior director of global partnerships in lodging, and in that role leads a team that negotiates contracts and manages the relationships with nine of the top global hotel chains, from Marriott to IHG and Best Western.

Her advice to other women moving on up? They should be “adaptable and flexible” because industry dynamics always change.

McGehee also points to the power of mentorship, citing Dorothy Dowling, former chief marketing officer of BWH Hotel Group, and Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin, as helping McGehee invent her own leadership personna.

“I know just from those two relationships, I’ve been able to help my leadership style, which is around emotional intelligence and analytical rigor,” McGehee says. “And I aspire to one day be one of these ladies that can help the journey of the next generation.”

H.H. Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Al Saud

Saudi arabia vice minister of tourism.

For most tourism chiefs, the playbook is pretty much the same: Get more people in your country, and have them spend more money. For Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s vice minister of tourism, her job has one extra mandate: To change the image of the nation.

It’s no easy task. While Saudi Arabia can get headlines with its high-end tourism developments and endorsements from famous footballers, it is still fighting against peoples’ long-held perceptions.

Princess Haifa travels the world, speaks at conferences, and tries to convince people that Saudi Arabia is transforming. Since she took the role in July 2022, international tourism has almost doubled to 27.4 million last year. By the end of the decade, Saudi wants that number to reach 70 million, with an eye on lucrative markets like the UK, India and China.

Princess Haifa has a background in finance. She grew up in Riyadh with her sister and two brothers and attended school in Saudi Arabia, where she was educated in Arabic, English, and French. She studied at the University of New Haven in Connecticut, and earned her MBA from the London Business School. After completing her studies, she worked in banking in London at HSBC.

Outside of tourism, she also chaired the Saudi-Emirati Youth Council and served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Arab Fencing Federation Women’s Committee and the Saudi Fencing Federation respectively, increasing the number of women on the official team from zero to over 200.

Alessandra Alonso

Women in travel founder & managing director.

Alessandra Alonso founded the non-profit Women in Travel after working at the notoriously rough-and-tumble KPMG and finding she was often the only woman in the room.

“I was thinking, there’s something wrong here,” says Alonso. For an industry that’s at least 55% women overall, the lack of female voices at the top was troubling.

So she went to her bosses at KPMG and got the resources to find out why. Alonso did research. She held workshops.

“They [women] said to me, ‘We are not mentored, we are not coached. We don’t know how to network, or can’t network, because the things that happen happen at times of the day when we’ve got other priorities,’” she says. “I can’t play golf. I don’t go to the pub. And, you know, they mistake my lack of presence for lack of ambition.”

So Alonso left the for-profit world and has made it her mission to advance gender inclusion across the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Her career has been a blend of corporate savvy and dedication to diversity and empowerment.

Her advice to young leaders: Be authentic, strategic – and a little bit political.

“If there is one thing that I learned over the years, it is that I wasn’t very patient, and that is not necessarily a good quality,” chuckled Alonso. “When you start, you need as many allies as possible.”

Renowned for her expertise in gender empowerment and mentorship, Alonso has earned her reputation as a thought leader who also champions male allyship in organizations. “Ultimately, there are still many positions that are fundamentally in the hands of white, middle-class men,” says Alonso. “So we need the men in the discussion. We need the men in the conversation.”

In 2021, Alonso was recognized with the JourneyWoman Award, for her impact on gender empowerment. She’s determined to make sure diversity and inclusion aren’t dismissed as feel-good initiatives, but are recognized as key drivers of business performance and concrete results. “As women rise, the idea is that they lift others with them, and therefore they open the floodgates.”

– Sarah Kopit

Hilton Global Head of Hilton Honors

Jenn Chick says she has always focused on the opportunities in front of her without paying too much attention to others. That’s what she believes has allowed her to advance in her career to become the current senior vice president and global head of Hilton Honors and customer engagement.

“I have always maintained a simple focus as I have moved through my career: Do great work and build great relationships,” she said. “Staying committed to delivering your best and building trusted relationships will keep you grounded and ensure you are poised for success no matter what lies ahead.”

Chick is responsible for improving the customer experience and driving expansion of the Hilton Honors loyalty program.

Skift reported in late 2023 that Hilton’s loyalty program was the leader in terms of growth. Its membership grew 110% in the five years through September 2020 to a total of 173 million members.

Hilton Honors recently added two new partners: Outdoor hospitality company AutoCamp and boutique hotel brand Small Luxury Hotels of the World. That means Hilton customers can book stays with those brands through its booking channels, and Hilton Honors members can earn and redeem points through those bookings.

There are two more additions on the way, including “luxury lifestyle” brand NoMad, which Hilton acquired in April 2024, along with the brand Graduate Hotels, which Hilton bought for $210 million.

Chick is a board member for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., an annual springtime festival that commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo and attracts 1.5 million visitors.

She lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. They enjoy traveling in their free time, especially to outdoor destinations for hiking and rock climbing.

Google Director of Product Management, Local & Travel

Sophia Lin was behind the evolution of Google Maps from a simple GPS app to a place where people can explore and book hotels, vacation rentals, and things to do, as well as make restaurant reservations and order food delivery.

“I’m delighted whenever people tell me they use Google Maps to explore — it makes my heart happy,” Lin said.

Since Lin started at Google in 2007, she’s also built digital maps from scratch in several new countries.

Now, she is a director of product management for Google Search, overseeing the development of new travel and local experiences. That means one of her jobs is exploring the role that generative AI — namely, Google’s Gemini model — will play in the next iteration of search, from discovery to booking.

Google has already started integrating generative AI into travel-related services, including various trip planning tools in Search and Maps — with much more surely to come.

Lin looks to the phrase “farming for dissent” — coined by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings — as a guide to her leadership. With this approach, managers and employees are open with each other when evaluating new ideas.

“It’s been a wonderful way to provoke candid, open conversations about hard topics and to keep myself and my teams accountable to building the best products we can for people,” Lin said.

And, she takes inspiration from her father, who she said immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan to give his children better education and opportunities.

“Growing up, one of the things I saw him do time and time again was to always fight for what he thought was right, even in the face of countless obstacles and setbacks,” Lin said. “That’s stuck with me a lot as I started in my own career – that even when things are hard or I fail, that I can get up, brush myself off, and try again.”

Shannon Knapp

The leading hotels of the world president & ceo.

As President and CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), Shannon Knapp’s brief spans more than 400 hotels in over 80 countries. The organization was founded in 1928 and remains the only global collection of five-star independent properties.

Knapp started her current role in 2019, but her tenure and impact at LHW stretches back over a decade. She joined the company in 2013 as SVP & Chief Marketing Officer after holding a range of senior positions at American Express.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Knapp has been instrumental in the growth – and even the survival – of LHW. Taking on the top job just months before the pandemic, she successfully navigated the company and its worldwide members through the crisis. In many ways, the business is now stronger than ever. Evidence, if needed, came in both 2022 and 2023 when LHW reported record-breaking results, with global revenues exceeding $1 billion.

The company’s robust financial performance hasn’t been at the expense of its social and societal goals. Knapp is well known in the industry as a trailblazer for community empowerment and inclusion. It is therefore no accident that within a few clicks of landing on the LHW website, visitors can filter search results by female-owned hotels. These properties, in locations ranging from Italy’s Amalfi Coast to New York City, are all “helmed by the industry’s most influential women,” and fall under the company’s ‘Leading with a Purpose’ mantra.

This ethic goes beyond glossy consumer-facing materials. Under Knapp’s leadership, LHW has made meaningful internal changes too. In 2021, the company’s executive team reached gender parity, while LHW’s wider 200-strong workforce also has a 50/50 gender composition. Knapp has described the importance of building “a new and more inclusive future.” Few would argue that she’s turning talk into tangible results.

Ayesha Molino

Aria and vdara president & coo and mgm resorts international chief public affairs officer.

Ayesha Molino held various roles on Capitol Hill before landing as chief public affairs officer for MGM Resorts. She was an attorney in the Commerce Department, held a stint as the international trade counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, and served as the chief counsel for late Nevada Senator Harry Reid.

Now, she’s a rising star at MGM. In just six years, Molino has climbed her way from senior vice president of government affairs to chief public affairs officer, and more recently, taken on an executive role for Aria Resort and Casino and Vdara Hotel and Spa.

At MGM, Molino leads the company’s corporate communications, public relations and government affairs strategies. And she’s in that role during a turbulent time for the casino hotels industry. The industry essentially shut down during the height of Covid-19 and has dealt with labor shortages.

But now it’s having a comeback — Las Vegas casinos generated a record $15.5 billion in 2023, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

In her role as chief public affairs officer and as vice chair of the Nevada Resort Association, she supported a state Senate bill that would remove daily cleaning requirements at hotels, casinos and resorts.

Nevada initially passed a bill during the pandemic that outlined certain cleaning standards for hotels, but those requirements became difficult for many operators to meet due to widespread staffing issues.

She’s also been an advocate for women in the industry. Molino was recently a part of an event on mentoring young women in the gaming and casino industry hosted by Global Gaming Women, an organization that fosters the career development of women in the gaming industry.

“I owe much of my career to mentors who were willing to spend their time and energy to support, guide, and challenge me,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward and encourage my colleagues to seek and provide mentorship when the opportunity arises.”

Edited by Lex Haris. Design and photo treatments by Beatrice Tagliaferri.

All photography by Skift, except for Amelia DeLuca (credit Delta Air Lines), Amy Burr (credit JetBlue Ventures), Crystal Vinisse Thomas (credit Hyatt), Peggy Roe (credit Marriott International), Heidi Durflinger (credit EF World Journeys), Leslie Hale (credit RLJ Lodging Trust), Ho Ren Yung (credit Banyan Group), Garine Ferejian-Mayo (credit Sonesta Hotels), Kristie Goshow (credit KSL Resorts), Shannon McGehee (credit Expedia Group), H.H. Princess Haifa Bint Mohammed Al Saud (credit Saudi Arabia), Alessandra Alonso (credit Women in Travel), Jenn Chick (credit Hilton), Sophia Lin (credit Alphabet), Shannon Knapp (credit The Leading Hotels of the World), Ayesha Molino (credit MGM Resorts International)

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