Port Authority generates new income stream from Waterlife rentals

2 Mar

There's an exciting new opportunity to generate an innovative income stream for marina owners looking for ways to expand their services to attract new customers – one already exploited by Yarmouth Harbour Port Authority. Two houseboats from alternative lifestyle company, Waterlife, have successfully been rented for short-term lets through Airbnb since they were installed at Yarmouth last June. Six months down the line, and the harbour is already looking to put in more houseboats to expand its rental accommodation. So, could this be the way forward to help secure a new stable source of income and position marinas as a popular destination for the non-boating community?

Plugging an income gap

Yarmouth Harbour noticed a decline in the number of small boats berthing during the winter months. By utilising their ‘dead space’ to moor Waterlife houseboats, they have managed to leverage the profitability of their berths.

Improved financials from steady bookings

“Since the Oasis 3 models were installed, we have seen a steady stream of bookings, we were booked out across Christmas and New Year and had a lot of last-minute bookings for January 2024, despite the weather being awful!” explains Facilities Manager, Vikki Faulkner.

Attracting a wider customer base to the marina

Since listing their houseboats, Yarmouth Harbour has managed to attract a “broad spectrum of guests, who aren’t traditionally ‘boaters’.”

Why choose Waterlife?

“The ability to change the outside appearance and interior layouts – including tailoring our houseboats to the local environment – was a big factor in us choosing to partner with Waterlife.”

Future plans for Yarmouth

The success of the pioneering houseboat accommodation project at Yarmouth Harbour has already prompted them to look towards installing more Waterlife houseboats to further boost their profit revenue.

“Due to the success, we are looking to broaden our marketing and hopefully invest in more Waterlodges in the near future,” anticipates Vikki.