Hospitality Awards 2024 | 31 Sailing Holiday Company of the Year 2024 – Greece With the wind in your sails and cerulean water underfoot, it is no wonder that many tourists are now opting for sailing holidays. On the open sea, you are afforded total freedom without the pressing weight of a rigid itinerary and overcrowded attractions, two features of a traditional holiday that are unfortunately very common. Sunny Sailing is a sailing charter company located in Sivota, on the island of Lefkada in Greece. Here, we speak with Owner Pim Bastiaanssen, following the company’s recent title in the Hospitality Award 2024. Boasting an impressive fleet of 14 Bavaria yachts and two Dufours, Sunny Sailing offers guests an unparalleled experience that begins in the beautiful bay of Sivota. From there, guests can sail across the Ionian Sea for up to two weeks in the company of Sunny Sailing’s expert team of skippers and flotilla leaders. The company offers a variety of sailing experiences to its guests, from supported flotilla sailing across Greece, independent bareboat sailing, sailing on the leadboat for those unable or unwilling to sail themselves, or renting a sailboat with a skipper or instructor for an educational vacation. Sunny Sailing is owned and operated by Pim Bastiaanssen and Joyce Corbée, who acquired the company in 2018. The pair were driven by their own sailing holiday in 2004, in which they went sailing for the first time in Greece. Following this adventure, Pim and Joyce developed their skillset and gained experience over the years, from Corfu to Zakynthos. In 2018, they established their base in Nidri, before moving to Sivota in 2021. Sivota is easily accessible from Preveza Airport, to which many customers can fly directly. Additionally, the town lends itself as the perfect starting point when exploring the beautiful harbours and bays in the area. “As soon as you arrive at your destination, you are immediately on holiday,” says Pim. “We are located in a picturesque town, and you will immediately get a holiday feeling.” Above all else, Sunny Sailing strives to deliver an exceptional experience to its clients. The company’s hardworking team, composed of experienced skippers and flotilla leaders, are unanimous in their commitment to excellence, and will go above and beyond to ensure complete client satisfaction. In fact, the company’s stellar services begin from the very first point of enquiry; its booking office, located in the Netherlands, provides dedicated and personalised assistance to ensure that clients are matched with the holiday that best suits their needs and preferences, such as novice sailors hiring skippers or more experienced guests sailing bareboat. “Sunny Sailing ensures that all its guests are completely taken care of to offer them an unforgettable sailing holiday,” Pim tells us. “Sunny Sailing works with a permanent and highly skilled crew and is supplemented with qualified skippers on a hired basis. Our maintenance is completed by local professionals.” This approach is beneficial to both Sunny Sailing and its guests, as the company can assure that its fleet is maintained to the highest possible standards. In turn, this ensures safe trips for the guests and a seamless experience lead by a highly professional crew. In this industry, flexibility is crucial for survival. Sunny Sailing recognises this, and continually adjusts and improves its offerings and fleet in alignment with guest requests. For example, all boats are now equipped with solar panels and all cabins have windvanes. Not only does this highlight Sunny Sailing’s commitment to client satisfaction, but also the company’s dedication to ensuring sustainable practices. Due to the nature of the profession, the company relies heavily on the environment and strives to make a positive impact through its operations whenever it can. Looking ahead, Pim tells us that the company plans to expand its offerings with an entirely new Bavaria C42 sailboat being introduced in 2025, alongside new sailing routes in the Spring. These plans are just another example of Sunny Sailing’s commitment to excellence, as the company continues to evolve and grow to meet the varying needs of its clientele. Such an approach has enabled Sunny Sailing to build a stellar reputation for spectacular sailing experiences, with numerous testimonials from happy clients found on the website. “We spent a week with a family of five around Lefkada under the inspiring guidance of skipper Stefaan,” says Suesan. “We sailed well, learned a lot, laughed, snorkelled, and had lunch in the cockpit with a view of a new bay. We had a beautiful boat with all the trimmings, with which we were able to sail sportively. There were also nice harbours on the programme with excellent catering. In short, a wonderful week that felt like a wonderful month!” Contact: Pim Bastiaanssen Company: Sunny Sailing Greece Web Address: https://sunnysailing.com/
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