Service should be seamless on board superyachts. Yet one unsightly detail kept catching the eye of YachtCloud founder and managing partner André Klepper. His answer, GEST, is a discreet superyacht service call system that transforms guest-crew communication. BOAT finds out more…
It started with a small but persistent irritation. “I kept noticing the same thing every time I stepped onto a yacht,” recalls Klepper. “Everything was beautifully designed, except the controls. You’d have these high-end, multi-million-dollar boats, and then you'd see these cheap plastic buttons stuck around the cabin. It just didn’t make sense.”
Along with his co-founder, Arjan, Klepper began a years-long process to fix it. “It took almost five years of trial and error, testing different button sizes, layouts, materials and feedback types until we got it right,” he says. “It wasn’t quick, and it wasn’t easy, but we ended up with something that felt like it belonged on a proper yacht.”
That “something” became GEST, a premium service call system designed specifically for the luxury yachting market. “We were fortunate that the first few boats gave us a shot when we had very little to show besides a rough prototype and an idea,” Klepper adds. Word-of-mouth took it from there.
How it works
GEST is a tactile, highly customisable service call button that allows guests to request assistance with a single touch. Each one can be tailored to the yacht’s identity, from the material of the ring and surface finish to leather inlays, laser engravings and even multi-touch features. The GEST Connect App offers the same functions in a digital format, running on phones or tablets with the added bonus of two-way chat between guests and crew.
GEST is generally installed in all the key guest areas on board, such as the main saloon, owner’s suite, guest cabins or out on deck. Press the button and it glows a purple hue while sending an instant notification to the crew’s connected device, whether a smartwatch, tablet, phone or VHF. When a crew member accepts the request, the light turns green, reassuring the guest that help is on the way. Once fulfilled, the light turns off.
Behind the scenes, the Manager Portal keeps everything organised, allowing crew to monitor all calls, track response times and ensure service levels are maintained. Meanwhile, the Crew App streamlines the response process by making it easy to see and manage requests in real time.
Installation is simple and straightforward. Every button is quality checked in-house by YachtCloud before it leaves the workshop. On board, it’s simply linked to the yacht’s Wi-Fi and assigned to a location via the GEST app.
“Choosing GEST has been absolutely the right decision in terms of quality, setup and perfect design matching the superyacht standards,” says the captain of 66.4-metre Okto.
Meanwhile, the chief stewardess of a 50-metre motor yacht credits the digital version with transforming daily operations: “The GEST Connect App has really changed how we work, and we can’t imagine using anything else. We highly recommend it for any yacht that wants to make guest and crew interactions easier and better.”
For Klepper, GEST is about ensuring every detail on board reflects the yacht’s overall service standard. Installed on some of the world’s most prestigious yachts, GEST has proven that even the simplest innovations can have a big impact.
For a limited time, YachtCloud is offering 10 per cent off the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on any GEST system purchased before 30 September. To learn more or place an order, get in touch with the YachtCloud team.
Sponsored content created for YachtCloud