Baltisse, the investment holding of the Balcaen family, has established Balmaris, a new collection of boutique premium marinas across Europe.
The organisation has completed its first acquisition in Italy with the purchase of Moniga Porto Nautica full-service marina on Lake Garda.
In establishing Balmaris, Baltisse says it aims to enhance the infrastructure and services of European marinas while preserving local identities.
The group says it will take a boutique, locally led approach, keeping marina teams and character in place, combining this with the operational capabilities and long-term investment capacity of a group.
Marina operations
Moniga Porto Nautica was established in 2005 has has since been developed by Laura Fadabini and Roberto Vassalli to offer 220 wet berths and 170 dry berths, together with a services such as berthing, refuelling, boat services and on-site catering.
There is also an authorised dealership of Van Dutch (Cantiere del Pardo) and Cranchi yachts on site.
The current management will remain involved in the marina operations, with the organisation saying further improvements in the infrastructure and services will be made.
Strength of a group
“We built Moniga from scratch over the past 20 years, and choosing who would carry it forward was not a decision we took lightly,” explained Laura and Roberto.
“In Balmaris we found a partner that understands and values what makes this place special, its people, its setting and its service levels, and that has the patience and the means to take it further.”
Derek van Brussel, founder and managing director of Balmaris, added: “Balmaris is built on a simple idea: keep what makes each marina distinctive, and add the strength of a group behind it.
“With exceptional service levels, Moniga sets the standard we want for the collection. It is the first of several acquisitions we intend to make in Italy and other European countries.”
