Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) has announced the appointment of Mr Luke McCaul to oversee customer experience and property management for the award-winning facility.
Mr McCaul will bring to GCCM his extensive background in marina management and customer experience development allowing the facility to continue on its current growth trajectory with some exciting expansion plans in the pipeline.
“Our aim at GCCM is to keep the facility at the top of its game by amassing the best possible team with the energy and creativity to do so. Luke adds a great deal to the team and we look forward to generating some new programmes and initiatives with him,” stated GCCM’s CEO, Mr Trenton Gay.
Whilst McCaul will manage client facing activities and property management, he will work in closely with Mr Kevin Altera who is the General Manager, Business Development and Operations. Heading a team of over 30 dedicated staff, the duo will focus on promoting and driving a quality customer experience for existing and new marina and shipyard clients from around the globe.
Originally from Brisbane, McCaul saw an opportunity to take his business marketing degree and professional skills to Abell Point Marina in the Whitsunday Islands when a new and progressive owner took over in 2013. “There is no reason a marina and shipyard cannot be run like a high-quality international hotel. Owners, captains and crew should expect and receive the personalised touch found in the accommodation industry – my time at Abell Point Marina proved as much. I am now looking forward to adding to GCCM’s customer focus with similar concepts for a working shipyard and marina,” explained McCaul.
GCCM is the most awarded shipyard and marina in Australia encompassing 17.5 hectares of waterfront land on the Coomera River. The facility includes a 250 tonne straddlelift, 50,000sqm of hardstand, 75 metre work berths, eight refit sheds and over 80 onsite businesses employing more than 700 marine tradesmen.
“It is no secret GCCM has growth plans not only for an adjacent larger facility in the near future yet also, we are actively attracting more and more superyacht refit and maintenance projects to the yard now. In doing so, it is fundamental our services and delivery are world class meeting the clients’ expectation and reflecting our standing in the global marketplace. Luke will be critical in this,” offered Kevin Altera.
McCaul’s appointment is the latest in a series of announcements from GCCM including collaborations with Seal Superyachts, Benetti Yachts and IGY Marinas to support their clients in the Pacific. GCCM’s activities have not gone unnoticed as it was recently awarded the ‘Business of the Year – Superyacht Service Provider’ at the Australian Superyacht Awardsin May 2018. It is the latest award bestowed on the facility.
McCaul’s appointment follows the recent resignation of Mr Steve Sammes who
was the GM Corporate Services for GCCM. Having been with the marina for
nearly 12 years, Sammes is moving on to take up the role of General Manager
at Sanctuary Cove Marina.
About Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard
GCCM is situated on 17.5 hectares of zoned waterfront industry land which
fronts the Coomera River at Waterway Drive. The marina and shipyard form an
integral part of the 250-hectare ‘Gold Coast Marine Precinct’, the largest of its
kind in the Southern Hemisphere. GCCM is located 20 kilometres from Surfers
Paradise and 70 Kilometres form the Brisbane CBD. All media enquiries should
be directed to info@gccm.com.au.
Full list of GCCM’s Awards
• MIA’s ‘Boatyard of the Year’ 2013/14
• Superyacht Australia’s ‘Service Provider of the Year’ 2015
• MIA’s ‘Boatyard of the Year’ 2015/2016
• MIA’s ‘Dry Storage Facility of the Year’ 2015/16
• MIA’s ‘Best Environmental Initiatives by a Marina’ 2016/2017
• MIA’s ‘Employee of the Year’, Steve Sammes, 2016/2017
• MIA’s ‘Marina Hall of Fame’ 2016/2017
• MIA’s ‘Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the Industry’,
Trenton Gay, 2016/2017
• Australian Marine Industry Export Group’s ‘Industry Champion for the
Marine Export Sector’, Trenton Gay, 2017
• Superyacht Australia’s ‘Service Provider of the Year’ 2018
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