With Blue Voyage Group securely recognised as Thailand’s premier, government-endorsed yacht charter company, its enterprising Founder and CEO is setting sail towards global domination by focusing on strategic fleet expansion, infrastructure investment, and a new boatyard business.
It comes as no surprise to me that when Thailand’s it-crowd – think the likes of Bright Vachirawit, Lisa Blackpink, or Davika Hoorne – is spotted on stylish getaways in Pattaya or the Southern islands, Blue Voyage is without fail their choice of yacht charter. Over the last 10 years, through a smart business model, effective branding, and a “nothing is impossible” attitude, the brainchild of businesswoman Tanchanok “Omi” Vajarodaya has managed to transform yachting in Thailand from something that was often inaccessible and impersonal, to a real treat that Thai vacationers are willing to splurge on.
The company’s success and dominant position in the market can be largely credited to the clear vision and tenacious drive of its CEO and Founder who has been dubbed the “queen of yachts” or “queen of the high seas” due to her steadfast passion for luxury maritime travel. Prestige interviewed this yacht queen three years ago when her fleet was already making waves at half its current size. Since then, Blue Voyage Group has undertaken significant business expansions, warranting another sit-down with its seafaring CEO – this time aboard her most prized superyacht to date: a 102-foot Astondoa motor yacht christened ‘For Your Eyes Only’.
Named after Omi’s favourite James Bond film, the glamorous vessel is the Rolls-Royce of Blue Voyage’s fleet, personally furnished by the boat lover herself. The yacht features four guest bedrooms on the lower deck – each with its own en-suite bathroom – a jacuzzi up on the flybridge, two main dining areas, an onboard spa, and all the accessories you could ever desire for a fun day out at sea, including paddle boards, snorkel gear, as well as an inflatable sea pool and water slide. All of this, not to mention the professional crew comprising an experienced captain, butlers, private chef, spa therapist, activities officer, and other personnel for a total of 10 that come along for the journey.
Arriving on board the superyacht via an “Eyes Candy” Zodiac transfer from Visit Panwa Pier in Phuket, we find Omi in the cosy mahogany-decked saloon, getting ready for her close-up. Sporting waist-length beach blonde locks these days, the charming 36-year-old instantly orders a round of refreshing beverages for everyone and lightens the mood by turning on some pop tunes. “Good hospitality is about creating an environment where guests feel truly special and their expectations are not just met, but exceeded,” affirms our gracious host.
Omi knows all about the five-star treatment, as a successful, self-made hospitality entrepreneur. Reminiscing on the establishment of Blue Voyage a decade ago, she recalls her big dreams at the time and the challenging uphill journey in those first few years of the business.
“My passion for yachting and the realisation that it was neither popular nor professionally approached in Thailand in 2014 inspired me to establish my company and redefine the industry, but this is much easier said than done,” she remarks.
In 2015, Omi used her modest savings to purchase her first cruiser second-hand and start her business. As startup founders can all relate to, she handled most of the operations on her own, from taking reservations and accounting to building an online presence. When the need for a second and larger vessel eventually came along, financing was necessary, but she could not yet win the trust of banks.
“Most people who get into the yachting business come from affluent backgrounds, but that’s not my story,” she notes. “Since the banks would not approve loans for me at that time, my only option was leasing companies, which demanded very high interest rates and a 50 percent down payment. I didn’t know how I was going to come up with the cash, but I knew I needed to do everything I could to get it otherwise Blue Voyage wasn’t happening.”
Giving up simply not an option, Omi subsequently spent every waking minute knocking on doors until a sales pitch to Lexus Thailand finally landed and secured Blue Voyage its first catamaran, a Lagoon 421.
“Blue Voyage yacht charters became part of a privilege package for automotive clients at the Thailand Motor Show 2016,” Omi explains. “From there, we continued to partner with Lexus Thailand to offer complimentary yacht trips in Pattaya to all new Lexus buyers. This collaboration enabled us to sell over 200 vouchers, which helped us gradually pay off the down payment of our catamaran. By the sixth year of operation, the banks finally called us, and we were able to access funding with significantly lighter interest rates.
“The truth is,” she emphasizes, “those first few years were a struggle… But you just have to do it.”
With the inspirational slogan of Nike ringing in my ears, I think about how Omi’s perseverance has paid off at present. Today, Blue Voyage has steered the industry to a place of great enthusiasm and high expectations. Its current fleet comprises 20 distinct vessels distributed across the four most popular beach-holidaying destinations in Thailand: Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi. Capitalizing on both accessible and extravagant ends of the spectrum, options range from modest speed cruisers, sailing catamarans, and wooden boats with very reasonable day rates of THB 15,000 to 45,000, to motor yachts and superyachts, such as For Your Eyes Only, which can fetch up to a million Baht a night during high season.
While the company can easily boast a clientele of international movie stars and political figures – the usual suspects for this kind of pastime – what is perhaps an even greater feat is how Blue Voyage has managed to create a yachting frenzy amongst middle- to upper-class Thais, and most impressively with the younger generation.
“We are very proud to be the company that introduced this lifestyle to Thai people and to have gained widespread recognition for our professionalism in providing first-class service to all our customers,” shares the savvy CEO, who was recently invited to speak about her strategy and journey at the 2024 Asia Pacific Superyacht Summit in Hong Kong.
I asked Omi if there were any new business updates to discuss since she last spoke to Prestige. She answers, “Absolutely, we have undertaken several new business ventures since 2021. Notably, we established a boatyard specializing in the construction of luxury speed cruisers and wooden boats. Starting from 40 feet in size, our creations are tailor-made to the specifications of our discerning clients, each one guaranteed to be a masterpiece on water.”
Similar to her role at Blue Voyage, Omi oversees the boatyard business, known as Southfleet, in the capacity of Founder and CEO. Committed to delivering high-quality sea vessels and bespoke design services, the venture picked up speed quickly and has already become the go-to boatyard for many of the world’s elite hotel groups that have a strong presence in Southern Thailand, such as the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Banyan Tree, and Anantara.
With so much going on in her professional life, the ambitious entrepreneur is already working on her next big move: a 45-plus-metre (150-foot) flagship vessel that will be moored in Mediterranean and Caribbean waters.
“I will make a decision on the exact model later this year after the Monaco and Cannes yacht shows, but it will be the largest boat in my fleet, and my plan is to use this yacht to showcase Thai hospitality, such as our spa heritage, to customers in the West,” she shares.
Simultaneously, Blue Voyage Group is working towards solidifying itself as the largest charter company in Asia-Pacific. “To achieve this goal, we’re continuing in the expansion of our fleet, as well as exploring other business avenues related to boating, such as engineering and infrastructure.” On that note, I learn from her that Blue Voyage is involved in the building of the new ONE° 15 Marina Panwa Phuket project, and has similar plans for Koh Samui in the works.
Although based in Bangkok, Omi spends a week every month in Southern Thailand to personally touch base with her ever-expanding operations in the region. As a diehard lover of the sea, sand, and sun, she sees her work visits to Southern Thailand’s islands and beaches as a big perk of the job, which explains why she seems pretty content in the area of work-life balance. On these routine trips, when she’s not staying aboard her floating casa, this Melbourne hospitality graduate is probably checking into her favourite hotel chain.
“Anantara hotels are truly my second home,” she says, adding that the Anantara Siam Bangkok is officially her Bangkok residence and has been for a number of years now.
Fittingly, our two-day cover shoot in Phuket featured all of the Blue Voyage Chairwoman’s favourite locations: aboard For Your Eyes Only, at the breathtaking Layan Residences by Anantara in the island’s upper west side, and – in unfailing Omi fashion – a secret beach. Not your typical photo shoot, even by Prestige standards, both the celebrity and our production crew certainly got down with the elements, whether it was choppy moments out at sea or getting that perfect shot in the ocean at sunset. But by far, no one ever seemed more at ease with the wind or water than our cover personality, who typically jumped in first with confidence, like someone who has done this a million times.
“I have always loved this part of Thailand as an essential hub of the country’s tourism. Southern Thailand is a paradise brimming with hidden gems, and my adventures here are nothing short of magical,” says the queen of the high seas.
“One of my top recommendations is taking a boat from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. This island, with its untouched beauty and rustic charm, offers such an authentic escape. Krabi is another one of my top destinations. Its dramatic landscapes and a hidden lobster farm make it a must-visit spot. However, Phuket is where I find myself most often. Phi Phi Island, the Similan Islands, and Phang Nga Bay each boast unique wonders that are impossible to compare.”
Anyone who has ever met or read about Omi knows that her love for travel is an inseparable part of her identity – she has after all built a rather prosperous career around this life passion of hers. As one of the most well-travelled even in high-flying circles, Omi tells us exactly why she lives for it: “Travel makes you wiser. It’s that simple. It has also opened my eyes to many new opportunities in life.”
Besides inspiring Blue Voyage and Southfleet Shipyard, globetrotting has also led to the unlocking of new skills for the CEO, such as her private piloting licence. “Since I like to travel so much, I wanted to get my own plane. Then, I thought it was a good idea to learn how to fly one myself.”
One of the wanderluster’s most memorable trips as of late was her safari adventures in Zimbabwe earlier this year, which she cites as her most exhilarating land travel experience. Surprisingly, this jetsetter still has plenty on her travel bucket list, including the Amazon rainforests in Brazil and Antarctica, where she is headed to for her next vacation – just in case you were wondering.
Photographer: Napat Gumkham
Stylist: Panchanitch Rattanawilai
Makeup Artist: Nontalee Wongpeng
Hair Artist: Kittichai Nopnarathip
Editorial Coordinator: Amornrat Sannongmuang
Location: Phuket, and on board ‘For Your Eyes Only’ Superyacht
Senior Editor, Prestige Southern Thailand
Based in Phuket, Mika Apichatsakol is the Senior Editor of Prestige Thailand and the magazine's vanguard for its coverage of Southern Thailand's wealth. When she's not writing or editing, Mika can be found ..Read More
Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates.
Thank you for your subscription.
