Introducing the Edmiston team in Aspen

To get in touch with one of our brokers in Aspen, please contact us.

Robert Shepherd is a yachting industry enthusiast. With over 40 years of yachting experience – 14 of those with Edmiston – what the Partner and President of Edmiston USA doesn’t know about yachting, probably isn’t worth knowing.

Robert says: “I’ve been around the world four times and have visited 152 countries. I’ve been there and done it myself, and I can share that knowledge with our clients.”

Robert began his yacht career as a chef, parlaying into yacht brokerage in 2004, and through the years he’s learned that the key to a successful yachting experience is to establish your expectations early and be realistic with them.

Robert says: “Do you want to go somewhere remote, adventurous or indulge in more mainstream yachting?”

“All you need to decide is the level of luxury you are looking for, set the budget and your brokers and crew will do the rest.”

Hannah Wolstenholme has been a sales and charter broker at Edmiston for the past decade. Hannah discovered yachting at the age of 19 when she took a summer job as a stewardess on board a yacht in the South of France and she hasn’t looked back.

“I was instantly hooked and started my career at Edmiston as an assistant to one of our top sales brokers in our London office,” she says. “Since then, I have gone on to work in our New York and Cabo office. Right now, I am opening our South Florida operations.”

Hannah says her true expertise lies in her ability to connect with clients and really get to the crux of their needs and desires. For clients unsure whether to buy a yacht or charter one, Hannah’s knowledge is indispensable.

“With extensive experience in both sales and charter I am able to comfortably pivot between the two,” she says. “There have been times where someone might think they want to buy a yacht, but the reality is a few years of charter is more appropriate for that stage of their lives.”

Meanwhile, Matthew Gant has been a crucial part of the Edmiston team for the past four years. Matthew began his yachting career as a deck hand, and over a period of six years he moved up the ranks on yachts in the 60m-90m category to become one our expert charter brokers today.

Matthew says no other type of holiday offers the level of freedom of a yacht:

“Chartering a yacht is like nothing else. Being able to wake up in new locations, visit spots not accessible by land and having family together on board, is the dream,” he says.

Matthew believes one of his core strengths is his ability to listen and understand his clients’ needs.

“From this I can find the right yachts and crew that brings together a superb charter.” he says.

“On one charter in Tahiti, I learned that the principal guest was going to ask his now-wife to marry him, so the crew and I put together a special surprise on the day and they were blown away.”

All three brokers agree that yachting is an ideal extension for the Aspen jet set and there is no better way to reconnect with loved ones than on a yacht.

Matthew says: “As we all know, it’s sometimes difficult to get everyone together, but when a yacht is offered you usually find everyone finds the space in their calendars. Spending time with family and close friends with top-tier crews makes for unforgettable getaways.”

Robert says: “Covid has certainly changed the industry, clients have found yachting to be a safe haven during these troubled times, we have also seen clients take more time away on a yacht due to the fact that they can work remotely on board, while spending quality time with their families.”

But why Edmiston?

Robert puts it succinctly: “Using an experienced, well-travelled yacht broker is the best way to avoid yachting mishaps. The Edmiston team works together to elevate clients’ yachting experiences to another level.”

Hannah says that when it comes to buying a yacht, it’s crucial that clients work with someone they know and trust, as it’s likely a yacht purchase is the largest acquisition they make outside of their corporate lives.

“With so many yachts sold in 2021 there are few options left on the open market. Working with a large brokerage like Edmiston that has an extensive global network supplies you with access to off market opportunities, which are now more valuable than ever.” she says.

Meanwhile, when it comes to charters, Matthew says there’s a reason Edmiston is the best in the business.

“Clients should come to Edmiston as we are a close-knit team that shares vital information together” he says. “This information helps us to be on top of the industry news and what yachts to book. As a company we are market leaders and have an extremely high percentage of repeat bookings.”

Our brokers are also constantly looking to the future and keeping their eyes on how the industry is developing.

Hannah says: “The average age of our customer has dropped dramatically, and the younger demographic is bringing a new perspective on yachting. 

Engineering and technology have advanced to a point where the possibilities for custom yacht design have broadened dramatically, and we are going to see the ‘eco’ movement rapidly improve over the coming decade as ship builders, owners and crew become increasingly focused on how we can reduce the impact of super yachts on the environment.

The industry is expanding at a rapid rate, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

And why Aspen?

Matthew says: “Aspen is a fantastic initiative for Edmiston – being on location, we are available to discuss future charters in person and our clients get to know us better and understand what Edmiston can bring them. The best time to talk about charters is while in that holiday mood!”

Robert echoes this: “Aspen is one of the best ski resort towns in the USA, many people that ski also like to go yachting and what better place to talk about a warm weather vacation than high in the Rockies after a day of exploring the mountains?”

Edmiston will be on hand throughout Aspen’s winter season to help pair holidaymakers with their perfect yacht, whether they are looking to charter or buy.

Visit us to benefit from our all-round expertise. Because it’s not winter in Aspen without Edmiston.