Sailing to success: How this operator earned $109k through FHDN bookings this year

“Everyone should be on the FHDN and everyone should be using it. The program is very controllable and it’s easy to use”

Captain Phil Le Blanc
COO

Sea Maui, a prominent sailing company in Hawaii, joined the FareHarbor Distribution Network (FHDN) back in the early days of the program. Throughout the years they have cultivated their network of partners to create a substantial added source of income. 

The FHDN is FareHarbor’s own affiliate program. By opting in, you are able to sell other operator’s tours and activities or have your own experiences sold by affiliates. Sea Maui, on the other hand, actively participates in both.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Captain Phil Le Blanc, COO of Sea Maui, to learn more about his success working with partners and affiliates on the FHDN. 

The business

Sea Maui began in 2015 — with only a few captains and boats — plus a passion for sailing the beautiful shores of Hawaii. They offer many activities from adventurous snorkel tours to relaxing sunset cocktail cruises and even customized private charters. 

With nearly a decade of experience under their belts and a lot of hard work, they have become one of the highest rated sailing companies in Maui. Coined Ka’anapali’s “fun boats,” Sea Maui’s mission is to make each customer feel like family while experiencing the magic and beauty of Hawaii. 

Sea Maui joins the FHDN

Sea Maui was quick to join the FHDN when the affiliate program was released in 2019. They originally opted in because they wanted to sell tours from businesses they already had relationships with. Through the years, Sea Maui has created a viable network of operators across the state who sell one another’s tours in the area, raking in thousands of dollars every year. 

By finding the right partners, Sea Maui has made over $109k on FHDN booking in only the first six months of 2024. 

Captain Phil recalls that “it doesn’t hurt to have more people selling [our tours].” Once you’re on the FHDN, FareHarbor handles the contracts, payouts, and everything in between. Captain Phil notes that billing and invoicing is super simple, so he can’t find a reason that a FareHarbor operator would not want to join this program. 

5 tactics to boost your success on the FHDN

Signing up for the FHDN is just the first step. Captain Phil offered a few pieces of advice on how you can make your experiences more profitable on the FHDN and get affiliates interested in your business.

1. Curate and update your listings often

Your listings should be concise, yet descriptive. The goal is to SELL, so highlight the top features of each experience. If one of your items is not performing well, you might need to change up the description until you start seeing bookings.

2. Feature several high-resolution photos

You know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Entice more bookings with quality photos of customers enjoying your tours and activities. Note that several photos are better than one — a tip affiliates have also confirmed is vital. 

3. Enhance your online presence

From creating a top-tier website to collecting five-star Google reviews, fostering a positive online presence is vital in attracting affiliates. When you start these partnerships, each business is representing the other, which means that fostering a good digital reputation is necessary. 

4. Don’t limit yourself by only partnering with operators you know

Sea Maui started using the FHDN to start working with other operators they knew personally. However, they quickly learned that the program is more fruitful when they opened up to partnering with businesses from across the island that they have not met in the past. 

5. Use this program to increase sales in slower months

By performing the steps above, the FHDN can be a useful tool to bring in revenue during slow or off seasons. You can sell tours that have different high seasons to maximize your earnings for the year with sales you would not have made otherwise.

Want to learn more about the FHDN? Visit this page or simply sign up today!