Sebastian Phillips, Founder, The Vessel Miami

Invest: sat down with Sebastian Phillips, founder of The Vessel Miami, to discuss how the waterfront floating venue is creating a new model for hospitality and events on the water. “We understand stability, strength, layout, passenger flow, and operational safety, and that lets us create something unique without guessing,” Phillips said.

How did The Vessel Miami come to life, and what gap were you trying to fill in the market?

The idea started with the belief that there was room to create something that did not fit neatly into the categories of a traditional boat or a standard event venue. I wanted to build a floating platform that could function as a venue, but also offer something more flexible, immersive, and visually distinct than what exists on land. The Vessel moves, and it can operate dockside or on the water, and it can be customized for each client. That alone changes the experience.

I also wanted to create something that looked different. As a naval architect, I have always felt that many boats and yachts end up following the same design language. With The Vessel, I wanted something with its own identity. We brought in wood, visible structure, sails, lighting, and other maritime references, but the result does not look like a traditional boat. That was intentional. I wanted people to see it and understand immediately that it was its own concept.

How has your background in naval architecture and maritime operations shaped the business?

It shapes everything. I am a naval architect, but I am also a captain, and I worked on passenger vessels in New York years ago. That means I understand the design side, the construction side, the operational side, and the safety side. When you combine those perspectives, you can push the concept further because you know what is possible and how to execute it responsibly.

That background helps us make decisions with confidence. We understand stability, strength, layout, passenger flow, and operational safety, and that lets us create something unique without guessing. It also allows us to move faster because we are designing from experience, not theory.

What does experiential hospitality mean in practice for The Vessel Miami?

What we are seeing is that clients want much more than a venue. They want to shape the entire experience, from the moment guests arrive to the moment they leave. That aligns perfectly with what we do. The Vessel becomes one element in a much larger experience, but it is a memorable one because it completely changes the setting.

One of the things that makes our concept different is that we can leave the vessel in the water and bring people out to it. That creates a dramatic arrival moment. Guests may come by yacht, ferry, or another vessel, and then suddenly they are stepping onto this floating platform with music, lights, branding, and a fully built-out atmosphere. From there, the experience can include food, sound, décor, entertainment, and whatever happens before or after the event. We partner with restaurants, hotels, and other venues so that the vessel becomes part of a larger curated environment.

You have described The Vessel as a prototype. What does that mean for the future of the company?

The Vessel was always meant to be the first step in a larger concept. It allowed us to test how people use the space, which types of events work best, what operational challenges come with each format, and how far we can push the idea. That real-world feedback has been incredibly valuable.

Now we are taking that into the next phase. I recently received Coast Guard approval for a new modular design series that will allow us to connect additional certified floating platforms to the vessel and to each other. That opens up a much broader range of possibilities. It could be a stage, a lounge, a performance space, or multiple connected environments working together. The idea is to create floating real estate that can be configured based on what the client wants and how large the activation needs to be.

How do you maintain quality while delivering highly customized events?

A lot of that comes down to partnerships and translation. We work with preferred vendors, production companies, and planners who are already strong at what they do. Many of them are used to working in traditional venues, so our role is often to help translate that process into a maritime environment.

For example, if a production company knows how to build a large stage or handle a major audiovisual setup, we help them understand what changes when that setup goes onto a vessel. We guide them on power, weight, stability, how equipment is secured, and how the event flow works on the water. Because I also run a naval architecture and marine engineering firm, we can support those needs in-house with drawings, technical reviews, and operational planning. That helps us maintain consistency even when every event is different.

How do safety standards and regulation influence innovation?

I do not see regulation as something that blocks creativity. I see it as something you design with from the start. Passenger vessel rules are clear, and if you understand them well, they become a framework rather than an obstacle. Since this is an area I have worked in for many years, I am comfortable operating within that system.

That knowledge makes it easier to say yes to ideas that might seem difficult from the outside. We know how to design within the rules, how to meet the approval process, and how to build something innovative while still making sure it is safe and practical. For us, that has been a major advantage.

How do you see The Vessel contributing to Miami’s urban and economic development?

Miami has all of this waterfront, and much of it remains underutilized. We have all this water here that’s not utilized, and how do we activate that? That is one of the central ideas behind the business. Instead of seeing the shoreline as the endpoint, we see it as the start of a much broader opportunity.

We have already done events where the vessel becomes an additional activation point for a private residence or a waterfront business. We have also worked dockside in ways that shift the focus of an event from inside a property to outside on the water. Looking ahead, that same idea can apply to developers, hospitality groups, commercial properties, and other waterfront spaces. It creates another layer of experience and another way to unlock value in locations that already have strong appeal.

What have you learned from operating in Miami, and why is the city the right place for this concept?

Miami has been the perfect place to test the model. It’s a great testbed; the weather is perfect, and the culture’s perfect for this. The city already understands hospitality, events, lifestyle, and waterfront experiences, so there is a natural fit here.

The market has taught us a lot. Early on, we tested different formats, including nightlife, dockside activations, and more private or brand-driven events. That helped us understand pricing, guest behavior, operations, and the type of client that best fits the brand. We realized we do not need to compete on volume. We would rather work with the right clients, deliver a strong experience, and keep the concept distinctive.

What is your long-term vision for The Vessel Miami?

The long-term vision is to keep growing in a way that is smart and intentional. South Florida is an obvious next step, whether that means more activity in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, or other waterfront markets. Beyond that, we will see where the concept makes the most sense. The challenge is always how to expand while maintaining quality and a personalized touch.

What motivates me most is the opportunity to keep pushing the concept further. This is a passion project for me. It is about creating something unique, building memorable environments, and seeing how far this can go. We are still at the beginning, and I think the next phase, with modular platforms and larger floating environments, will open up a whole new set of possibilities.