Monaco local Paris Baloumis, director strategic alliances at Oceanco, reflects on life at the centre of the superyacht world—from the buzz of Monaco to slow summers in Greece.
You’ve been based in Monaco for more than a decade. What does it mean to you personally and professionally?
Monaco has become far more than just where I live—it’s somewhere I’ve grown into. I love the vibe here, especially in the off-season, when everything slows down and you can enjoy it more deliberately. Although it’s a hub of movement for so many people, there’s something special about the familiarity you develop with the place and its community. Professionally, you’re surrounded by the entire industry, which is incredibly convenient, though it also means you’re never entirely off—the lines blur. Still, that constant energy, combined with its beauty, keeps it inspiring.
You’re from Greece and have lived in the Netherlands. How have those places shaped your perspective and career?
I like to think of it as a right-brain, left-brain balance. Greece gave me instinct, warmth and a strong sense of connection, while the Netherlands taught me to focus less on hierarchy and more on substance. It also taught me to look at how things can actually be executed, not just imagined. I grew up learning to feel first and organise later, then learned how to organise what I feel. That combination has shaped both how I build relationships and how I work: intuitive but grounded. Monaco is often called the heart of the superyacht world.
What makes it such an important hub for the industry?
Monaco feels like a pulse point for the yachting industry. The Yacht Club acts as an anchor, and the proximity of everything makes the difference. Everyone is either based here or constantly passing through. There’s a natural flow — yachts arrive, conversations happen, decisions get made. The industry feels very interconnected and immediate.
What advice would you give to someone planning their first superyacht charter?
Embrace the process and work with a charter broker you genuinely enjoy—it makes all the difference. A great broker doesn’t just find you a yacht: they interpret your preferences. The experience begins long before you step onboard. The planning and anticipation are part of the journey, and when it’s done well, everything simply flows once you arrive.
What are your summer recommendations for the Mediterranean—and especially Greece?
It’s about finding places that still feel untouched. Often the most special islands are the smaller ones without an airport. That’s where you experience Greece in its most authentic way: slower, more personal and closely connected to local culture. I always encourage people to explore the quieter Cyclades or parts of the Ionian, where life revolves around simple pleasures—great food, the sea and genuine hospitality. Islands like Koufonisia, Folegandros and Paxos have that magic where everything feels a little more real. Your work takes you around the world.
What stays with you most from those experiences?
Work has taken me to the desert and to islands in Asia, and of course there are beautiful hotels along the way. But what stays with me most are the people you encounter. There’s an old idea in Greek thinking that you grow through movement, and that’s exactly what travel has been for me— not just going somewhere, but constantly connecting. It’s the sense of discovery and the human element that comes from moving between worlds.
When you’re not travelling, what are your favourite places or things to do in Monaco?
One of my favourite things is to simply go on an evening walk, when the pace softens and you can really take in Monaco as it is. Moving through the harbour, Casino Square and the smaller streets, you feel both an observer and part of it at the same time—everyone in their own rhythm, yet somehow connected. It’s simple—which is exactly why I enjoy it so much.
