Anchors Down, Systems Up: The Smart Marina Experience
Jason Pullo
Founder, ESP, a NexusTek company
If you’re running a marina today, you already know: guests are pulling in with more than just a boat. They’re bringing high expectations and a digital lifestyle that doesn’t stop at the waterline.
They want to book slips from their phones, pay without swiping, message the dock crew in real time, and stream a movie from their cabin without worrying about Wi-Fi dropping mid-scene. It’s less “roughing it,” more “five-star expectations, floating edition.”
This isn’t a crowd that’s impressed by clipboards and walkie-talkies. They expect tech that works like their onboard systems—fast, intuitive, and always on. If they have to wait in line, dig for a paper receipt, or guess where to dock? That’s a one-way ticket to “never again.”
And the pressure’s rising. The global marina market is on track to grow from $20.22 billion in 2025 to $27.78 billion by 2034.¹ More boaters. More guests. More expectations. The marinas that meet them will thrive. The ones that don’t? They’ll watch the traffic sail right past.
What Makes Marina IT Infrastructure So Challenging
Marinas weren’t built for bandwidth.
Unlike a hotel, your “guest rooms” float, stretch across acres, and don’t always sit still. You’ve got point-of-sale (POS) systems in the clubhouse, security cameras on the dock, guest networks that need to reach every slip, and a service team that might be anywhere from fuel dock to fish cleaning station.
Meanwhile, your systems—reservations, maintenance, payments, access control—need to talk to each other without dropping the ball (or the signal). That’s no small feat when your infrastructure is exposed to sun, salt, storms, and guests uploading drone footage from their 72-footer.
And here’s the kicker: many marinas are still running on outdated systems. That means missed messages, slow check-ins, patchy access, security vulnerabilities, and bad guest reviews. Because in 2025, “tech trouble” is just a fancier way of saying “we’re losing business.”
A. “Deep Dive” into Marina Technology
Modern marinas are diving headfirst into technology, and it’s not just hospitality tech with a nautical twist. While some tools mirror what you’d find at a hotel or recreational vehicle (RV) resort, others are built for the unique demands of life on the water: floating infrastructure, unpredictable environments, and guests who may be here for the night or the season.2 Here’s a look below the surface at the technologies making modern marina operations smarter, safer, and more connected:
- Integrated marina operations software Cloud-based platforms centralize reservations, payments, work orders, and CRM in one real-time interface
- Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors Today’s marinas can monitor dock usage, water levels, power draw, and wave activity using connected devices
- Data analytics These tools surface insights on guest behavior and slip usage so you can personalize service, optimize staffing, and boost revenue
- Data privacy and compliance Secure systems with permission controls help protect sensitive information and reduce breach risks, which now average more than $2 million per incident³
- Automation From boat lifts to gate access and dock lighting, automation reduces staff strain and keeps operations smooth even at peak times
- Mobile and automatic identification systems (AIS) Apps enable real-time guest communication, while AIS tracking gives staff full visibility into vessel activity
And this is just the beginning. As technology continues to evolve, so will the marina experience. Staying ahead isn’t just about adding features. It’s about building a future-ready foundation that keeps your docks running smoothly and your guests coming back.
How ESP Supports Guest-Ready Marina Operations
Marinas face enough moving parts without tech slowing things down. That’s where ESP, a NexusTek company, comes in.
We help marinas across North America run smarter, stronger, and more securely. Whether you’re modernizing a legacy setup or scaling to meet rising guest demand, we bring the infrastructure and expertise to make it seamless, , from new developments to phased tech upgrades, fully managed from start to finish.
Here’s how we keep your tech shipshape:
- Property-wide performance – From the farthest dock to the back office, your systems, including guest Wi-Fi, stay connected, fast, and stable
- Unified, guest-ready tools – One integrated platform for check-ins, payments, bookings, messaging, and more, ready when and where your team needs it
- Property management system (PMS) integration – Centralized visibility to manage guest stays, reservations, and billing with greater accuracy and efficiency
- Mobile-first capabilities – Because your guests, and your team, aren’t anchored to a front desk
- Data protection and compliance – Keep guest information safe and build trust with transparent, secure systems that meet evolving regulatory standards
- 24/7 remote support – Fast, expert assistance to quickly resolve issues so operations keep moving
- Scalable infrastructure – Built on cloud foundations to grow with your property, support data-driven insights, and enable AI-ready innovations down the line
In addition, our strategic consultation capability helps you align your IT roadmap with your business goals, whether you’re optimizing a single property or expanding across multiple regions. Your staff stays focused. Your guests stay happy. And your marina runs like the high-end operation it was designed to be.
Let’s Chart the Course Together
Whether you’re upgrading a legacy system or building something new from the dock up, ESP is more than a tech vendor. We’re your IT co-captain. We align technology with your operational goals, support every system from dock to data center, and deliver peace of mind when it matters most. From strategic consultation and network design to disaster recovery and compliance reporting, ESP supports every step, so your operations stay secure, scalable, and audit-ready.
Let’s make sure your next season starts stronger, runs smoother, and sets a new standard.
Reference
1. Market Research Future, Marinas Market Overview, May 2025.
2. Marina Dock Age, 2024 Marina Tech Trends: What’s Ahead & What It Means for Investment, February 2024.
3. IBM, Cost of a Data Breach, July 2024.
About the Author
Jason Pullo
Founder, ESP, a NexusTek company
Jason Pullo is a seasoned technology entrepreneur with a passion for transforming the hospitality industry through innovative IT solutions. As Founder and CEO of Enterprise Solutions Providers, he leads the company’s vision and growth, helping hotels navigate everything from new builds and brand transitions to large-scale renovations. Since launching the firm in 2003, Jason has played a key role in the technology strategy behind more than 1,000 hotel acquisitions. His journey began at just 18 years old as an IT manager for a trade show company, and he’s since led major projects like a multimillion-dollar hotel renovation in New York City, delivering guest-centric technology with measurable business impact.