Stakeholder Spotlight
Georgette Luna is owner of Sea Philly, the city’s first vintage picnic boat charter company and the first Latina- and woman-owned charter on the East Coast.
Georgette is passionate about bringing boating back to Philadelphia. Her love for conservation and history fuels her passion to show people how the Delaware River Watershed has changed and why it’s worth exploring.
Born and raised in New York, Georgette moved to Philadelphia for school. Here, she met her husband Chris, who introduced her to boating. In 2019, they moved onto a 38-foot sailboat to live on the Delaware River. There they fell in love with the untapped opportunity and potential of Philadelphia’s waterfront.
Georgette wants to create a nonprofit that focuses on workforce development on the waterfront, helping people enter the maritime industry and find high-paying career opportunities.
Philadelphia’s untapped potential
Georgette says being able to showcase the Delaware River Watershed is a main reason why Sea Philly operates in Philadelphia. There is an entire ecosystem behind the boating industry that is often overlooked. But it drives tourism dollars, high wage-earning jobs and provides high quality of life. She adds that tourism helps solidify Philadelphia as a top-tier destination.
Georgette says Philadelphia’s current tax structure, which includes the Business Income & Receipts Tax, poses a financial burden for small businesses like Sea Philly, affecting their bottom line and ability to hire and grow. If Philadelphia reduced or eliminated the BIRT, Georgette would hire full-time staff members and scale at a faster pace.
Collaborating with the IGC
Georgette became a member of the Inclusive Growth Coalition (IGC) to play a part in shaping Philadelphia’s future. Through collaboration with the IGC, Georgette is looking to Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council to improve the ease of doing business with Philadelphia.
