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CEO Profile

Water Taxi:

Our Iconic Waterways Link

By Jennifer Nayak

“When we sat down and did our
research we discovered, these boats
were already a beloved part of the
entire Fort Lauderdale experience, not
just for tourists, but residents and
business owners as well,” Walker
recalls. Now sole owner and Fort
Lauderdale resident, Walker stays
committed to that vision.

Meet Water Taxi’s own He gives credit to his partners along the waterway. ‘‘The
restaurant owners and property managers, they are
Commander of the fleet phenomenal! They invest in their businesses and employ
great people who are really committed to proving
hanks to a chance encounter with ambassadors from outstanding service. Places like Bokamper’s and Shooter’s
Fort Lauderdale’s Chamber of Commerce at a or the Arts District and the Riverside Hotel…they keep the
Tconvention center in 2007, William ‘Bill’ Walker, locations we bring people to worth going too.”
CEO Water Taxi, met sunny Fort Lauderdale; discovering
an untapped resource for tourism and transportation. With Water Taxi, visitors are provided with colorful,
comfortable and affordable way to see the real Fort
Headquartered along the southern banks of the New River, Lauderdale, from the water—beyond the beaches. Many
Water Taxi boasts a fleet of 14 vessels carrying 20-200 boats offer AC and refreshments are allowed on board.
passengers daily and employ 125 captains, crew,
maintenance and operations staff - many who area Water Taxi also provides vital public transportation
original employees of the former company. services for major events like Fort Lauderdale International
Boat Show, Art Fort Lauderdale, Winterfest Boat Parade
It’s hard to imagine Fort Lauderdale’s waterways without and volunteer missions for emergency relief and
the friendly, green and yellow ferries, gliding between the community outreach.
resorts, marinas, restaurants, parks and cultural attractions
around the City. “Our motto is ‘rising tides raise all boats’, meaning that we
push and pull towards each other in business, as a
A seasoned maritime executive and sailboat racing community, creating something for others,” says Walker.
enthusiast, Walker and early partners, had the right “We really value that opportunity,” he adds.
combination of experience, capital and vision to see that
Water Taxi is a memorable activity spent on the water for
development wasn’t limited to what could be built on land,
instead focusing on nurturing that development by water. all ages and abilities. Offering three main routes with an
after 5pm happy hour and Holiday Lights tours from
Always on the lookout for new opportunities, Walker and November-January. Schedule is Daily from 10am-10pm:
his partners had been successful with other maritime hop on an hop off service; Board at any Water Taxi stop.
ventures, including tourism providing all transportation to Prices Adults $28, Seniors & Military $23, Ages 5-11
the Boston Harbor Islands National Park and Whale $14, Children under 5 are free. Tickets are sold on the
Watch program, ferrying more than 1mm people annually boat or by visiting www.WaterTaxi.com or download the
and had purchased tour operations, ferries, and commuter Free APP, Water Taxi.
boats in other port cities.

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