The team at Riviera, Australian premium luxury motor yacht builder, has celebrated a year of outstanding achievements with a special luncheon at the company’s manufacturing facility on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
This event allowed Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst to reflect on the year 2024, to welcome members who joined the team over the year and to thank the assembled group of more than 950 people.
“Take the opportunity to learn from the Riviera master craftspeople, because they are outstanding technicians,” he told the Riviera team members.
No matter your role, every team member is important to our success. Together, we are developing world class Australian luxury motor yachts. Together, we can take on any yacht brand in the world and do anything we envision. That’s our strength. So, thank you all for being extraordinary.”
People and skills development
The year began with the official opening of the Riviera Academy of Excellence, a specialised training facility for 150 apprentices. The opening coincided with the 2024 apprentice sign-on day which saw 52 new apprentices welcomed for what was the largest training intake in the company’s history.
Riviera Australia owner Rodney Longhurst said: “I’m exceptionally proud that our Riviera team will be mentoring these enthusiastic new apprentices and giving them such a great opportunity to advance. Our significant investment in the new Academy of Excellence reflects our investment in the development of all our team.”
The Academy went on to achieve world-wide recognition with the International Boat Builders Award for People and Skills Development during a special ceremony in Amsterdam in November.
Further recognition of Riviera’s efforts, in continually raising training standards and dedication to enhancing the skills, lives and careers of its team, came as the company was awarded ‘Large Employer of the Year’ in the 2024 Queensland Training Awards. Riviera then went on to be recognised in the National Training Awards, being presented the Bronze Award for ‘Large Employer of the Year’.
Triumphant milestone
In late April Riviera achieved an historic milestone with the launch of its 6000th motor yacht.
The 950-strong team commemorated this triumph by forming a guard of honour during the launch. The yacht, a 5400 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, is owned by long-time Sydney-based Riviera owners Peter and Denise Haig.
The ultimate boating experience
Riviera’s representatives around the world hosted a wide range of exclusive boating education workshops, cruises in company and spectacular events for their yacht owners throughout the year.
Events ranged from a 54-yacht weekend gathering at Roche Harbor in the far north-west of the United States to cruises around the Florida Keys in the US far south-east and the crystal waters of the Caribbean. From Puerto Rico to New Zealand and from Perth on the west coast of Australia to Sydney on the east coast, Riviera owners enjoyed an inspiring array of exclusive events.
The annual Riviera Festival of Boating program of educational workshops and seminars created to assist owners learn more about the operation and safety of their yachts was held in Australia in May at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. For the first time, the Festival was extended this year to Riviera’s showcase at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show which also included a gala social event.
International achievements
Riviera proudly exported 60 per cent of its annual production in 2024 to discerning motor yacht owners in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and New Zealand.
Continuing Riviera’s international expansion, the company welcomed Freedom Marine International Yacht Sales in Canada to the Riviera global network of representatives. Freedom Marine is the number one dealership in Canada and will represent Riviera from its two offices in Vancouver.
Supporting Riviera’s world-wide growth, Riviera owners and many thousands of boating enthusiasts were given the opportunity to experience the exceptional range of its motor yachts through on-water displays at major international boat shows around the world, from Miami to Cannes to Fort Lauderdale and at the company’s home show in Sanctuary Cove where the magnificent new flagship, the Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition, had its world premiere.
The Riviera 6800 Sport Yacht offers owners a choice of three or four staterooms and three bathrooms, a crew cabin or utility room, a full-height walk-through engine room, huge entertaining and living spaces, an all-weather aft deck, expansive sun-loving forward deck, and an impressive tender and water sports garage.
Riviera was further honoured when the 4600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition was announced as a finalist in the Best of Boats Award for 2024. Riviera was the only non-European builder and one of only five yachts to be named as a finalist in the ‘Best of Big Boats’ category for these prestigious awards, the world’s largest annual international recognition for motor yachts.
Pride in world class craftsmanship
Rodney Longhurst told the 950-strong team at their end-of-year luncheon: “Your efforts during this year continue to ensure that Riviera stays super strong, and I am extremely proud of every one of you.”
