FEATURE ARTICLE
ceremony in March of its majestic new flagship 78 Motor Yacht. She is a new class of yacht for Riviera, delivering the perfect combination of family cruising, entertaining and blue-water passage- making capabilities, all in ultimate luxury and exceptional comfort. Riviera then premiered the sophisticated and innovative 4600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition and the brilliant 465 SUV at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May. The 4600 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition is an outstanding example of innovation, luxury and inspiring spaces. She provides her owners with magnificent accommodation with three staterooms including a full-beam master amidships. The 465 SUV, the seventh in this line-up, offers a covered alfresco deck that expands the saloon living space, three double staterooms, two generous bathrooms and multiple entertaining spaces in a sub-fifty- foot yacht. At the end of the year, Riviera will launch a further spectacular new yacht that will premiere at Miami International Boat Show in 2023. Riviera has also offered boating enthusiasts around the world an opportunity to tour the company’s sophisticated facility and inspect many of these models through its spectacular displays and premieres at boat shows from Sanctuary Cove to Cannes and Fort Lauderdale. Design and development of a series of new models to be launched in 2023 and beyond is now well advanced, further enhancing the collection and broadening worldwide appeal. Respected International Reputation Three in five luxury yachts that are produced at Riviera’s Gold Coast facility are now
exported to points around the globe through a dedicated representative network of dealerships spanning Australasia, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Riviera continues to expand this network, welcoming representatives in Panama and Croatia during 2022. Reflecting this position, Riviera was honoured in the 2021 Premier of Queensland Export Awards, winning the ‘Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Award’ category. The United States is Riviera’s largest international market serviced by an extensive network of dealer representatives as well as the Riviera of the America’s team based in Florida with service and parts specialists and warehouse facilities. The popularity of Riviera in the Americas has never been stronger. “It is a great sense of pride for our whole team that Riviera motor yachts are so sought after and respected internationally,” says Mr Longhurst. “We are extremely proud of the significant demand for our motor yachts globally, even through the worst of the pandemic, with the demand rising, we have been able to continue building world-class luxury motor yachts, while ensuring the safety of our team at our Coomera facility.” Developing Life Changing Skills Riviera’s highly regarded and awarded apprentice program continues to attract a greater number of future master
craftspeople, eager for a career with Australia’s premium motor yacht builder. More than 100 of Riviera’s 900-strong team are apprentices. Each year, students, teachers and families from schools around south-east Queensland are invited to an evening information session and site tour to learn about career opportunities with Riviera. Those who express a desire to excel are offered work experience in Year 11, which may be followed by a school-based apprenticeship in Year 12. Apprentices are mentored by many of the finest master boatbuilders who make up the Riviera team. Rodney Longhurst, who is also a TAFE- graduate carpenter and joiner, said the training program develops life-long skills in craftsmanship excellence, qualities for which Riviera is internationally respected. “We know that, to build world-class luxury motor yachts, we must train and create world-class craftspeople,” he says. “As we welcome each new generation of master boatbuilders to our industry, we proudly acknowledge that they receive high quality training from our exceptional team. At Riviera, we offer so much more than an apprenticeship. “The success of our apprenticeship program since 1993 has been recognised with many awards and our excellent high
2023 AUSTRALIAN MARINE INDUSTRY DIRECTORY | 7
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