Riviera, Australia’s largest and most awarded luxury yacht manufacturer, and its 300 strong master craftsman and staff have seen the fruits of their labours over the past 10 days, when having received a prominent marine industry award, announcing that Rivera has made a substantial investment in Australia’s manufacturing future, receiving an overwhelming positive response from luxury powerboat enthusiasts as well as recording important new yacht sales at the Festival of Boating, that took place at Riviera’s Gold Coast headquarters.

The Festival of Boating was hugely successful for Riviera and Belize with more than 14 new boat sales totalling in excess of $21 million

On the back of winning the esteemed 2013 Australian Marine Industry Large Exporter Award, Riviera’s chairman and owner Rodney Longhurst announced that his family will purchase Riviera’s 14-hectare state-of-the-art Coomera facility on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The announcement came on day two of the second annual Festival of Boating, which proved to be hugely successful for Riviera and Belize with registrations for the 83 individual educational and social events up by more than 50 per cent on the previous year with a total of over 2000 registrations across the four day festival, the world release of the new 565 SUV, and the full interior display of the new 50 Enclosed Flybridge, gave Riviera plenty of reasons to celebrate at the Friday night Cocktail Party and Saturday night Gala Dinner which were well attended with 250 and 350 Riviera enthusiasts respectively at each event.

The educational seminars proved popular with Riviera owners and power boat enthusiasts

Riviera chairman and owner Rodney Longhurst said the Riviera Festival of Boating was a tremendous success.

“I commend our dedicated staff on the huge effort they put into making the Festival the success it is today and our Riviera owners from around Australia and overseas unanimously agree that the Festival is truly a unique experience,” Mr Longhurst said.

Riviera chairman and owner Rodney Longhurst has announced his family will purchase Riviera's 14-hectare Coomera facility on the Gold Coast

“Receiving the award for Best Marine Industry Export Performance – Large Exporter at the 2013 Club Marine Australian Marine Export Awards is a very gratifying reward for our 300 strong master boat builders and dedicated staff who have rallied behind Riviera to allow us to continue to grow in challenging times.  I would like to publicly thank and praise our entire team for their commitment and resolve.

“This is the best result we have had at a boat show in six years with more than 14 new boat sales totalling in excess of AUD$21 million, including multiple sales of the 53 Enclosed Flybridge, 5000 and 5800 Sport Yachts, the newly released SUV models, and four deposits for the new 50 Enclosed Flybridge which will have its world release at the Sydney International Boat Show in August.”

Riviera CEO Wes Moxey said the past 10 days had been an incredibly positive time for Riviera.

“The excitement that was at the Festival and Gala Dinner was reminiscent of Riviera in the times when we were building around 400 boats a year,” Mr Moxey said.

Registrations for the Festival of Boating's 83 social and educational events were up by 50 per cent

“Our owners are just as proud as we are to be a part of the Riviera Festival of Boating and we were pleased this year to have the opportunity to showcase our world class facilities to many new visitors.

“The Riviera Festival of Boating would not be possible without the loyalty, dedication, and passionate Riviera team.  It was a true team effort that involved every aspect of the business and I commend our designers, new product development team, engineers, boat builders, and corporate staff for going above and beyond over the four day Festival and in the weeks leading up to this momentous occasion.”

The dates for the 2014 Riviera Festival of Boating have been released and an expanded program will be announced later this year for the four days of the Festival from 22 to 25 May, 2014.  The Festival of Boating is a registration only event for Riviera owners and luxury powerboat enthusiasts.