Riviera on the rise

Riviera says that a solid start to 2014 reflects the company’s impressive financial performance since it returned to private ownership under Rodney Longhurst in March 2012.

The Riviera chairman and owner said gross revenue from forward order sales worldwide to April 30 had more than doubled to $44.2 million year-on-year across both the Riviera and Belize Motoryachts brands.

"It’s pleasing to note we are achieving strong growth in every market – up almost 60 per cent year-on-year in Australasia, 55 per cent in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and almost 30 per cent in the Americas," he said.

Mr Longhurst said it was also pleasing to report that, in terms of forward boat orders for the three months to April 30, the company was 90 per cent ahead of the same period last year.

"Momentum is certainly building. In fact we sold nine new boats in April alone," he said.

"That’s a great result and I expect that upward trend in sales to continue as confidence keeps returning not just in Australia, but internationally as well. I always knew that if we were good enough we would sell boats and Riviera has been continually in demand especially when times have been very tough in recent years.

"We have invested heavily in research and development to make sure Riviera remains at the forefront of premium manufacturing and continues to provide the ultimate boating experience for both seasoned luxury power boat owners and those keen to take the helm."

Indeed, there’s a buoyant mood at Riviera’s manufacturing facility at Coomera – the largest pleasure boat factory in the southern hemisphere.

More than 400 people are currently working on-site at the 14-hectare factory, which incorporates the newly re-opened Gold Coast Institute of TAFE Marine Training Centre.

"I’m very proud that our team continues to step up and take on the challenge of defying those who say you can’t manufacture in Australia and proving that Riviera can be a world leader in this field," Mr Longhurst said.

"Our team certainly has their hearts in the brand and now we have the right people in the right positions and the forward sales are starting to grow," said Mr Longhurst. "It’s an outstanding achievement from our dedicated team."

There are 26 boats now under construction the Coomera factory, including two flagship 75 Enclosed Flybridge models destined for Singapore and Dubai, while there is also strong sales growth across the SUV range.

"Eighty-five per cent of the boats we are building right now are 50 feet and over, and 55 per cent of our annual production is still sold to overseas owners," Longhurst said. "These two facts alone show people have confidence in our ability to create larger luxury boats as well as anywhere in the world."

Riviera has a worldwide network of dealers that spans 60 countries and includes new dealers in the United States and Dubai.

To help meet growing demand, Riviera employed 30 new team members at the beginning of this year and enrolled 11 new school-based apprentices when it re-launched this initiative in partnership with Helensvale State High School – an investment in the marine industry’s master craftsmen of the future.