A solid start to 2014 reflects Riviera’s impressive financial performance since the iconic Australian luxury boat brand returned to private ownership under Rodney Longhurst in March 2012.

The Riviera chairman and owner said gross revenue from forward order sales worldwide to 30 April 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.

“That’s really impressive in the current market and I believe it reflects Riviera’s total commitment to quality and the fact our boat owners have absolute confidence in us to deliver on that promise.”

Mr Longhurst said it was also pleasing to report that, in terms of forward boat orders for the three months to 30 April, 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 state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Coomera – the largest pleasure boat factory in the southern hemisphere – as the company begins to realise the benefits of its constant improvement programs, organisational restructure, stronger dealer network and, most importantly for boat owners, continuing development of exciting new models.

This philosophy has not been missed by the people who have helped Riviera cement itself as Australia’s most awarded and respected builder of pleasure craft over the past 34 years: staff and contractors both past and present.

More than 400 people are currently working on-site at the 14-hectare Coomera 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.”

With the world premiere of the 515 SUV, Riviera now offers 16 boats from 36-75 feet across three model series – Flybridge, Sport Yacht and SUV collections – as well as the Belize 54 Daybridge Motoryacht. The Belize brand was purchased by Riviera in early 2012.

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,” Mr 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.

In the past two years under Mr Longhurst’s ownership, Riviera has launched four new models – the 445 SUV, 50 Enclosed Flybridge, 565 SUV and striking 515 SUV, which makes her world premiere at the Riviera Festival of Boating from 22-25 May 2014.

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.

Riviera secured the brand’s future on the Gold Coast by purchasing its 14-hectare world-class property at Coomera in May 2013.

Be among the first in the world to step aboard the 515 SUV when she makes her world premiere at the 3rd annual Riviera Festival of Boating from 22-25 May 2014 at the company’s Gold Coast headquarters at Coomera. The Festival will draw thousands of visitors from across Australia and around the world, and further strengthen the Riviera brand’s commitment to both the Gold Coast and the Australian marine industry.