Riviera Travel CEO Phil Hullah has thanked agents at a special 40th anniversary celebration.
The escorted tour and river cruise specialist held its anniversary event in Paris this week, with guests including travel agents and supplier partners on board the 140-passenger Jane Austen.
Phil said: “It’s been wonderful to celebrate 40 years with so many of the people who made our success possible. I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who has supported us over the years, which of course includes our fantastic travel agent partners, to help make us the largest UK-based escorted tour and river cruise operator in the UK and Ireland.”
France was Riviera’s first destination when the operator launched in 1984, with founder Michael Wright taking guests on a coach and camping tour of southern France. The Burton-based business now offers almost 1,000 departures each year for nearly 100,000 guests, covering 65 countries and all seven continents.
Riviera is to add two ships to its fleet in 2025, Riviera Radiance and Riviera Rose, which will sail on the Danube and Douro.
It is currently operating its biggest solo programme, with 162 exclusive single-traveller departures on offer this year, a 20% increase. Riviera is introducing themed cruises next year, with gastronomy cruises the current best-sellers.
Pictured, in red, is Riviera Head of Travel Trade and Partnerships UK & Ireland Vicky Billing, with guests at the 40th celebrations.
