40 Years of Riviera Travel and Cruising towards another 40

Helping Riveira Travel celebrate their 40th Anniversary in Paris by boarding MS Jane Austen on the banks of the Seine was both a pleasure and privilege. A gentle cruise on the iconic river Seine to traverse the centre of Paris was a sheer delight and we ended our 1st evening by climbing to the top deck of our ship to admire the Eiffel Tower, all lit up specially for our group (well, that’s a lie as it’s floodlit every night, but it was still special!). Our Irish group comprised Clare Dunne (CEO ITAA), Bernie Burke (Travel Centres), Carolanne O’Neill (Worldchoice), Dawn Westmoreland Conway (Cassidy Travel), Carrie Day (ITTN), Linda Maher (Irish Daily Mail), Eoghan Corry (Travel Extra) and Conor Power (Freelance) (et moi, naturellement!).

As France was Riviera’s first destination with an escorted tour in 1984, it was appropriate to locate this anniversary celebration in Paris. Now, 4 decades on, this escorted tour and cruise specialist has evolved from offering tiny coach trips to operating to 65 destinations. Riviera’s CEO, Phil Hullah spoke passionately of the company’s achievements over the years and vowed to continue with ambitious plans for the future. No resting on laurels for Riviera, but a determined drive to offer consistent and excellent customer service; further investment in its river cruise fleet with 2 new ships for 2025; enhancing the profile in Ireland and working towards targets to reduce 20% carbon emissions by 2028. Four key pillars of this strategy include reducing the carbon footprint, acting sustainably, working ethically and supporting their charity partner, Practical Action. Noble sentiments indeed.

Riviera Travel employs 256 staff and today, the company has grown to offer almost 1,000 departures per annum for up to 100,000 guests spanning 65 countries and covering all seven continents. Competitive price points, amazing array of destinations, genuine customer focus and committed staff all contribute to Riviera Travel’s success. Chris Hullah (CEO) and Robin Shaw (COO) are proud advocates of the brand with Vicky Billing and our very own Account Exec Lloyd Morris contribute hugely to Riviera’s continued expansion.

Our trip was superb from start to finish. MS Jane Austen felt like home and staff went over and beyond the call of duty to ensure comfort, friendliness and professionalism. Food onboard was delicious; beverages were flowing and our shore excursion to Café de L’Artiste followed by an innovative light show at Atelier des Lumieres was excellent.

Merci beaucoup et bonne chance Riveira Travel. Au revoir Paris. Travelbiz says a la prochaine!