The chief executive of Riviera Travel has thanked the UK trade for its ongoing support as the operator celebrates its 40th birthday.
Phil Hullah hailed the performance of agents over the last four decades during a celebration cruise in Paris attended by trade and media.
Hullah expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to the trade and recounted how the business came into existence in March 1984, where the operator took 46 customers on a coach from Burton-on-Trent to Paris for a three-night city break.
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He continued to explain how Riviera Travel “feverishly” expanded with tours into the Mediterranean, followed by long-haul trips and into river cruise.
He referenced the “seismic events” the industry has faced during that time, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the volcanic ash cloud in 2010, two Iraq wars, the credit crunch, 9/11, coronavirus and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and said Riviera Travel could not have continued to thrive without the support of the trade.
“Four decades is definitely worth celebrating,” he said. “This is all about you [agents] and I want to say a big thank you for your support and how you have helped build Riviera Travel into what it is today.
“We’ve come a long way from that first coach trip in 1984 up to now, operating in 66 destinations worldwide and having taken away 1.45 million guests along the way.
“We have seen some pretty seismic events in that time, but perhaps the most important thing is that we did not and we could not have done this on our own.
“It’s only because of your support along the way that we’ve been able to build Riviera into what it is today.”