Mayor Tom Tate has marked the 45th anniversary of the Gold Coast’s sister city relationship with Fort Lauderdale in style, by cruising some of the grand boating canals of the famous U.S. city onboard a luxury motor yacht proudly built on Australia’s Gold Coast by Riviera.
The mayor joined the boat builder’s owner, Rodney Longhurst, for the city tour where Riviera is set to be a major exhibitor later this week at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the world’s largest in water show.
Tom Tate the Mayor of the Gold Coast congratulated Riviera owner Rodney Longhurst on their massive display and new model premieres at Fort Lauderdale.
Expected to attract some 100,000 people over five days, the Fort Lauderdale show commences on Wednesday October 29.
“I congratulate Rodney and his team on their massive display here at Fort Lauderdale, the launching of the three new models and on their own 45-year celebrations. You and your team have really made a significant effort and we’re so proud to see Riviera representing the Gold Coast on the world stage. Riviera is not only world class, they’re gold class,” said Tom Tate.
Mr Longhurst says it was an honour to host Mayor Tate so far from home in Queensland.
“It was a magical few hours on the water with the mayor, and it was a privilege to help represent the Gold Coast with him on such a special occasion, that being the 45th anniversary of our sister city relationship with Fort Lauderdale,” he said.
“Riviera is also celebrating in 2025 with our 45th year. We exported our first motor yacht to the United States in 1982, so we too have had a very long-standing relationship with the US and this city having exhibited at this show for decades.
“On our cruise today, we passed several Riviera yachts moored behind their owner’s waterfront homes. It brings me great pride to see our yachts here being enjoyed on these spectacular waterways on the other side of the world, and that’s testament to the craftsmanship of our amazing team back on the Gold Coast.
“The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the largest and most prestigious boat show in the world, so it’s an important showcase for us.
“With the marine industry being such an integral part of the Gold Coast economy and such a significant Queensland employer, it’s imperative that our mayor is investing time to better understand how the marine industry functions and does business here in Fort Lauderdale, the yachting capital of the world.
“Being the largest boat builder in the Southern hemisphere, it is also important for us that our mayor can fully appreciate the wider dimension of Australia’s Riviera, seeing how we operate on the world stage exhibiting in the United States, our number one export market.
“I know mayor Tate works extremely hard behind the scenes to promote Gold Coast businesses, like Riviera, to his counterparts in Fort Lauderdale, and in many other places and many other ways.”
Former Gold Coast Mayor, Sir Bruce Small pioneered canal developments in the late 1960’s using the methods from Fort Lauderdale to develop suburbs such as the Isle of Capri, Sorrento and Florida Gardens.
Whilst it was Keith Hunt, also a former mayor who signed the sister city agreement in 1980, making this the oldest sister city agreement.
The two cities’ share a remarkable similarity with the high concentration of boating, beautiful famous beaches, vibrant nightlife and dining culture and of course tourism being one of their primary industries.
Fort Lauderdale is often referred to as the ‘Venice of America’ owing to its extensive canal network. The Gold Coast also boasts more than 260 kilometres of navigable waterways.
Mayor Tate stepped aboard a Riviera 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition with Mr Longhurst at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center as the Gold Coast based boat builder was finalising the set-up of their largest Americas display at Fort Lauderdale Boat Show – 12 yachts from 43 to 72 feet with a total value of over USD $42 million.
“Riviera is held in high regard in the United States, and our team are excited to be showcasing three Americas premieres at the show this year – our new 4300 Sports Express and the 64 and 72 Sports Motor Yacht Series II models. There’s significant anticipation in the air at this year’s show,” said Rodney Longhurst.
“We are all very proud to represent the Gold Coast on the world stage.”
Riviera hosted the Mayor of the Gold Coast to a tour of the grand canals of Fort Lauderdale from the luxury of a 6000 Sport Yacht Platinum Edition to mark the sister city’s 45th year.
Riviera is set to be a headline exhibitor at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with a 12-yacht display from 43 to 72 feet.
