Monaco, June 26 and 27, 2026 - F.P.Journe was a partner of the Riva Trophy, whose 16th edition took place on the Côte d’Azur. Organised every two years, the event brought together twenty-two crews from twelve countries, from Europe to Dubai and as far as Brazil, for a regularity race linking the port of Monaco to Pampelonne beach. F.P.Journe has been supporting the event for ten years, in keeping with the longstanding friendship between François-Paul Journe and Madame Lia Riva, daughter of Carlo Riva. The Manufacture shares with Riva the same appreciation for tradition and exceptional craftsmanship.


The first day opened in the Riva Tunnel, the one-hundred-metre gallery carved beneath the Rock of Monaco in 1959, when Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly agreed to allow Riva to establish its commercial base in Monaco. More than two hundred boats could once be housed there; it is still home to the famous mahogany runabouts that built Riva’s reputation. Following the briefing, the flotilla, from the Super Ariston to the 88' Folgore, set off for Saint-Tropez, reaching it after around an hour and a half at sea. It returned the following day after the concours d’élégance, the highlight of these two days. The F.P.Journe Boutique in Paris invited some collectors to sail aboard a Riva 82 Diva in its colours.


The trophy also came to life on shore. On the first evening, in Saint-Tropez, guests paid tribute to Brigitte Bardot and the 1960s, the era when the Aquarama became the emblem of a Mediterranean art de vivre. On the second evening, in Monaco, the Yacht Club hosted the prize-giving ceremony on the “Love Boat” theme, in blue and white: the winning couple received from François-Paul Journe two watches from the élégante collection in Titalyt®, a 40 mm and a 48 mm, fitted with turquoise straps, the emblematic colour of the Italian brand, and engraved “Riva 2026”.

No Better Place to Tie the Knot
Barbados is still the best destination in the Caribbean to say “I do!”
The World Travel Awards (WTA) team confirmed that statement on October 4th, 2025, when they staged the Caribbean & North American Gala Ceremony during which Barbados was awarded the ‘Caribbean s Leading Wedding Destination’, for the second year in a row.

While reinforcing the island’s unwavering commitment to wedding excellence, Chief
Operations Officer at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Cheryl Carter,
highlighted the significance of this achievement.
“Barbados is deeply honoured to receive this prestigious recognition as the Caribbean's
Leading Wedding Destination. This award is a testament to the pride our nation feels when
welcoming couples to begin their lives together.
Carter continued, “The dedication, flair, creativity, and expertise of our many wedding
planners ensure that every wedding, regardless of the size or style, is truly a memorable
occasion. Over the years, Barbados has staged weddings of every description from intimate to
extravagant, drawing on our rich culture, stunning venues, and world-class hospitality. With
this accolade, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence in delivering exceptional destination
weddings.”

This year’s ceremony was held at Sandals Grande, St Lucia, where the finest travel brands from across the Caribbean and North America also received awards. The red carpet evening was the third leg of the WTA’s Grant Tour 2025 – a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations.

Director of BTMI’s Caribbean department Graham Clarke also expressed his pride at
Barbados winning the award. “I am happy that the title remains in Barbados this year, as we
were able to eclipse some of our neighbours who were also competing for the honour.”
Clarke pointed out the country’s success would not be possible without the support of
hardworking tourism industry professionals.
“This honour reflects not only our island’s unique appeal but also the dedication of our
exceptional tourism stakeholders, whose hard work makes every celebration extraordinary,”
Clarke said.

Founder of WTA Graham Cooke said it was a privilege to host the event and celebrate the
efforts of tourism stakeholders. “Our winners are stellar examples of tourism excellence, and
I congratulate each and every one for helping to raise the collective benchmark across the
region,”Cooke said.

WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all
key sectors of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Today, the WTA brand is
recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.
For more information on travel to Barbados, contact us via https://www.visitbarbados.org/ or
follow on Instagram @VisitBarbados , Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados,
and via X @Barbados.