Thursday, 15 February 2018

Renaissance for Cairns & Great Barrier Reef

The Cairns & Great Barrier Reef region is undergoing a renaissance with millions of dollars of investment underway in tourism and events infrastructure.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Director of Business and Tourism Events Rosie Douglas said new luxury hotels, an arts precinct, waterfront brewery and expanded marina were among the projects.

“The award-winning Cairns Convention Centre has announced an expansion with an additional 3000 square metres of space for exhibitions, a new plenary hall and associated meeting rooms from 2019,” she said.

“The Crystalbrook Collection is building three new luxury hotels in Cairns with Riley, a five-star resort including a lagoon pool and private beach, the first to open in August 2018.

“They also will develop a fourth 100-room boutique hotel with 50 top-tier apartments, retail and dining areas in Port Douglas following their acquisition of the Port Douglas Reef Marina which will expand with 24 new berths for superyachts.

“Port Douglas-based Hemingway’s Brewery is building a second brewery on the Cairns waterfront at the heritage-listed Cruise Liner Terminal adding another option for offsite events in the city.

“The city’s events space portfolio expanded late last year with the opening of the Cairns Aquarium and will soon expand again with the Cairns Performing Arts Centre set to open mid-2018 as part of The Precinct which incorporates the spectacular new Munro Martin Parklands outdoor performance space.

“Accommodation offerings are being refreshed with Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina Cairns redefining luxury in the city with the transformation of 184 guest rooms in two phases during 2018.

“This follows the $40 million upgrade of the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort which has rebranded as Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas to fit the luxurious product they now offer.

“Sunlover Cruises has extended an outer reef platform with modern facilities and added the first Great Barrier Reef slide and they have built a second pontoon at a new site off Cairns.

“New and refurbished Great Barrier Reef boats have been added to both the Cairns and Port Douglas fleet, while the Quicksilver Port Douglas Dive Centre featuring a four-metre-deep diving pool with a glass viewing wall will open in July.

“Aviation access is continuing to increase to Cairns with Silkair expanding direct flights to five days a week and new direct flights from China with China Southern and Hainan Airlines opening up the Canton Route.”

Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has five unique coastal precincts, each with its own character, combined with offshore islands surrounded by coral reefs. These tropical destinations are:
  • Cairns – a cosmopolitan city between the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest
  • Palm Cove – an intimate beach destination overlooking the Coral Sea
  • Port Douglas – a sophisticated village on the doorstep of the Daintree rainforest
  • Mission Beach – a secluded location with a relaxed boutique atmosphere
  • Cooktown – a unique coastal town with a rich Australian history and Lizard Island nearby

For more information go to www.businesseventscairns.org.au.

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