Cairns & Great Barrier Reef conferences help environment

Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns

Wildlife and environment conservation charities will benefit from conferences being held in five leading Cairns hotels in 2020 with the launch of the Nurturing Nature program.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland General Manager Rosie Douglas said the Shangri-La Hotel The Marina Cairns, Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, Riley, A Crystalbrook Collection Resort, Hilton Cairns and Pullman Cairns International would each donate $5 per head per delegate to one of four local charities.

“Nurturing Nature will create a legacy for event delegates and organisers with contributions to Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, Tropical Animal Rehabilitation Centre and North Queensland Wildlife Trust,” she said.

“This initiative will be promoted at the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) 2020 on 17-19 February in Melbourne when the Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef team spend two days meeting with Australian and international meeting planners.

“We will also be talking about Tourism Australia’s Event Here This Year campaign encouraging businesses and event planners to hold their meetings, conferences and incentives in Australia.

“Cairns & Great Barrier Reef’s new infrastructure will be of enormous interest to planners looking for the latest event space. The upcoming $176 million Cairns Convention Centre upgrade will add new exhibition space to enable larger or concurrent events in addition to refurbishing the award-winning centre with new décor and audio-visual equipment.

“Cairns airport’s domestic terminal is expanding with additional dining and retail options to improve the passenger experience as part of a $55 million upgrade.

“Construction has begun on the Courthouse Hotel to create an arts precinct in the heart of the city, Baillie Lodges is undertaking a $10 million refurbishment of Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree and Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas will soon complete a significant eco-friendly rebuild.

“Cairns & Great Barrier Reef proved its business events capability by hosting the Amway China leadership program which brought more than 6000 delegates into the region in March and April 2019 for five days of memorable and inspiring experiences.”

Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef will be joined by Business Events Port Douglas, the Cairns Convention Centre, NQ Exhibitions, Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, Shangri-La Hotel, the Marina Cairns and the Crystalbrook Collection.