Welcome to The New Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
he New Cairns & Great Barrier Reef has seen record investment over the past five years and is ready again to invite delegates to discover what ’ s new in this city , iconic towns , and tropical surrounds . The region has made a significant commitment to eco accreditation , responsible luxury , and sustainability in its meetings and travel offers .
Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
The centrepiece of the New Cairns is the expanded Cairns Convention Centre . The showpiece of the $ 176m project is the floor-to-ceiling glassfronted Trinity Room with views over the inlet . The recent expansion adds 10,500sqm of meeting and event space featuring state-of-the-art technology and a refresh of existing facilities mirroring the palette of iconic regional heroes – the Great Barrier Reef , Wet Tropics Rainforest , and the Outback .
Cairns city has also welcomed Crystalbrook Collection ’ s three new 5-star properties , featuring 877 accommodation rooms and a swathe
Unique Offsite Events
of versatile event zones , restaurants , and bars . An immersive art and design rejuvenation throughout the event spaces and guest rooms at Pullman Cairns International has also brought a new level of luxe to the heart of the city .
Delegates to Port Douglas can luxuriate in the AUD $ 20m transformation of ultra-private Silky Oaks Lodge . Silky Oaks offers delegates seeking a nature-based retreat the opportunity to immerse themselves in the region ’ s essence and surrounding rainforest through floor-to-ceiling glass and unique in and outdoor relaxation spaces .
Outside , the new Cairns Esplanade Waterfront Dining Precinct presents a vibrant , urban dining space with vertical gardens bordering green waterfront lawns . In contrast , a collection of new laneway and rooftop cocktail bars , distilleries , and micro-breweries invite delegates to cool off in style .
Out on the water , Experience Co ’ s new floating pontoon hosts a scientific laboratory on the Great Barrier Reef teaching delegates
about the ecosystem and coral conservation projects .
In partnership with Spinal Life Australia and Out There Travel Care , a new online resource , The Accessibility Hub , provides information on accessible accommodation and experiences catering to delegates with mobility and other special needs , positioning Cairns as an accessible city for all delegates . Tourism Tropical North Queensland ( TTNQ ) convention bureau reports it is seeing strong bookings for 2023 from the domestic market and is hopeful of a similar return of international business in coming years .
TTNQ general manager - partnership and events , Rosie Douglas , says : “ Like all regional areas , aviation access is critical to the success our our destination . The staff shortages in the aviation industry have been challenging , however this is definitely improving .”
On the question of how the business landscape has changed compared to pre-Covid , Douglas says event planners are making decisions much later in the pipeline with the trend