REGIONAL EVENTS
Interest strong in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is moving forward as a highly desirable business events destination with an airport upgrade and new hotels and offsite venues opening in 2020
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef is the natural place to meet ; a tropical region encouraging genuine connections to nature and each other . Where your delegates can choose their own adventure in the oldest rainforest or explore the largest coral reef system . Our region is the only place in the world where two world heritage listed sites meet .
Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef General Manager Rosie Douglas said interest in the destination was high with its wide-open outdoor spaces and year-round tropical weather ideal for events in the post-COVID world .
“ The Cairns Airport has completed a $ 55 million upgrade of the domestic terminal with new food and beverage outlets and a welcoming space for airport users ,” Ms Douglas said . “ This adds to the growing list of unique offsite event spaces in the city , which can be transformed for welcome and farewell events . The Crystalbrook Collection ’ s third Cairns CBD hotel , Flynn opens on November 10 adding 311 luxurious rooms including three penthouse suites to the city .
“ Destination confidence has increased with a new luxury five-star resort to be built in Port Douglas and scheduled to open in 2023 . Work is well underway on the $ 176 million expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre to add an extra 10,000 sq . giving it the capacity for 2500 delegates .
“ The food and beverage scene is growing in Cairns city with a second rooftop bar at the newly opened Oaks Cairns Hotel on The Esplanade and Boardwalk Social offering vibrant dining options overlooking The Esplanade at Flynn , A Crystalbrook Collection Hotel .
“ Breweries are popular with Sauce Brewing Co . the newest independent microbrewery in the city , with an expansive double-height space decked out in funky furniture for a fun night out for delegates . Not far away , and home to many large-scale offsite events on the inlet . Hemingway ’ s Brewery continues to support our region by donating 50 % of profits from its locally made 7th Heaven
Below Artist impression of the completed expansion of the Cairns Conventions Centre
Above Aerial view of Cairns City , Queensland
Tropical Ale to Great Barrier Reef Legacy . Your F & B bill can directly support the Great Barrier Reef .
“ Work has been fast-tracked on the $ 28 million Esplanade dining precinct to expand and beautify the area into a pedestrian-friendly dining area welcoming to all delegates .
“ The Cairns Gallery Precinct is also taking shape , further adding to the city ’ s arts and cultural scene , which expanded in recent years with the completion of the Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Bulmba-Ja theatre and gallery , creating more offsite venues to choose from .
“ To cater to the growing interest from event planners who want to see our new spaces , and working around travel restrictions , we have launched a series of virtual site inspections to help progress events in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef . Using 360-degree virtual technology , the tours allow planners to feel like they are on a real site inspection incorporating key venue specifications that we know event planners need — everything from coach parking , where the toilets are , F & B service areas and data projector locations ,” Ms Douglas said
The first three virtual site inspections showcase Tanks Arts Centre , Riley , a Crystalbrook Collection Resort and Hemingway ’ s Brewery Cairns Wharf ; with more virtual tours of our business events offerings currently underway .
“ We look forward to welcoming back our industry colleagues for face-to-face site inspections and educationals once travel restrictions ease , but for the moment , our destination is just a click away .” S businesseventscairns . org . au
42 Chief of Staff | Issue 2 2020