Back to business
After a mammoth effort to get the
Whitsundays back on track following
Cyclone Debbie earlier this year, things are
looking up for the region. Daydream Island
is undergoing a $50 million refurbishment
and will reopen mid-2018. Hayman Island is
also closed for renovations until mid-2018,
while owner Mulpha Australia seeks a new
owner and operator to take over the resort,
following One&Only’s decision to step
down as operator.
Further north, the Reef Marina Port
Douglas has been approved for an $85
million renewal project that will include a
waterfront boardwalk, luxury residences and
new waterfront dining and entertainment
areas. After opening its first location at Reef
Marina Port Douglas just over a year ago,
Hemingway’s Brewery has announced it
will open a second venue next year in the
heritage-listed Shed 2 at Cairns Cruise Liner
Terminal. The new 1400sqm brewery will
include a restaurant, a providore showcasing
local produce and a dedicated event space.
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The Mackay Entertainment and Convention
Centre (MECC) is also riding the wave of
success, recently securing six major events
that will attract a total of more than 1400
delegates to the Mackay region. Mackay’s
strong agribusiness sector has attracted
many of these conferences, including
the Australian Society of Sugar Cane
Technologists Conference, which will bring
350 specialists to the region in April 2018,
and the Australian Wagyu Association
National Conference in May 2018, with
more than 500 national and international
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16 Convention & Incentive Marketing, Issue 4, 2017 www.cimmagazine.com
delegates expected to attend.
Further good news for the region, Cairns
Convention Centre is set to undergo
a major refurbishment and expansion
following the Queensland Government’s
recent announcement to contribute
$176 million towards the project. Cairns
Convention Centre general manager Ross
Steele says the funding has been a long
time coming.
“Through our extensive experience operating
the centre we have identified that if we were
able to grow our exhibition size, we would