A new five-star hotel has opened its doors in the heart of the Cairns cultural precinct which will support 150 tourism jobs.
Attending the official opening last night, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Bailey – a Crystalbrook Collection hotel – celebrates the art, design, food and flair of Tropical North Queensland.
"Bailey is a stunning, job-boosting, new addition to the Cairns skyline and is Crystalbrook's second five-star hotel to open in the city in the past 12 months," the Premier said.
"Crystalbrook's first Cairns venture – Riley – opened in November 2018 and they'll open yet another luxury offering – Flynn – early next year.
"In an incredible show of confidence in the Tropical North, by the end of 2020, the group's collection of properties will have added more than 800 hotel rooms to Cairns, creating 3,500 jobs and injecting more than $900 million into the local economy.
"Cairns is an evolving tourism powerhouse and these hotels are setting a new benchmark for accommodation in the city."
Member for Cairns Michael Healy welcomed the new tourism driver to the city.
"We know international tourists are choosing to stay longer and spend more in the tropical north and having accommodation like this will entice them to stay even longer," Mr Healy said.
"Last financial year, international overnight visitor expenditure increased to a record $1.1 billion and the region saw an increase in tourists from the United States and Japan.
"To continue that growth, the Palaszczuk Government is investing in programs and infrastructure to entice more high-value travelers to the tropical north.
"Last month we launched a new marketing campaign in India, promoting the region as a holiday destination.
"In addition to that we have committed $176 million toward the expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre, supporting 570 local jobs during construction.
"The Premier has also declared 2020 the Year of Indigenous Tourism which will be a dedicated campaign to drive even more tourists to the Far North.
"These are just some of the many initiatives we're doing to boost tourism here."
For the launch of the hotel, Bailey partnered with Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Mainie Australia and TAFE Queensland to showcase the work of local artists and students with a program of opening festivities. And on each of the 12 floors, the hotel showcases work from different artists, with a focus on local and Indigenous art.
Bailey has a distinct Queensland flavour throughout, including the beef served at the hotel coming from Crystalbrook Station near Chillagoe, around three hours inland from Cairns.
The Crystalbrook Collection is an independent Australian tourism and hospitality company, with a portfolio of hotels in Cairns, Sydney and Byron Bay.
The hotel features 255 rooms, three restaurants and bars, meeting spaces, a plunge pool and a 24-hour fitness centre.
