OUTRIGGER JOINS MERIDIEN IN AIRLIE

SURFERS Paradise-based Outrigger Hotels & Resorts has teamed up with Meridien to manage two new waterfront resorts at the $750M Port of Airlie at Airlie Beach in North Queensland.

Outrigger will initially manage Meridien’s Boathouse Apartments expected to welcome its first guests in early 2011.

Branded The Boathouse by Outrigger, it will comprise 56 two and three bedroom apartments spread across two three-level buildings, modelled on a classic colonial design synonymous with the Queensland tropics.

The luxury apartments have been designed to capitalise on their premium waterfront position and will be set in a rich tropical landscape, surrounded by a suite of exclusive boutiques and restaurants.

The second stage of the development, the Port of Airlie Resort, will feature spacious resort style apartments, conferencing facilities, restaurant, bar, pool, full resort facilities and specialty outlets.

Meridien managing director Russell McCart, says Outrigger Hotels & Resorts will bring a high quality brand to Port of Airlie that is unmatched around the country.

“We are very excited to have an operator with Outrigger’s international standards and experience onboard to manage Port of Airlie’s Boathouse and Resort Apartments. We believe that under Outrigger’s management our owners and guests will have the best possible experience of luxury resort living in Airlie Beach,” he says.

“With more than 60 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts was selected to manage the Boathouse Apartments and the future Port of Airlie Resort, due to their wealth of industry experience and reliable, highly reputable brands across Hawaii, Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia.”

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts’ Australia regional GM Grant James, says the move is strategic as the company expands its hotel portfolio.

On completion, Meridien’s Port of Airlie will include a 289-berth marina catering to all boat sizes including super yachts, as well as 365 residential apartments, 15 absolute oceanfront homes, a public harbourside boardwalk, 240m all tide beach and public parkland, a retail precinct and an integrated Fantasea ferry, cruise and bus terminal.

Airlie Beach attracts around 1 million visitors annually and is widely regarded as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and 74 islands that feature heavily in Australia’s international tourism campaigns.