Bumper time for hotels, visitors
HOTELS in Cairns are expected to be packed with lovebirds and Cowboys fanatics visiting the city this weekend.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Pip Close said the city was busy this week and next with visitors for Chinese New Year and the Cowboys game.
“The accommodation sector is reporting strong bookings with many CBD properties full,” she said.
“Our tour operators are also busy with the Reef boats, rainforest tours, rafting and hot air balloons especially popular.
“It is pleasing to see visitors are spreading further throughout the region and experiencing the diverse offerings of Tropical North Queensland.
“Events are great because they give people a reason to visit a destination and most stay longer to experience what the region has to offer.”
She said she expected the event-driven tourism would continue through to April.
“It is too early to gauge what impact the Commonwealth Games will have on our region, but with the Queen’s Baton Relay, Festival 2018 and basketball heats in Cairns we anticipate the city will be busy,” she said.
Pullman Reef Hotel Casino hotel general manager Wayne Reynolds said this weekend’s events created “the perfect storm”.
“We only have a couple of rooms left on the weekend, busy with Chinese New Year all the way through to the last week of February,” he said.
“Events in the ’green’ season such as above are fantastic.
“They promote demand in a traditionally quieter period of the year (outside of Chinese New Year).
“With better occupancies year-round we are able to maintain more consistent staffing levels and provide better levels of service all year.”