Oaks’ optimism most welcome

IT is with a tinge of uncertainty that a new hotel is about to open in Cairns amid the huge downturn in tourism because of COVID-19.

The new $12m Oaks Cairns Hotel is nearly finished and is due to checkin guests next month.

Oaks Hotels, Resorts and Suites chief operating officer Craig Hooley is upbeat about the 76-room and fivestorey property developed by business partners Adam Adams and Kim and Paul Kelly.

He says despite the challenges for the hotel sector his accommodation group “is confident in the return of the traveller and thrilled to see Oaks continue to move forward and expand its portfolio into the city centre of Cairns, offering a premium accommodation option from which to explore the region”.

Paul Kelly says a new boutique hotel is a necessity for Cairns to reflect the changing needs of travellers and capitalise on infrastructure and improvements taking place along the Cairns waterfront”.

The hotel is in the box seat with Cairns Regional Council in the midst of the $28m Esplanade transformation into a dining precinct.

Planning and construction of the Oaks hotel started well before the pandemic turned the world, Australia and Cairns upside down.

At least one hotel in Cairns has closed, the Reef Plaza Hotel

(formerly Rydges Cairns in the CBD).

The DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns on the Esplanade is temporarily closed, Crystalbrook Bailey’s accommodation is still closed while Flynn was due to open in March this year, but has been pushed back a year to March 2021.

Despite the gloom, the Oaks example of optimism is welcome.

Nick Dalton Deputy editor