OUR $13B HANGOVER CURE
Set for Gold Coast’s ‘best year ever’ as post-Games fears quashed
THE Gold Coast’s “most sensational year” yet begins today as the city cheers on the Commonwealth Games, $13 billion of investment and development plus a raft of new events. Some residents and visitors will no doubt be nursing sore heads today after more than 50,000 people descended for New Years but city leaders are adamant there will be no hangover post-Games. The city will be broadcast to an audience of more than 1 billion across the world for 11 days and Mayor Tom Tate says a long-feared Games hangover won’t eventuate on the back of the largest investment injection in the city’s history.
GOLD Coast entertainment force Billy Cross believes the city has never been better placed to announce its arrival on the world stage as a mulitlayered destination.
The Cross Promotions owner, who specialises in big festivals and is re-entering hospitality with a groundbreaking rooftop venue at The Star’s new six-star hotel in Broadbeach, said 2018 was the Coast’s time to shine.
“I’m 50 now and I’ve been on the Coast for 35 years. I have seen it back in the day and we have never been in a better position than where we are today,” he said.
“2018 will be the best year for the city to move forward and launch this place as a global city from the perspective of education, entertainment, culturally, events wise.
“I can tell you entertainment wise we are killing it but it’s also the education sector, construction, culturally the Coast is moving forward with so many layers.
“We are not that small little beach town any more – we are a serious player not just in Australia but on the world stage and the Commonwealth Games is going to show us off.”
Mr Cross, who famously founded his now global Thunder from Down Under male performance troupe, said international awareness of the Gold Coast as an Australian hotspot had never been higher.
Thunder has a sold out permanent residency in Las Vegas and he said: “When I’m in Vegas people now know and talk about the Gold Coast – 10 to 15 years ago no one talked about it. When you say you are from here, people know what you’re talking about now.”
He is teaming up with top restaurateur Simon Gloftis to launch a new 19th-floor rooftop venue at The Star’s new six-star hotel The Darling, on track for a March launch.
“The investment The Star is putting into the Gold Coast with The Darling and the rooftop
is going to really showcase what the Gold Coast can do,” Mr Cross said.
“This is going to be something we will be promoting to the world. It will be a game changer for the city in food and beverage, there won’t be anything that compares.
“It is going to attract serious players – not just celebrities, but in the entrepreneurial space and political figures. Really serious people are wanting to book events and functions, and build brand alliances there.”
The venue will come complete with a restaurant, 2500bottle wine cellar, lounge bar, infinity pool and multiple VIP areas overlooking the city.
2018 WILL BE THE BEST YEAR FOR THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND LAUNCH THIS PLACE BILLY CROSS