InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Taisei Kanko Australia Pty Limited for the 173-room Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside. The hotel, currently operating as the Mercure Cairns Harbourside will undergo refurbishment before opening as a Holiday Inn later this year. It will be the eleventh Holiday Inn hotel in Australia.
Located at the northern end of The Esplanade in Cairns – a key access point for the Great Barrier Reef – Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside will particularly appeal to guests on holiday looking to experience the World Heritage Site. The hotel also enjoys close proximity to Cairns Airport and is a short distance from the scenic Cairns waterfront and harbour.
Guests staying at Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside can enjoy the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, while families can make the most of the Holiday Inn brand’s ‘Kids Eat & Stay Free’ programme* which provides young travellers with all inclusive meals during their stay. Guests can also relax at the hotel’s pool and spa before heading out for the day’s activities and then kick back at the bar and choose from an exciting new menu of signature cocktails and bar snacks as part of IHG’s BAR150 programme.
The hotel, which is a 10-minute walk from the Central Business District, will provide business guests with what they need to get the job done with a range of facilities including four meeting rooms and a 24-hour business centre.
Karin Sheppard, Chief Operating Officer, Australasia, Japan and Korea & Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) Franchising, IHG said: “It is an exciting time for IHG as we work with our partners to grow our brands in new markets – our upcoming Crowne Plaza in Tasmania and InterContinental in Perth are great examples of that. Today, in partnership with Taisei Kanko Australia Pty Ltd, we are bringing Holiday Inn to Cairns. Domestic travel continues to pick up and as the gateway to one of the world’s top tourist attractions Cairns is a key city for us in Australia. We are confident the hotel’s location and facilities will make Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside one of the top choices for people travelling to Cairns.”
Hidenori Kado, Managing Director, Taisei Kanko Australia Group said: “Cairns presents great growth opportunities as the city continues to experience record visitor arrivals and grow as a tourism destination. It is a great time to be bringing an international brand as recognised as Holiday Inn into the market and we are confident that the brand’s heritage, IHG’s experience in operating great hotels and our expertise in real estate investment and the leisure industry will ensure the hotel is a success when it opens later in the year.”
There are currently 10 Holiday Inn hotels open in Australia.
