Airlie Beach to get a new tourism Heart

Published Monday, 24 October, 2016 at 02:36 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events
The Honourable Kate Jones

The finishing touches are being put on the Whitsunday’s newest boutique hotel in Airlie Beach set to open its doors to visitors on 1 November.

 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Tourism Minister Kate Jones were given a sneak peek through the new Heart Hotel and Gallery as State Cabinet visited the region.

 

The Premier said the Heart Hotel and Gallery was part of a large infrastructure pipeline in the Whitsundays creating jobs for Queenslanders. 

 

“More than $3 billion worth of tourism infrastructure is either planned or underway for the Whitsundays,” the Premier said.

 

“Every new hotel means more construction jobs and new permanent jobs for the region.

 

“The Heart Hotel and Gallery is an example of the potential tourism has to be a major job creator.

 

“With a restaurant, pharmacy, and touring agency all on site, this new precinct is creating jobs across a range of industries for 50 locals.”

 

The Premier said the construction of new hotels was a sign of investor confidence in the tourism industry.

 

“My government is committed to growing the tourism industry both here in the Whitsundays and across the state,” the Premier said.

 

“The tourism industry is worth more than $1.6 billion to the Whitsundays region and supports more than 7,000 jobs.

 

“In the last year the Whitsundays welcomed more than 260,000 international visitors and more than half a million domestic visitors.

 

“With new hotels and accommodation options being built across the state, we are confident our visitor numbers will continue to grow.”

 

Ms Jones said the Government was committed to supporting new tourism operators and investors.

 

“We know we need to be providing new products and services to entice new visitors and keep them coming back to experience all that Queensland has to offer,” she said.

 

“The Heart Hotel and Gallery is the eighth at Hotel Groupproperty in the Whitsundays, reflecting the popularity of the region.

 

“This new boutique hotel is another example of Queensland’s growing maturity as a tourism market for high-end travellers.

 

“I congratulate owner Des Davey on achieving his vision and I know visitors to Airlie Beach will be enjoying the hotel for years to come.”

 

ENDS