Palm Cove News
Tropical North Queensland


DECEMBER 2006

"Where the reef meets the rainforest" slogan updated

THE tourism industry is set to advertise an expanded range of things to see and do for visitors.
Instead of reef and rainforest it will include attractions such as Kuranda Scenic Railway, Palm Cove, Skyrail, Mossman Gorge, Mt Mulligan and Undarra Caves as well as, of course, reef and rainforest.
The multi-million dollar branding campaign was unveiled by Tourism Minister Margaret Keech at the Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards on November 4th.
It found popular support among the tourist operators.
Cairns tourism operator and award winner Ian MacLaughlin said he was pleasantly surprised by the campaign.
"Like a lot of people I was quite prepared to be disappointed, but I think the ad's got a lot of mileage and it's a building block that we can all work and build on," he said.
Another award winner Ron Livingston said the campaign had passion behind it that may not have been present in previous branding exercises.
After being tested on consumer groups, the ad should start appearing worldwide early next year.

Editorial

STAR RATINGS A LITTLE MYSTIFYING

Leigh Ratcliffe's magnificent Palm Cove Royal project is touted to become Australia's first seven star resort.
There are hotels in Dubai and elsewhere in the Middle East and also in America rated 7-stars which could be an international rating for hotels. At least one hotel we heard of has a butler for each suite. However, Jeff Floyd, CEO of AAA Tourism, said no rating higher than 5 STAR exists. The Australian Scheme only rates from 1 to 5 STARS. He said AAA Tourism holds the trademark in Australia for accommodation STAR Ratings. "There are currently 11,000 STAR Rated properties across Australia, and all have been subject to a 1,000 point check system by AAA Tourism," he said..
Drift's Sales Manager Jeannette Galaska has suggested that by the time the Royal is up and running, say 2-3 years, a rating higher than five might be applicable in this country.
So what gives? We are holding our collective breath.
By the way, in last edition we said Ratcliffe and Thakral were partners in this project. We were wrong. Ratcliffe and another consortium are doing Royal; Ratcliffe and Thakral are doing Palm Cove Village.

Apartment prices reverse the trend

DESPITE a 10 percent drop in median prices of new and used apartments in the June quarter for Cairns, prices for apartments in Palm Cove reversed the trend by leaping 21 percent in the same period.
According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, median prices for new and used apartments in Palm Cove went from $358,000 to $435,000.
Prices for established homes in Cairns recorded a 1.2 percent slip.
Regarding the number of properties sold in the region, sales of both houses and apartments both new and used jumped by 30 percent. for the quarter.

(Ref: Cairns Post Sept 27.)

Pets allowed at Drift

PETS will be allowed to live with their owners in refurbished Drift Palm Cove (was Clarion) and also the six new condominiums next door on the esplanade.
But they must first be approved by the body corporate.
Sales Manager Jeannette Galaska said mature-aged people, who were the main buyers of quality apartments, often looked on pets as part of the family.
"Many body corporates on the Gold Coast, where I lived for a time, wouldn't allow pets on the premises, and I think it was a shame," she said.
Ms Galaska said about 80 percent of Drift's 129 units had been sold (prices $478,000 to $1.4million) and half of the condominiums so far at $2.7million each.
"The six condominiums are so magnificent and large - sizes 240 to 328 sq metres being either 3 BR and study or 4 BR - that we are calling them condomaximums," she said. A step up the ladder for sure. Shops on the ground floor on the esplanade will include three restaurants including The Spice Market, formerly at Novotel. Developer/operator Indigo expects Drift Palm Cove will be rated 4 to 5 stars and Drift Condomaximums 5 stars.
The official opening will be in March, but some parts will be open before that.
And how is Indigo's other project in Palm Cove, OceansEdge, going?
They have sold 27 blocks so far, and earthworks are well underway.

Luxury in the North

Outrigger Beach Club & Spa Palm Cove won Best Luxury Accommodation at the 2006 Tropical North Queensland tourism awards last month. Manager Murray Worthington said : "We are also hoping to do well at the state awards this month."

Regrets, a few

ACCORDING to survey of a number of UK people aged 65 and over, seven people out of ten said they would find more time to make love if they could have their days over again. They voted 70% : having more sex
57% : travelling the world
42% : changing professions
40% : saving for a pension
35% : standing up to the boss
21% : marrying someone else
19% : spending more on luxuries.

(Ref : Cairns Post, Oct 10)

Published by Jerry Dukes
52 Terebra St
Palm Cove 4879 QLD
Ph 4059 1610 Fax 4059 0058
Email : info@palmcovenewsletter.com
On website : http://www.palmcovenewsletter.com

Palm Cove's Official Website: http://www.palmcove.net