Silkari Lagoons in Port Douglas, Queensland.

Luxury apartment brand Silkari has begun to implement an expansion strategy, announcing it has signed a management rights deal for its first resort in the North Queensland town of Port Douglas.

The 175-key resort will be rebranded as Silkari Lagoons, from its former guise as Oaks Lagoons, a brand part of Minor Hotel Group. Silkari is a brand operated by property developer Visionary, which itself has walked away from two earlier opportunities to expand its network in NSW, blaming the lost opportunities on “government and regulatory red tape”.

The signing of Silkari Lagoons takes the brand’s network into a second Australian state, building on its existing portfolio in the 212-suite Silkari Suites at Chatswood and a 245-key complex in Pagewood, both suburbs of the Sydney metropolitan area.

Located close to Four Mile Beach, Silkari Lagoons is a family resort around 50 minutes’ drive north of Cairns International Airport. It features six lagoon-style swimming pools, many of which are directly linked via walk-in access to a variety of accommodation options, and multiple dining outlets.

Visionary Director of Hotels, Markus Sigmann, said a number of Queensland locations were on the radar for the network’s expansion, including the Whitsundays and Sunshine Coast.

“We see the Port Douglas market as being a good investment and although it has been a bit quiet up there in recent times, we believe the upturn is not far away – maybe six months or so.

“I really believe this investment is a great addition to our current properties and it fits perfectly with our strategy of concentrating on management rights businesses in CBD areas on the east coast and quality tourism areas,” Sigmann added.

The management agreement sale was facilitated by ResortBrokers for an undisclosed sum.