A connection to nature will be the core ethos behind the first Fairmont branded hotel in Australia, with Accor today confirming the luxury label will arrive in the North Queensland city of Port Douglas in 2023, HM can exclusively reveal.
The new hotel was officially announced by Accor Asia Pacific President, Michael Issenberg, during a live cross interview from Singapore at the 2020 Australian Hotel Industry Conference and Exhibition (AHICE), headline sponsored by Intrust Super and Hostplus.
Fairmont Port Douglas will feature 253 guest rooms blending with the natural environment. Guest facilities at the resort will include multiple swimming pools, a treetop walk attraction, day spa and conference facilities. The lobby design will be inspired by tropical gardens and bird nests.
Collaborating with developer Chiodo Corporation, Fairmont Port Douglas will be nestled between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, designed sustainably to complement the natural environment. The hotel has already been awarded for its environmental credentials, having been bestowed with an Eco Destination Certificate from Ecotourism Australia.
Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer, Simon McGrath, said Fairmont Port Douglas will deliver a new level of luxury and sophistication to the resort town.
“Accor continues to expand its luxury offerings in Australia and, as our first Fairmont, this is going to be a truly special resort, whose architecture mimics the rich biosphere of the Daintree Rainforest and, which is centred on well-being, nature and cultural immersion,” he said.
Accor has committed to working closely alongside the Kuku Yalanji community as the traditional owners of the land on which Fairmont Port Douglas will sit. Indigenous ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies will take place to open special events taking place at the new resort as a way to immerse guests and visitors to the culture of the region.
Fairmont Port Douglas will be the first property branded as such within the Accor network in Australia. The company presently operates the Fairmont Resort and Spa Blue Mountains however this is actually part of the MGallery by Sofitel collection.
Chiodo Corporation Principal, Paul Chiodo, said his company was proud be delivering a high-quality project to the people of Port Douglas.
“Chiodo Corporation seeks to create spaces that are built around the environment and local culture and we believe that the Fairmont brand shares this ethos,” he said.
“Together, we will deliver a meaningful connection to the local community through this stunning hotel.”