The local company managing the major redevelopment of Rydges Tradewinds says it is determined to work with as many local tradies and sub-contractors as possible.

Long-term Cairns firm Prime Group won the management contract for design and construction of GA Group Australia's planned overhaul of the hotel and a new development on an adjacent greenfields site.

The project includes upgrading the resort with five-star rooms and a new, smaller hotel on the adjoining site over the next two years.

Prime Group's Andy Taylor said his firm was already in discussions with local suppliers and sub-contractors to undertake the work, some of which had already begun at the Tradewinds site.

Mr Taylor has a very busy week ahead following the arrival of Ghassan Aboud over the weekend, the chairman of GA Group Australia's parent company Ghassan Aboud Group.

"We've been here on the ground through the ups and downs of the local economy for many, many years and we are very parochial when it comes to using Cairns talent on our projects," Mr Taylor.

"Already most of our design team are locals, and we absolutely intend to hire locally whenever possible.

"I think local suppliers and subcontractors can feel some sense of comfort and confidence that we are long-term locals, rather than a southern company who flies in and out on a temporary basis."

Mr Taylor and Mr Aboud met with Mayor Bob Manning and local industry stakeholders to discuss the project, as well as opportunities the global company is investigating in Cairns.