Page 33 - Tropic Magazine Issue 10

Industry
Interview

to grow this market as a whole. I hope that
starting in 2020 and further this will be
the best area to attract a higher level of
traveller and spender.
We’ll finish with what is probably the
second biggest question everyone wants
answered – are you finished buying
properties in Cairns?
Just recently we bought a property
between Grafton and Lake Sts, and this
wasn’t in the schedule. Suddenly it came
What are some of the growth factors driving Frankly, when I arrived in Cairns I got a up and we’re still thinking about what we
your investment decisions in Cairns? smile from ear to ear. I don’t know why, will do with it. Maybe we will make it into
Over the next 10 years we know one of the but I had a very good feeling about a different kind of business. Let’s see what
biggest growth industries is tourism, not Cairns. We looked at Barcelona, we it will be. If the city starts to grow, who
only in Australia but around the world. I looked at London, then after Brexit knows what we might do there. The next
Tropic: We’ll start with the single big hear that until now only 5% of Chinese happened we visited Australia. We went thing for us is to see how this market will
question everyone wants to ask...why Cairns? people have a passport, so 95% haven’t to many cities here, but Cairns was the develop, then maybe we will go into a
Ghassan Aboud: I’ve been asked 100 times even visited Australia yet. This is a very right place for us. different style of business.
before 'why Cairns' but why does good target for growth. You also have to We are already searching on the Gold
Ghassan Aboud appears remarkably relaxed and upbeat for someone who just everybody think Cairns is not too good or look at the new developments of Have you always made quick decisions in Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne,
stepped off a plane straight into the tropical summer heat. After a last-minute not nice and rich for tourism airplanes, which using technology will get business? Sydney. Until 2025, I plan for my business
decision to fly halfway around the world for what will only be a 24-hour visit, he’s development? This is the question I would faster and faster so that a trip from Mark (Davie) and I are the same in this to be in Australia, then from Australia to
here to mark a major company milestone. like to ask. Cairns already has very good Europe to Cairns might only take 10 hours way. We are in a hurry. We still feel like the world. You know, you have a nice place
Mr Aboud didn’t plan to be in Cairns for the official unveiling of the names and elements for tourism, you have the or so. we’re 20 years old and we need to work here, but sometimes you don’t see what
brands of his first three hotels. The occasion was originally intended to be a small rainforest, the Barrier Reef, nice tropical We know that the city needs more hotel more and more. If you’re in business and you have.
VIP gathering hosted by his Crystalbrook Collection CEO Mark Davie and group weather. rooms to meet this demand. We read a you don’t make a decision quickly, you
director of marketing Katie Malone. But in a sign of his commitment to the Even if you compare between Cairns and study, a tourism study, that said Cairns will be a government, not a business. MORE: crystalbrookcollection.com.au
projects, he thought his presence would send the right message to both his staff places like Hawaii, you could spend a lot of will have a shortage of 1500 rooms into When I come to Cairns I stay in different
and the local community. money in those places and not get the the future, and we’re only bringing 800 kinds of hotels, but they’re not suitable for
Mr Aboud and his team are acutely aware of local scepticism about an out-of-town elements which are already here. I’m not rooms to the city, so it’s not too big a risk. the market that is coming in the next few
billionaire snapping up prime sites like the city was a giant Monopoly board. The asking ‘why Cairns’, I’m asking why years. We make these decisions quickly
hollow promises of the Aquis casino project seriously dampened the city’s nobody has come to make hotels and new Are there any other factors beyond the reef because it gives us a good chance to stand
willingness to embrace international investment on this unprecedented scale. industries in this area 10 years ago. This is and rainforest and tourism potential that out in front.
From the beginning of Mr Aboud’s investment foray in the city (kickstarted with the real question. attracted you to invest in the city?
the purchase of the former Rydges Tradewinds site in March 2016), securing local Everywhere else really has been developed, Here in Cairns I feel as though the Do you think there will be other projects and
support and buy-in to the company’s vision has been high on the agenda for his places like Hawaii, Bali, Sydney, community is thirsty for business, they developments that follow Crystalbrook’s
team. All the more reason Mr Aboud felt it necessary to attend this particular Melbourne. Here in Cairns there’s a want someone to do something here. The investment lead?
function, a milestone in the company’s progression. chance to make my signature, there’s a tourism departments, the council here, I really hope other investors will follow
In an extended interview with Tropic during his brief visit, Mr Aboud said he chance to make a good name for my the business people, they all make me and come to Cairns, that would be very
chose to invest $700 million in the Cairns region because the upside for growth family and my kids, and there’s a chance want to do partnerships and encourage good. I also hope other hotels will invest
was greater than any other destination in Australia, and many other tourism to build a good business with a lot of me to do the next property and the next in their properties and create
cities around the world. wonderful partners. one after that. competition, because this is the best way