Page 37 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

TROPIC • COVER STORY

Q&A
Belinda Danks-Woodley
Marketing

What does your role with Crystalbrook
involve?
As Marketing Communications Manager
for Riley, I am responsible for launching
the communications of the hotel, its
three restaurants/bars and spa. This
is with the constant support of our
wider marketing team for Crystalbrook
Collection and includes mass ‘NEVER SAY NEVER’ its doors, it represents a significant
media, digital and social media, PR, milestone in our evolution. From
sponsorships, and more. Having been intimately involved at here, we’ll see the flow-on effects of
every possible level during Crystalbrook
What type of customers will you be Collection’s early stages, CEO Mark extra hotel beds hitting the market, in
turn providing an economic benefit
marketing to? Davie has enjoyed seeing his executive to numerous sectors through local
One thing as a brand that we are very team grow and take over the reins as spending and employment. Mr Aboud
focused on (in addition to domestic the projects ramped up. He is also is a very astute businessman and
and international tourists) is the locals. incredibly grateful for the support I think, when we look back in the
Those looking for a staycation, a great of the local community, and buoyant coming years, we’ll see that the timing
night out or those locals who are a little about the city’s future. of his investment in this region was
further afield and coming in to Cairns “We’ve done everything we said we’d impeccable. It’s investment like this
for a weekend. Our restaurants and bars do, we’ve followed through on our that builds confidence in our city and
Paper Crane, Rocco and Greenfields promises, and it’s only been possible will help Cairns to grow and thrive as a
are as much for locals as they are for due to the tremendous level of support sophisticated international city.”
hotel guests and with the Crystalbrook we have received from the Cairns Riley, of course, is the just beginning for
Local program we really hope that will community,” Mark told Tropic. “We Crystalbrook Collection. Ghassan told
encourage people to come for a visit. are very confident about the future of Tropic the company continues to look at
tourism in Cairns and we hope that
You moved to Cairns from Melbourne other investors respond as we have to investments across Australia.
“We have locations that are being
- how has the transition to life in the the opportunities available across all considered for development and
tropics been? sectors of the local economy.” acquisition in other major Australian
I’ve been visiting Cairns every year In just about every interview Ghassan cities and my skilled team in Australia
for the past 14 years as my husband has conducted since first visiting are continually on the lookout for new
is originally from here, so we would Cairns in 2016, he has praised Cairns investments that would complement
come to visit his family. The move was Regional Council for the warm welcome the brand,” Ghassan said. “Of course,
something we talked about often, and and collaborative approach they’ve we still have our Crystalbrook
last year we bit the bullet. Our son taken to his projects in the city. Mayor Superyacht Marina project in Port
Ollie just turned two and the outdoor Bob Manning told Tropic that Ghassan Douglas and we are constantly being
lifestyle certainly suits his rambunctious shares the council’s positive outlook for approached about other investment
personality. There is great coffee here (I the city. opportunities. We assess each of these
am a coffee snob, typical Melbournian) “We know that the GA Group holds on their merits and so it’s a case of
and the people are so friendly. I love our city in high esteem and we ‘never say never’!”
driving home to the beaches, or agree that Cairns is a shining light So, the journey has just begun. What a
anywhere really and being able to look in destination in Australia,” Cr Manning thrill for Cairns to be along for the ride.
most directions and see mountains, and said. “The Crystalbrook projects have
greenery. It has a calming effect on me, brought a near-unprecedented level
and certainly a great lifestyle change. of construction activity to Cairns. MORE: crystalbrookcollection.com
As the first Crystalbrook hotel opens

37 • tropicnow.com.au