A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
OPENING THE AZURE SEAS GRAND MERCURE APARTMENTS
01 August, 2006
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Peter Hook from Accor in Sydney, Jan Jarratt, the Member for Whitsunday, owners of this establishment and friends of Azure Sea, ladies and gentlemen.
Well, Peter, I am sorry I didn’t get to the opening of Ibis in Townsville by the Prime Minister last night but I was talking to him this morning in Townsville and I suggested to him that he might like to slip down to Airlie Beach to open Azure Seas. He said to me “Ian, look that’s such a fantastic development; they deserve the best, so you go along.”
I have to remind you of course that I am a politician and not everything I say is
always true!
But it is indeed an honour for me, like the Prime Minister, to be associated with the Accor Group, a worldwide chain of first class resorts and hotels with a worldwide reputation.
But look, I do want to particularly congratulate Phil and Rhonda Woodbridge and Horace Soegaard and Chrissie Micale on their new venture, the Azure Sea Resort – a sensational new development at Airlie indeed, Australia’s newest and perhaps most perfect visitor destination.
Those of you who, like me, have had a bit of a look through the premises can’t help but be impressed by
• The unique nautical design of the complex complimenting the natural environment “where the sand meets the sea and the sea meets the sky”
• A standard of finishes not previously seen in the Whitsundays
• Large spacious balconies giving 180 degree views over Double Cone Island and the Hayman Islands
• The waterfall swimming pool and tropical landscaped gardens – and I must make sure I leave here tonight before I celebrate too much in case I succumb to the mad desire to dive into the top pool and tumble over into the bottom pool!
And all of this luxury to be managed to and beyond the expectations of the most fastidious holiday maker by Phil and Rhonda and Horace and Chrissie.
Between the four of them they have a wealth of experience in all aspects of the hospitality industry – and a few other industries beside like the swimming pool industry, inbound tourism, pottery and fine dining. All four of them have an exquisite understanding of the tourist industry both in Australia and overseas.
And what a fabulous position this complex is in, in a sensational part of Australia.
Over 600,000 visitors annually come to this region buying more than 3.5 million visitor nights.
67% of those coming to this region are domestic tourists and the other one- third are from overseas.
Indeed, 11% of all of the inbound visitors to Queensland visit the Whitsundays – but with 5 star accommodation like Azure Sea Grand Mercure Apartments Resort, I am very confident that that percentage will increase substantially.
You know, I am very proud of the tourism industry because it provides jobs for over 200,000 fellow Australians in regional Australia. That is, outside the capital cities so is a very substantial part of the regional economy.
Tourism is a $75 billion industry to Australia and provides a huge export dollar income for our country.
A survey in 2004/05 showed that of domestic household expenditure, Australians spend some $47.7 billion each year on holidays and travel.
And I know Phil and Rhonda and Horace and Chrissie if you could just get say 1% of that I know you would be very happy. Even .1% wouldn’t be too bad!
I hope you all are conscious of the fact that on 1st July we all received very substantial tax cuts and that together with an economy which, in spite of its slowing a little, is still the envy of the western world, means that more and more Australians have money to spend on travel and holidays.
And whilst the high price of petrol will have some impact on this region, that is, I know, more than offset by the great deals which you can get from Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar these days which make the Whitsundays a very, very attractive and affordable destination.
The Government has encouraged tourism with support in many ways including grants to Australia’s tourism bodies for research and for advertising overseas. We also help by keeping inflation down, keeping unemployment low so that we have given not just this industry but indeed many others as well, the confidence to invest and that confidence certainly manifests itself in this complex here in Airlie.
Can I also congratulate the developer, Bill Sharpe, from AMG Property Development Group Pty. Ltd. on what is the latest and best of a string of award winning properties which he has developed in the Whitsundays.
When you team Bill’s vision and design with Phil and Rhonda and Horace and Chrissie’s expertise in management and customer care and join that with Accor’s worldwide reputation for excellence, then you have a real winning combination.
Grand Mercure Apartments are synonymous with the highest standard – now bought to Airlie with the Azure Sea Grand Mercure Apartments.
My very best wishes to all concerned, to the owners, to the investors, to the staff, all of those who will make this resort really happen. And talking about those who make this happen, can I just say thanks very much to the proprietors for making Rosie available for the massage by the pool. It was a great massage and I just have to warn my wife that I will be particularly lively tonight. But look, not only will I remember tonight for the opening of this sensational new Resort but I will also remember it as my very first ever massage. You wouldn’t believe it that in all of my 30 or 40 years or however old I happen to be, this is the first time I have ever had a massage. So tonight will be a doubly memorable event for me!
All the best to all those involved. I am confident that this complex will set the benchmark for luxury holiday accommodation in Australia.
Good Luck to you all and with that I declare the Azure Sea Grand Mercure Apartments officially opened and I would ask you all to charge your glasses and join with me in drinking a toast to the prosperity and future success of the management, investors and all associated with this fabulous new complex.