23-25 Apr 2024
Phoenix Convention Center,
Phoenix,
United States
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28-30 Apr 2024
Radisson Blu Hotel,
Glasgow,
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08-08 May 2024
Hotel Melià ,
Milano ,
Italy
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10-12 May 2024
China Import & Export Fair Complex,
Guangzhou,
China
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13-16 May 2024
Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia ,
Italy
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14 May 2024
JPMorgan Chase Headquarters,
New York City,
United States
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18-22 May 2024
The Ravenala Attitude Hotel,
Mauritius
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23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais),
Wiesbaden,
Germany
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US$3.75bn Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort would have stadium, aquarium, hotels and casino |
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By Chris Dodd 07 Aug 2013 |
The development would create 10,000 jobs for Cairns, but environmentalists are concerned about the impact on the Great Barrier Reef
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Chinese billionaire Tony Fung’s A$4.2bn (US$3.75bn, £2.4bn) mega leisure development in Cairns, Australia has moved to the next stage, having been declared a ‘co-ordinated project’ – the first step in the Australian government’s planning approval process.
The Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef project would include nine luxury hotels, a 25,000-seater sports stadium, a casino and high-end retail space.
The resort would offer 3,750 hotel rooms, 1,180 apartments and 130 villas on a beachside site at Yorkeys Knob.
Alongside hotel and living space, the development also proposes a 45,000 sq m (484,375 sq ft) convention and exhibition centre, a cultural heritage centre, an 18-hole golf course, two 2,500-seat theatres, a 20ha reef lagoon and what is being touted as one of the largest aquariums in the world.
If plans get final approval, construction will begin in 2014, with a completion date of around 2018. The development would create 9,300 jobs in the construction phase and 10,000 full-time jobs when operational.
According to the project overview, KPMG have modelled the financial benefits of the resort to show Aquis as a vital element in the future prosperity and economic sustainability of the region.
The project’s originator, Hong-Kong based banking and property tycoon Fung, believes the resort will rival structures in Macau, Dubai and Singapore, bringing international visitors to North Queensland’s tourist-dependent economy.
“What North Queensland is missing is the man-made wonder of the world,” said Mr Fung in his submission to the Queensland Government.
“Facilities of the like of Aquis don’t only attract the Chinese mass market middle-class, but also the big-spending, high value, ever-expanding Chinese upper-class.”
Projects in Cairns are a hotbed of debate – given the Great Barrier Reef’s stance as a World Heritage Site – with several groups lobbying to prevent interference with marine life and the local environment.
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1 to 12 of 8703 news stories |
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24 Apr 2024
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in 2023, surpassing the previous high of US$20.1 billion in 2022. This data stems from ... More
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24 Apr 2024
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24 Apr 2024
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23 Apr 2024
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23 Apr 2024
The UAE’s first-ever Dior Spa has officially launched at The Lana, Dubai – the Dorchester Collection’s debut property in the Middle East. Bathed in natural daylight on the hotel’s 29th floor, Dior Spa The Lana ... More
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22 Apr 2024
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18 Apr 2024
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released new data on the US’ wellness economy, valuing it at US$1.8 trillion. According to the organisation's recent report – called The Global Wellness Economy: United States – the ... More
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19 Apr 2024
UK sauna enthusiasts will converge at Galgorm Resort in Northern Ireland next week for the highly anticipated second annual UK Aufguss Championships. Hosted from 22-24, the event will see competitors from across the UK showcasing ... More
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17 Apr 2024
Remedy Place, a US-based social wellness club brand, is poised for steady expansion in the coming years, with plans to open two new clubs annually moving forward Remedy Place is the brainchild of Dr Jonathan ... More
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16 Apr 2024
Swiss longevity brand Clinique La Prairie (CLP) has inked a deal with Montara Hospitality Group to operate a resort at Tri Vananda – a purpose-built wellness community in Phuket, Thailand. Tri Vananda, envisioned as a ... More
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15 Apr 2024
Six Senses has announced the grand opening of its first-ever property and spa in the Caribbean, called Six Senses La Sagesse. With a picturesque beachfront setting and surrounded by verdant hills, Six Senses La Sagesse ... More
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12 Apr 2024
A brand new desert hot springs oasis, called Zion Canyon Hot Springs, is set to open in Southern Utah in Q3 of 2025. Situated 30 minutes from the majestic Zion National Park, the US$60 million ... More
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