TTNQ General Manager Rosie Douglas said the development of Crystalbrook Collection’s three Cairns hotels, Riley, Bailey and Flynn, will help sell the region.

“With the first of the three Crystalbrook hotels open, the Shangri-La refurbishment complete, Sunlover Funlover’s event space on the Great Barrier Reef and the opening of the Cairns Performing Arts Centre, we have exciting new products to share with them,” she said.

“Our group has two days of solid appointments with key decision makers wanting the edge for their next event and our job will be to show why Cairns & Great Barrier Reef will give them the unique point of difference to make their event a success.”

Last year, events contributed $111 million dollars to the local economy and according to analysis by Cummings Research and the Cairns Convention Centre, 81% of international delegates had not been to Cairns before. 

Its figures show 66% of international delegates and 84% of domestic delegates vowed to return for a holiday.

Rosie Douglas said another benefit of business tourists is that they travel outside the peak season.

“These are important to our region as they give high-value travellers a reason to travel to the destination during the shoulder seasons, “ she said.

Also joining the delegation will be the Cairns Convention Centre, Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, NQ Exhibitions, Pullman Cairns International, Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, Sunlover Reef Cruises, Business Events Port Douglas, Shangri-La Hotel and Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas.