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News for the Hospitality Executive |
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| July 26, 2007 - WAIKIKI, OAHU, HAWAII - Outrigger Enterprises
Group continues its Pacific push with the announcement this week in Australia
that it had reached an agreement in principle with joint venture developers
Leighton Properties and the Macquarie Group of Companies to manage the
AUD300+ million Viridian Resort & Spa. This deluxe, 192 unit resort
condominium is currently under construction in the resort town of Noosa,
located along Australia's Sunshine Coast in the eastern state of Queensland.
When it opens in 2009, the property will be branded the Outrigger Viridian
Resort & Spa.
According to David Carey, President and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group, today's announcement reaffirms the company's commitment to Australia and the region. "It's been just five months since we sold our interest in the former Outrigger-managed properties in Australia and New Zealand. With this announcement, we continue our long-range vision of strengthening and growing the Outrigger brand in the area, and positioning the company as a regional leader in hospitality, retail and development." When completed, the Outrigger Viridian Resort & Spa will feature 11 buildings centered around the resort's premier leisure facilities that will include two swimming pools, a mini theater, poolside dining, bar, restaurant, gym/sauna, day spa and the largest conference facilities in the region. In addition to room operations, Outrigger will operate the resort's fine dining restaurant and bar, room service and conference facilities at Viridian. A luxury onsite day spa will be managed by a separate operator. When making the announcement, joint venture developer Bob Borger of Leighton Properties said, "The Viridian Resort & Spa is a unique and special project set in a unique and special part of the world. We have entrusted Outrigger Hotels & Resorts to share the beauty and quality of our resort and of Noosa worldwide. The economic and tourism benefits for the Noosa region and for Queensland will be many". Mr. Borger added, "Outrigger's extensive global sales and marketing reach combined with its proven track record in five-star resort management around the world, were key factors in bringing the privately owned Hawaiian operator onboard." "Outrigger is extremely pleased to have reached this agreement in principle with Macquarie and Leighton," said Cliff Olson, Outrigger Vice President-Oceania, who is based in Australia at the company's Gold Coast regional headquarters. "Noosa is a sought after area for hotel development, and properties of Viridian's calibre are very few and far between. Noosa continues to be a preferred holiday playground among southern markets, and we aim to build on Noosa's leading status through our extensive international sales and marketing networks." Mr. Olson concluded by saying, "Viridian's tourism product offering and quality is a perfect fit for the Outrigger brand. We are extremely confident in adding value to Noosa's strong tourism industry." Sales of the Viridian Resort & Spa units and villas have been strong, with sales to date in excess of AUD50 million since April 2007 from a wide cross section of buyers across Australia. Extensive rehabilitation of the site's natural habitat by the developers, including the planting of over 36,000 native trees with a boardwalk linking the resort to the area's popular Hastings Street, together with the inclusion of water saving and energy efficient measures, are key design features of the Viridian project which blends seamlessly with Noosa Hill's natural environment. According to Outrigger's David Carey, the Viridian project is just the first of more to come for Outrigger in Australia and the region. "Stay tuned for another announcement shortly, and we are actively seeking to identify other opportunities within the region to bring the Outrigger brand - and our reputation for exemplary service and hospitality - back into the market." About the Viridian Noosa project The Viridian Noosa project commenced construction in 2001. Viridian Noosa Stage One (eight luxury homes) and Viridian Noosa Stage Two (23 villa style residences) were completed in 2005 and have since been commended for their environmentally friendly design - recognized by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) and the Noosa Glossies Awards as the best in their field. The Viridian Resort & Spa design has been created by acclaimed local architect John Mainwaring and will employ the same eco-sensitive construction techniques and design principles used in the first two stages. The developers have been praised in realizing the Viridian Noosa project where promises about the ecological and environmental preservation of the site have been kept, and in some cases exceeded the desired outcomes. In addition to good design, Viridian Noosa has also delivered a host of community benefits including gifting to Council more than 10 hectares of conservation reserve and a public pathway linking Laguna Lookout in the Noosa National Park to Hastings Street. About Outrigger Enterprises Group Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing hospitality services companies in the Asia-Pacific region. The Group is continuing to expand its presence throughout the South Pacific with Australia and New Zealand identified as key regions for growth to support its resort presence in Fiji and Bali. Outrigger is a family-owned company with 60 years of hospitality experience and runs a highly-successful, multi-branded line of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, OHANA Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger Condominium Collection, and Embassy SuitesR-Waikiki Beach WalkR.* Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawaii, the Pacific, mainland USA and Asia. |
| Contact:
Nancy Daniels, APR, PR Manager
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| Also See: | Under Construction in Noosa, Located on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the Luxury Resort Sofitel Viridian / October 2003 |
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