AAA Tourism manages Australia and New Zealand's premiere accommodation classification program, awarding properties a rating between one and five stars based primarily on facilities, amenities, maintenance and cleanliness. AAA Tourism currently provides nationally consistent STAR Rating assessments for different sectors of the accommodation industry, including hotels and motels, serviced apartments, bed and breakfasts, backpacker hostels, houseboats, and now, the resort sector.

To be assessed under the new "Resort" classification, a property must have a minimum of two of the following features: golf course, resort-style pool, tennis court and fitness center. Spas, resort shops, recreational facilities as well as restaurants and bars are also taken into consideration.

According to Mark Lucas, General Manager, AAA Tourism, the Resort classification has been developed to more accurately reflect the offerings of this style of accommodation.

"Resort features are becoming more unique and the new scheme will provide travelers with the opportunity to make a more informed choice in selecting their holiday accommodation," Lucas said.

Dave Lawrence, Managing Director of Outrigger's Australia division, said Outrigger's reputation as a quality accommodation provider has been further enhanced with the Outrigger Beach Club & Spa's Five STAR rating. 

"The new resort rating system, developed specifically to emphasize the unique elements of resort-style accommodations, provides an ideal framework for communicating exactly what sets Outrigger Hotels & Resorts apart from hotel-style and self-contained accommodations in Australia," commented Lawrence.

The Outrigger Beach Club & Spa, Palm Cove is one of the most sophisticated resorts in the tranquil tropical north of Queensland, Australia. Overlooking the vast sandy, palm fringed beach and glittering waters of Palm Cove, the Outrigger Beach Club & Spa is ideally located only 20 minutes from Cairns International Airport.

Stately melaleuca trees shade the resort's porte cochere, welcoming guests into a private world where the air is scented by fragrant gardenia and cooled by gentle ocean breezes. The lagoon pool offers two experiences -- a cascading waterfall for romantic interludes or a sandy beach perfect for kids' play. There's also a swim-up pool bar allowing guests the ultimate in poolside service.

Sanctum Spa is a haven for rejuvenating body and spirit with over 45 massages, revitalizing facial treatments and soothing body wraps, perfect for both men and women. 

There are 220 guest apartments and suites, all designed with contemporary furnishings in natural fabrics and subdued tones that surround guests with pure comfort. The resort's Serenity Wing is a selection of guest suites offering family entertainment areas with gas barbecues, flat-screen televisions, and a private rainforest pool. The resort also offers impressive two-level penthouses featuring rooftop plunge pools.

A tennis court, fitness center, on-site dining, boutique shops and a 24-hour reception area framed by a stunning mother-of-pearl feature wall are just some of the other features of Outrigger Beach Club & Spa.

Designed in a style suggesting "contemporary Queensland Colonial meets Raffles," the opulence of Outrigger Beach Club & Spa is crowned with its own signature vehicles in the form of two Silver Shadow Rolls Royces that transfer guests between Cairns airport and the resort.

The Outrigger Beach Club & Spa, Palm Cove is Outrigger Hotels & Resorts' second resort in the South Pacific to receive a Five STAR rating from AAA Tourism. The Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji was awarded the Pacific Island nation's first Five STAR resort rating in 2004.

Nancy Daniels, APR
Public Relations Manager
Outrigger Hotels & Resorts / OHANA Hotels & Resorts
2375 Kuhio Avenue
Honolulu HI 96815-2992
PH 808-921-6839
FX 808-921-6901
EM [email protected]
www.outrigger.com