HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAII - Outrigger Hotels & Resorts continues to carve inroads into Australia's premier tourist destinations following the announcement on December 5 by property developer, Ray Group, of Outrigger's appointment to manage a new luxury resort at Port Douglas in the Australian state of Queensland.

Located approximately 30 miles north of Cairns, Port Douglas is a popular retreat for the rich and famous with music legends, movie stars and even US Presidents vacationing in the idyllic region fringed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Listed Daintree Rainforest.

Outrigger's move into Port Douglas is a significant milestone for the Hawaii-based lodging company, which now has seven resorts open or under development in Queensland's major tourist destinations, as well as the emerging boom centers of Hervey Bay and the Town of 1770/Agnes Water.
 

The announcement also represents Ray Group's third resort development to be branded with the Outrigger banner, with the hotel chain already managing the developer's other resorts in Cairns and Coolangatta numbering over 240 rooms. Situated in the heart of the town's tourist strip on a prime land parcel adjoining Port Douglas' historic 120 year-old Courthouse Hotel, the Outrigger Port Douglas Resort will offer 32 luxury one and two bedroom apartments. The A$14 million (approx US$7 million) development, which will open in June 2002, will also an additional 2,800

Outrigger Coolangatta Beach Resort

Commenting on the decision to appoint Outrigger, Gold Coast-based Ray Group Managing Director, Mr. Brian Ray, said the company's solid management system, worldwide marketing network and reputation among investors for delivering positive investment returns were key factors in the decision. 

"Outrigger's expertise has proven an effective selling point for our Cairns and Coolangatta properties," Ray said. "We are finding that investors who have properties managed by Outrigger, are re-investing in Ray Group developments once they know the company is again involved in marketing and managing the property," he added.

Dave Lawrence, Vice President and General Director for Outrigger Hotels & Resorts in Australia, said the company was pleased to continue its strategic alliance with Ray Group, which shares Outrigger's vision of identifying and moving into emerging tourism growth markets, along with existing centers that continue to prosper.

"The Ray Group's reputation for developing quality tourist accommodation projects is well recognized, and complements Outrigger's position throughout the Pacific for providing, quality, coastal resort holidays. 

"We remain extremely confident in the North Queensland tourist market, and expect to announce another property appointment in the region shortly," Lawrence added.

The Outrigger Port Douglas Resort is the fourth property announced by Outrigger's Australian arm in 2001, and brings its Australian portfolio to seven, with its eighth property, set to open in New Caledonia in late 2002.

Lawrence said the group expects to be operating more than 20 resorts throughout Australia by 2005.

According to Bill Henderson, Vice President of Business Development for Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, the addition of the Outrigger Port Douglas to the company's growing portfolio of resorts in Australia and the Pacific region further validates Outrigger's strategic decision several years ago to seek geographic diversification. "With the current downturn in tourism to Hawaii resulting from the tragic events of September 11th, our Australia properties are currently the best performing resorts in Outrigger's inventory, and we look forward to further growth in the region," Henderson said.

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts is a division of Outrigger Enterprises, Inc., the largest locally owned lodging company in Hawaii and one of the fastest growing lodging companies in the Pacific. Under its two hotel brands - Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and OHANA Hotels & Resorts - the company currently operates or has under development 45 hotels and resorts throughout the Pacific region, representing more than 12,000 hotel rooms and condominium units in Hawaii, Micronesia, Australia and the South Pacific.  Outrigger's affiliate, Outrigger Lodging Services, operates nearly two-dozen hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. Mainland.