Why Choose TNQ

Australia boasts an abundance of magnificent places to meet, but Brian Crisp discovers it’s more than the famous rainforest and renowned reef that make Tropical North Queensland somewhere special to bring people together.

DISCOVER TNQ

CAIRNS Convention Centre general manager Janet Hamilton wants to let the world know that the Tropical North Queensland capital is open for business and ready to welcome delegates.

And she says anyone booking a conference or event in Cairns will be helping to get the local tourism industry back on its feet after the darkest days of the COVID-19 crisis.

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“Cairns has been hit by COVID-19 particularly hard,” Hamilton says.

“With so many tourism businesses in the region there are a lot of people struggling, hosting events again in Cairns will start to give hope and an opportunity to look forward to the future when visitors come to our region in record numbers.

"Events also add an element of excitement (and) it will be great to see the buzz around the city again."

Hamilton says the flow-on effect from conferences is enormous, with business events having a considerable positive impact on the region.

"Delegates come to the city and, in addition to attending the conference, spend money in hotels, cafes and on tours,” she says.

"Many businesses and people in the region benefit from business events including taxi drivers, florists, produce suppliers and those working causal shifts at the Convention Centre.

"Business events can also showcase Tropical North Queensland in other ways. They demonstrate the capability of the region and highlight our expertise in key industries, showcasing our incredible academic and industry talent."

Hamilton notes that while some event planners may be cautious of undertaking overseas events, Cairns offers an enviable "local and safe" experience that rivals anything found internationally.

"We know event planners are wanting to organise business events again but, with international border restrictions and lockdowns across the country, it has been a challenging time over the past two years," the former Darwin Convention Centre boss explains.

"As we open up, and people start to meet again, Cairns is the perfect destination to host your conference.

"Cairns has so much to offer event planners – you cannot go past our natural assets of the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest that excite all delegates – and we have fantastic business events infrastructure.

"And our refurbished Cairns Convention Centre has a fresh contemporary interior and new stateof-the-art technology. The expansion, opening in 2023, will offer event planners new spaces with stunning views.

"(The city has) an amazing selection of hotels, unique off-site venues, international airport only 10 minutes from the CBD, and incredible pre-andpost touring options.”

The Convention Centre boss says the Far North’s laid-back and no-fuss residents add to the appeal of hosting a MICE event in Cairns.

"The people in Cairns are what makes our city specials, everyone is passionate about ensuring event organisers and delegates have an amazing time while here,” she says.

"Nothing is too much trouble, and everything is done with a smile, it’s a welcoming hospitality only Cairns delivers."

Our Locations

Fancy a memorable address for an off-site function? How about an historic wharf, cane field or banana plantation, palm-fringed beach, colonial courthouse, art gallery, or World War Two oil tank?

Our CSR

Our Airport

Cairns Airport is 10 minutes from town and welcomes direct flights from around Australia including Newcastle, Canberra, Adelaide, and Perth which are post-pandemic additions to the schedule.

WHAT’S UNIQUE

In the Far North we encourage visitors to leave as custodians of this place and that’s best done by connecting with a program like Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, Rainforest Rescue, Habitat Heroes, the Reef Restoration Foundation, or Reforest.

Our Activities

Tropical North Queensland is tops at team building. Take your delegates bungy jumping or white-water rafting, fossick bush tucker with a traditional custodian, embark on a croc-spotting cruise, plant trees to aid a conservation project, or hold a beachthemed Olympics on an island.