Business
31 July, 2024
Casino leader’s Port links
PORT Douglas business and tourism identity Wendy Morris (below) has taken over the reins of The Reef Casino Trust as new chairwoman.
However, she does not want to focus on her historic appointment as the first female to head the trust.
Instead, Ms Morris has highlighted the longevity and experience of the casino senior management team which amounts to more than 165 years of experience at the hotel and casino complex.
Not only has she showered praise on the hotel-casino’s executive but also the stability the 350 staff has offered the business. “Between them (managers) there is more than a century of experience,” Ms Morris said.
She said the business was “in a very good position moving forward”.
She said the board and the management team were determined that the venue would retain its reputation as the “must see, must visit” place in Cairns and was prepared for the return of international tourists in greater numbers.
As the Wharf St complex undergoes a multimillion-dollar repair and maintenance schedule, including a full refurbishment of the signature dome, she said the property needed the wealth of experience to get through “the challenges of 2024”.
“It is an icon in Cairns. Personally, to me, it is the Raffles (the legendary luxury hotel in Singapore) of Cairns,” Ms Morris said.
“It is still renowned for the service levels and the attention to detail,” she said.
She said it was not a matter of if, but when international travellers returned in growing numbers.
Ms Morris said more Japanese and Koreans were evident.
She said Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Cairns Airport were working hard to get more international tourists back, not just for the casino, but for most tour operators.
Ms Morris said the return of Cathay Pacific was critical and the Jetstar flights from New Zealand’s South Island and the new Air Asia services from Bali and the connections from Europe could not be underestimated for their importance.
She said the Japanese flights by Jetstar and Virgin had also been successful and increased visitor numbers.
Ms Morris said the trust was working on something significant for the dome which has a special place in her heart as her father John Morris first established the wildlife tourism attraction in the early 2000s before being bought out by the CaPTA Group which operated the Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome for nearly 20 years.
Last year it closed after it was apparent extensive upgrading works were needed.
“There is quite a bit of work being done on the dome, Ms Morris said.
“We have a blank sheet of paper going forward,” she said.
It would not re-open until next year at the earliest, Ms Morris said.
She said the casino’s free ‘high quality’ entertainment program was luring many local customers.
