Treetops Resort & Spa in Port Douglas rebrands as a Mercure

One of Port Douglas’ pioneering resorts, the Treetops Resort & Spa, is joining Accor’s Mercure hotel network after the completion of a major refurbishment. The hotel will be rebranded to Mercure Port Douglas Treetops Resort from 20 May 2009.

Tropical North Queensland’s Port Douglas has been one of Australia’s fastest growing resort destinations with its easy access to World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest and one of the “wonders of the natural world”, the Great Barrier Reef.

The 224 room resort is located a short walk from Four Mile Beach and is five minutes drive to the centre of Port Douglas village (a shuttle bus service operates throughout the day).

Over the past six months, the hotel has received an extensive renovation, including upgrading of rooms, the restaurant and public areas and a fresh new paint scheme throughout the resort.

Renowned for the sensitive design of the hotel, the Mercure is built around melaleuca trees, with the low-rise accommodation set amongst rainforest gardens, free flowing waterways and lily ponds. This natural ecosystem is a habitat for native wildlife, including large barramundi in the ponds, countless breeds of native birds and spectacular Ulysses butterflies.

Within the hotel’s attractive rainforest setting is a spectacular lagoon pool and waterfall, adjacent to an open-air restaurant (Tree Bar & Grill) with a swim-up pool bar and rainforest trees literally growing through the roof.

The hotel also offers The Wharf restaurant overlooking the lily ponds and the Cockatoo Lounge (where the resort’s resident cockatoo, Bozo, holds court).

The hotel continues its emphasis on serenity with the Treetops Spa, which offers the latest health and beauty therapies in nine treatment rooms housed within a unique tree house-styled building linked by walkways.

With its joining of the Mercure network, Treetops is anticipating major growth in its conference and incentive business. The purpose-built conference centre accommodates up to 160 guests (theatre style) in a spacious area bathed in natural light. The Events Centre also makes the most of its location, with the large decking area overlooking a creek. The deck is capable of hosting up to 100 guests for a breakout session or cocktail party.

Bridget Catterall, General Manager of the Best Management Group, said that the completion of the upgrading and the partnership with Mercure signaled a new era for the resort.

“Our guests have responded very encouragingly to the hotel’s new look and feel, and we believe that with Mercure branding we will be able to expose the resort to an even wider domestic and international market,” she said.

The Mercure Port Douglas Treetops joins six other hotels in Cairns and nearby Palm Cove. It will be the second Mercure in the region, joining Mercure Cairns Harbourside.

Accor Vice President Australia, Simon McGrath, said the addition of Mercure Port Douglas Treetops was a significant milestone for Accor.

“The addition of Treetops marks a very special occasion for Accor as it will take our Australian network to over 20,000 rooms – the first hotel group to achieve such a mark in Australia,” McGrath said.

Rates start from $125 per night.

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