The general manager of Palmer Coolum Resort, Simon Stodart, has defended the Sunshine Coast property, saying much of the negative publicity it has been receiving is politically driven.
Mr Stodart said constant negative media attention was overshadowing the positive contribution Palmer Coolum Resort was making to the area, such as a recent $2million investment in the Palmersaurus dinosaur park and Palmer Motorama auto museum to stimulate local tourism.
“The resort was well-attended over the holiday season and we are now using the traditional post-Christmas, industry-wide low trading period to carry out a restructure and review to allow us the opportunity to update our business model,’’ Mr Stodart said.
“We are focussing on packaging these exciting new tourist attractions into the resort’s traditional offerings such as restaurants and accommodation, conferences and banquets, weddings, golf, spa, tennis, kids club and the popular beach club.
“We are committed to growing the resort by servicing a wider target market demographic including corporate and businesses, golf enthusiasts, generations of families and the destination traveller wanting a healthy surf beach holiday with food, wellness and sporting activities in the one location,’’ Mr Stodart said.
Mr Stodart praised the commitment of his staff during the challenging process of reviewing, restructuring and rebranding the resort.
“We are committed not only to the development of the resort but of the whole Sunshine Coast region,” he said.
“I have met with and received the support of the local business community and government bodies which get what we are doing and why we have to do it.
“Fortunately they can see past the constant media attention that is not focusing on the resort and the Sunshine Coast region as a unique destination in itself but instead concentrating on issues that are bringing down the property’s ability to get its own message to the market.’’
Mr Stodart said the recent and ongoing changes would ensure the resort achieved profitability and long-term success so it could continue to be enjoyed by future generations of guests and members.
“I have been working with the wonderful supportive staff and received many words of strong encouragement from a number of long standing regular guests, owners and members since my appointment,” he said.
“They have all expressed their love of the resort’s experience and their desire to keep coming back, which is one of the inspirations for me to continue the process started by Clive Palmer to rebuild the resort into a new profitable business.
“Clearly this direction needed to be different to the previous Hyatt management business model that has never been profitable for any of the owners of the resort.
“I will continue to work with our staff and our guests to continue to provide the cherished Coolum resort experience of the past, but with exciting growth prospects in the new economic times that are upon us.”
