Doubletree by Hilton announces major refurbishment

A major Cairns Esplanade hotel which was the scene of a fatal helicopter crash has announced a major revamp set to include a waterfront Mediterranean-inspired style restaurant.

The upgrade will make use of the hotel’s waterfront location. Picture: Supplied

Less than a year after revealing a $1m renovation, a Cairns Esplanade hotel that was the scene of a fatal helicopter crash in August will now undergo a major landscaping upgrade and swimming pool extension.

Newly renovated rooms at Doubletree by Hilton opened in May last year and featured modern decor, premium bedding, new carpets, new 55-inch smart TVs, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

And now it’s the exterior of the Esplanade hotel that’s in line for an upgrade.

The makeover comes just months after the four star accommodation was evacuated after a stolen helicopter crashed into the building in August, killing pilot Blake Wilson.

Already under way, the facelift includes the redevelopment of the The Vine Room into a Mediterranean-inspired style restaurant and the extension of the swimming pool to a sizeable 38m.

The pool at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns will be extended to 38m long. Picture: Supplied

The proposed pool area with views of the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Supplied

The Vine Room’s new look will include tiered restaurant seating down to street level on the Esplanade with sea views.

Fifty poolside seats and seating for 120 will be added at the restaurant.

And the hotel, built in 1989, will soon boast a full service outdoor bar and newly-designed poolside landscaping with direct views to the Cairns Esplanade and the Coral Sea.

DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns has announced a major makeover of the CBD hotel. Picture: Supplied

Redevelopment is expected to be complete by July 2025, during which time the Vine Room will be closed to the public, meaning dinner service will start daily in the atrium and guests will be permitted to use the pool facilities at Hilton Cairns on Marlin Pde.

The lobby of the new Hilton at Palm Cove. Picture: Hilton

The latest changes at the DoubleTree by Hilton follow an announcement in June that the old Hotel Grand Chancellor would undergo a massive refit to open as the Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort and Spa in the first quarter of 2026.

Hilton announced the signing of a management agreement with Tyche Asset Management in June following the shutdown of the Grand Chancellor in 2022.

The refurbished Palm Cove hotel will feature modern amenities including an outdoor pool, two dining outlets, one all-day dining restaurant, two bars (one being a pool bar), a kid’s club,

fitness centre, spa, and 450sq m of function and meeting space.

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Originally published as Doubletree by Hilton announces major refurbishment