Tycoon reveals vision for $200m luxury resort at Port Douglas

An international tycoon credited with kickstarting a jobs bonanza in the state’s far north has unveiled his vision for a new $200m project - and the subbies have no fear of being left in the lurch.

Crystalbrook Collection has shared its first images of the vision for a luxury resort at Port Douglas

SYRIAN tycoon Ghassan Aboud has unveiled his vision for a $200m luxury waterfront hotel precinct in the tourist town of Port Douglas.

The Dubai-based billionaire has flown in to survey work on three new luxury hotels in Cairns – with one newly completed – as part of a slate of almost $600 million of development projects in far North Queensland.

“It’s a piece of art,” Mr Aboud said, unveiling the plans.

“You will also find it is very friendly for the local people in Port Douglas.”

The self-made business mogul and a fierce freedom fighter against the oppressive Assad regime in Syria, has distinguished himself as a “man of action” in a conga line of mostly Chinese investors eyeing the tropical north.

Ghassan Aboud arriving in Cairns. Picture: Stewart McLean

“My credibility and reputation, I care about it,’’ the 51-year-old said. “I like to be true to my word, and be about action, not all talk.”

Without the sky cranes on his two new high-rise hotels being built in the heart of Cairns, employing almost 2200 people under the Crystalbrook Collections banner, the tropical city would be stalled.

“I believe Cairns and Port Douglas has enormous potential, to me it is a dream,” he said. “I can help it to wake up.”

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Local tradesmen, such as plumber Dean Ward, say the Ghassan Aboud Group has won tradies’ loyalty by paying subcontractors “in full, on time, every time” in a jobs bonanza with the unemployment rate at 5.83 per cent.

Mr Aboud’s plans for Port Douglas include a luxury 100-room five-star hotel and 30-room ultra-luxe hotel with lagoon pools, day spa, panoramic bar and cafe, slated for completion by 2022.

Originally published as Tycoon reveals vision for $200m luxury resort at Port Douglas