Crystalbrook Collection reverses locals free-for-all in Riley resort pool

A luxurious Cairns resort pool previously open to the public has been shut to non-paying guests as rumours swirl about what prompted the locals lockout.

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A LUXURIOUS Cairns resort pool previously open to the public has been shut to non-paying guests as rumours swirl about what prompted the locals lockout.

Crystalbrook Collection’s swanky pool at its Riley resort on the Esplanade was a favourite haunt for locals wanting a deluxe dip in paradise when it opened late last year.

Residents have taken to Facebook, complaining they were told they could not use the pool unless they were staying at the hotel — even if they were dining there.

Online speculation over what prompted Crystalbrook Collection's decision to ban non-guests from swimming in the pools at Cairns resort Riley included talk of a "fight". However, the company said it was purely about the numbers and guest comfort. PICTURE: SCREENSHOT / FACEBOOK

Lounging around beside the luxurious Riley pool. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

Another resident claimed the rules were changed after a local caused a fight with a guest and had to be removed by police — a claim the company has rejected outright.

A Crystalbrook Collection spokeswoman told the Cairns Post the decision had nothing to do with a fight or any police incident.

“The Riley pool is not open to public anymore due to occupancy levels and lounge availability for our in-house guests,” she said.

Ellen Hill from Melbourne relaxing poolside on her Cairns holiday. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

However, all is not lost for locals who are keen on using the resort’s impeccable swimming facilities.

“We do have our monthly pool parties and family days where the public are welcome to join and they can stay up to date with this information by tuning in to our social channels and signing up to Crystalbrook Local,” the spokeswoman said.

Riley is the first of Syrian billionaire Ghassan Aboud’s three Cairns hotels. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

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The former public free-for-all was one of the chief gripes of guests posting reviews on TripAdvisor, where Riley has an average 4.5-star rating out of five.

“The swimming pool gets overcrowded with not enough chairs/lounges and not enough shade, it’s like the public can just walk in,” one guest posted in April.

“You need more lounges poolside for paying hotel guests especially with the warm Cairns weather.”

The pool features a sand bank perfect for kids’ castle-building dreams. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

Another April visitor, from China, loved the hotel but was not a fan of the formerly lax pool entry rules.

“The one thing I don’t like is the pool is open to the public, so everyone can get in,” the reviewer posted.

“On public holidays and weekends, I think over half of the people are not staying here but using the benches and pool.

“So expect to be very full on afternoons.

“I don’t understand why the hotel’s pool is open to public, it’s not fair to the customers who actually paid to stay here.”

Visit www.crystalbrookcollection.com/local to sign up for the Crystalbrook Local program.

Originally published as Crystalbrook Collection reverses locals free-for-all in Riley resort pool