Hilton Cairns Dangles A Carat

While tradition dictates china and platinum as the materials to signify a 20th Anniversary, Hilton Cairns says that it will break from convention and celebrate its 20th year with diamonds.

After all, they say a diamond is forever…

From today, until December 15, 2007 inclusive, Hilton Cairns will join with Hardy Brothers Jewellers to stage a massive, diamond giveaway that gives guests staying at the hotel during the promotion period a very real chance of taking home one of the world’s most valuable gems.

This first-of-its-kind promotion will give away 20 exquisite half carat diamonds and if diamonds don’t come up trumps do not despair, as all Hilton Cairns guests who redeem their voucher at Hardy Brothers Jewellers will have the chance to win a spectacular one carat diamond valued at over $11,000 drawn on Tuesday, 18 December 2007.

In all, Hilton Cairns will give away 21 diamonds as a very generous precursor to its 21st year, with the total value of the diamonds $75,000.

Speaking at the launch in Hardy Brothers Jewellers, Hilton Cairns GM Guy Hutchinson said that throughout its 20 year history the hotel has maintained its edge for establishing an unprecedented level of service and range of facilities, cuisine and standard of accommodation.

“Having just completed a major refurbishment program that has also seen the introduction of a contemporary new bar, Six Degrees and the city’s first waterfront wedding chapel, the hotel faces the future with a fresh face and firm grasp on its iconic status as one of the city’s leading hotels.”

To be in the running to win one of these 20 half carat diamonds and the spectacular one carat diamond, there is only one criteria: stay at the hotel between July 3 and December 15, 2007 inclusive.

Hilton’s 20th Anniversary Diamond Campaign will run as follows (Full Terms and Conditions available at Hilton Cairns):

On arrival, guests will be presented with a voucher and invited to visit Hardy Brothers Jewellers flagship store in Cairns. There, they will be presented with a bowl of gems that includes a mix of the half-carat diamonds and cubic zirconias.

After selecting their gem, the in-store gemologist will quickly determine if the gem is real or fake. If it is real, it is for keeps and will be supported by a certificate of authenticity.

All is not lost if the gem is a fake, as one of the hotel’s lucky guests will receive an early Christmas present when the second chance draw of a one carat diamond (valued at $11,220) is announced on Tuesday 18 December 2007.

Hilton Cairns became tropical north Queensland’s first five star hotel when it opened for business in November 1987. Since then, the hotel has carved a niche on the city’s landscape as much for its waterfront location overlooking Trinity Inlet, as for its impeccable standard of service, facilities, accommodation and outlets.

The 264-room hotel comprises three food and beverage outlets – Six Degrees Bar and Lounge, Mondo on the Waterfront and Breezes Restaurant as well as a complete banquet, meetings and convention department.

INTERESTING FACTS

** Australia produces 18 per cent of the world’s diamonds which equates to 30.7 million carats according to Geoscience Australia

** 2005 statistics show Australia is the world’s second largest producer of diamonds by weight after Russia. Botswana and Congo are ranked third and fourth respectively (Geoscience Australia)

** Australia is the largest producer of pink diamonds (according to Argyle Diamonds’ external affairs)

** Though diamonds are rare, rubies are considered far rarer

** Diamonds are the hardest known natural substance

** Apart from jewellery, diamonds are used for computer chip manufacturing, drill-bit facing, stone cutting and stone polishing

** Diamonds can shatter if dropped or hit on the corner of a facet

** Red diamonds – one of the world’s most rare stones – is actually a very intense shade of pink diamond

** Apart from the exemplary white diamond, other coloured diamonds include black, blue, brown, champagne, cognac, green, orange, pink, purple and yellow

** Hardy Brothers Jewellers first introduced silver plateware and cutlery to Australia

** Sir Robert Menzies was one of Hardy Brothers Jewellers most faithful customers during his time as Prime Minister and afterwards

** In 1953, during the Great Depression year, the company diversified into selling perfumes

** Since 1980 the Victoria Racing Club commissioned Hardy Brothers Jewellers to make the Melbourne Cup. It is made of 34 hand-made 18 carat yellow gold segments, pieced together with pins and rivets. It is valued at over $80,000, weighs 1,650 grams in yellow gold and takes approximately 200 hours of craftsmanship to make

To make a reservation, contact Hilton Cairns on tel: +61 7 4050 2000 or visit the website: www.cairns.hilton.com

Report by The Mole