Rydges enters Townsville

One of North Queensland’s most successful hotel and convention complexes this week becomes the 30th Australian property for Rydges Hotels and Resorts.

The Southbank Hotel and Convention Centre in the coastal city of Townsville will be known as Rydges Southbank Townsville, providing the growing accommodation group with its first presence in the city.

The current General Manager, Paul Burke, who has been at the property for 2½ years, will continue in the role after the Rydges rebranding with Paul serving previously in a range of hospitality roles in Papua New Guinea, Turkey UK, New Zealand and Tasmania.

Townsville is both a major business and transportation hub supporting the booming Queensland resources industry, and a tourism gateway to Far North Queensland, providing access to Magnetic Island, the Great Barrier Reef and coastal and outback tourism attractions.

Rydges Southbank Townsville is a 4 ½ star property located close to the city centre, serving the corporate travel and tourism sectors and the growing meetings and conventions market.

The property is divided into three major sections – the core hotel and the adjacent convention centre,  in Palmer Street, and a block of 12 self-contained apartments, in nearby McIlwraith Street.

The seven-level hotel building offers almost 100 guestrooms, many with sweeping views of the city and harbor, plus three restaurants, a swimming pool and free on-site parking for guests.

The lead-in Standard Rooms offer features including in-house movie channels, cable television, direct dial national and international telephones, and dial-up internet facilities.

All other guestrooms include broadband internet access, while the Executive Spa Suites each offer a two-person spa bath and two televisions, including a 106cm flatscreen unit.

A separate building, 200 metres from the main hotel, houses 12 self-contained apartments, each including two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a washing machine and a dryer.

Connected to the main hotel is a major convention facility, with 400 square metres of floorspace and capacity to seat up to 500 delegates in a theatre-style layout or 350, banquet style. 

This North Queensland-style building also offers three purpose-built conference rooms, plus the option of two additional rooms in the main hotel.

The conference centre is not only a leading meeting and events venue in Townsville but a popular choice for wedding receptions and other private functions in the region.

For more information about Rydges Southbank Townsville, visit www.rydges.com  or call the property direct on 07 4726 5265.

For conference information, visit the website, or call the Rydges Southbank Convention Centre on 07 4726 5222.

Report by The Mole