Castaways Resort & Spa, Mission Beach has purchased the adjacent hotel, Mackays. The purchase which takes effect Friday June 12 will add an additional 18 rooms, a third swimming pool and additional infrastructure to Castaways existing 48 rooms and beachfront restaurant. “We have endured the tough years post GFC and Yasi and will now focus growing our operations. Our management team, led by David Breadmore have delivered results that have given the family confidence to take the next step” said James Neville-Smith, CEO of the Neville Smith Group. Statistics from Mission Beach Business and tourism show visitor numbers returning to pre TC Yasi numbers. There have been a number of small but significant developments in the region which prior to the Global financial Crisis in 2008 was Queensland’s fastest growing town. Building activity has been on the rise for some time and new tourism operators and product have set up in Mission Beach. “In recent years we have seen a growth in weddings, conferences and bus groups into the hotel, which is great business, but a lack of inventory has restricted the longer staying leisure market. The Leisure market is an important market segment for Mission beach, traditionally the leisure market stays longer and spends more money on secondary products like Reef trips, Island tours, Rafting trips, sky diving and Scuba diving, river cruises etc. This expansion of inventory will allow us to embrace this market which will be positive for the entire Mission Beach region” said James Neville-Smith. David Breadmore said “The new property will settle on Friday 12 June 2015 and will close down for a period of 5 days while we configure it to match our existing resort and hotel room categories at the beachfront property”. Mackays will be re-named Castaways Resort & Spa and the rooms at the hotel will be marketed as Castaways rainforest rooms. In addition to increasing the inventory at the resort, the new wing will also host Mission Beach’s first dedicated Dive school transforming the hotels current restaurant building into a dedicated dive class room with access to the properties swimming pool for instruction. The Mission Beach Dive School, will be operated by Mission Beach Dive a newly formed business venture by locals Nancy Lowe and Steve (Fozzy) Foster from Mission Beach Dunk Island Water Taxi. This will give visitors and locals alike the opportunity to learn to dive and extend their dive training here in Mission Beach then undertake open water dives on the Great Barrier Reef. “We are very excited about this new opportunity not only for us but for Mission Beach, this investment into the future of Mission Beach and its tourism industry continues to demonstrate our commitment to the establishment of a viable and sustainable economic future for Mission Beach and The Cassowary Coast Region” said James Neville-Smith. [su_frame][/su_frame] Mission Beach and Castaways Resort & Spa Mission Beach is considered to be the last undeveloped gem of tropical north Queensland. The small village of Mission Beach is surrounded by World Heritage Rainforest which stretches down to the pristine clean beaches. Mission Beach is the closest mainland point to the outer Great Barrier Reef and enjoys the splendour of the family group of Islands (which include the famous Dunk and Bedarra Islands). Mission Beach is 1.5 hours drive south of Cairns and caters for all activities that people choose to partake when visiting tropical North Queensland, including but not limited to Great Barrier Reef trips, scuba diving courses, river cruises, sky diving, Rafting Australia’s famous Tully river, Island tours and picnics, chocolate factory tours, art courses, yoga, cooking schools and Day Spa’s. Castaways Resort & Spa is Mission Beach’s largest and only beachfront resort. The property was recognised in Frommers (USA equivalent to Lonely Planet tourism guide books) 2014 world’s top ten value for money absolute beachfront resorts. For further enquires contact James Neville Smith – +61 (0) 418 877236 or jns@falcon1.com.au Download the Press Release (Pdf 3mb)