The marine industry night of nights was hosted this week at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove with industry professionals from around Australia gathering to celebrate the achievements of the last year at the ASMEX Australian Marine Industry Awards 2021.
The gala dinner took place during the 2021 ASMEX conference and both the superyacht and commercial award categories were hotly contested, with Coral Sea Marina Resort being awarded Superyacht Industry Service Provider of the Year.
“We are honoured to be recognised with this prestigious award,” said Coral Sea Marina CEO, Kate Purdie. “At Coral Sea Marina we pride ourselves on impeccable facilities and outstanding service. Visiting Superyachts are an integral part of the Whitsundays’ economy, and delivering outstanding service is a true team effort.’
After challenging year for Queensland tourism, with the Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef regions heavily impacted by domestic and international travel restrictions, 2021 is lining up to be a strong year for visitation to the region.
With the domestic superyacht fleet leveraging demand for charter this winter, Coral Sea Marina Resort will once again play host to a range of Superyachts migrating north.
With berthing capacity to 80m and a range of dedicated superyacht services, including in-berth pump out and high flow diesel, Coral Sea Marina has been redeveloped with this luxury yacht sector in mind. A vibrant resort village, access to mainland services and the recent addition of a 77-room boutique hotel, Coral Sea Resort, has placed the marina as a premium superyacht facility at the heart of the Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef cruising grounds.
James Kennedy, Captain of Lady E (75m), explains of his time at Coral Sea Marina, “Coral Sea Marina was an excellent staging point for our most recent Whitsunday’s charter. The marina is new, well presented and well appointed – including courtesy cars, hotels, ample parking and a secure berth.
The marina managers, maintenance team and security detail were friendly, accommodating and went out of their way to ensure our provisioning, extensive deliveries, crew changeovers, and guest welcome was efficient and professional. Communication was open and concise throughout and plan changes or timing adjustments were never a problem. We appreciated the hospitality and look forward to returning again this year.”
Data released at the ASMEX conference shows the passing of the Special Recreational Vessel Act in December 2019 by the Federal Government, allowing foreign flagged superyachts to charter in Australian waters, will result in a 300% increase in visitation over the next three years.
Through significant infrastructure investment, development of strong industry partnerships and commitment to growing the Australian superyacht industry, Coral Sea Marina continues to innovate to attract both domestic and international yachts.
The Lookout Lounge, a new contemporary guest and crew lounge launched at Coral Sea Marina this month, will provide Superyacht captains and crew a place onshore to relax during their stay. This contemporary lounge area is conveniently placed overlooking the premium superyacht berthing on offer at Coral Sea Marina and is a welcome addition to the facilities at Queensland’s first 5 Gold Anchor Platinum accredited marina.
Ms Purdie explains “We share this award with the entire Coral Sea Marina Resort family of businesses as well as our valued partners, who all play a role in ensuring memorable experiences for our Superyacht guests and crew.”
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