Iconic Reef House Resort joins Accor’s MGallery Collection

 
After undergoing an impressive refurbishment, Reef House Resort & Spa in Palm Cove, a favoured hideaway of Australia’s elite is set to join the Accor network on 22 February and become part of its exclusive MGallery Collection of hotels.

Originally built as a family residence in 1958, the 69-room resort which boasts beach frontage overlooking the Coral Sea will be Australia’s sixth MGallery hotel, heralding an exciting time for the boutique brand as it expands its presence in the South Pacific and makes its foray into Queensland.

In becoming part of the MGallery Collection, Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove joins The Como Melbourne, The Grand Hotel Melbourne, Hotel Lindrum (Melbourne), Harbour Rocks Hotel in Sydney and the Fairmont Resort in the Blue Mountains in MGallery’s Australian Collection. The boutique network comprises hotels with unique personalities, premier locations and highly distinctive architecture, interior design and services.

Simon McGrath, Chief Operating Officer Accor Pacific said the addition of Reef House Resort & Spa meant Accor will now have three luxury resorts in Palm Cove and more than ten hotels in the region.

“Reef House Resort & Spa has long been one of the standout properties in Palm Cove and indeed in Tropical North Queensland. It has such a great history and we’re thrilled to be taking on the management rights to the resort and look forward to seeing Reef House benefit considerably by being part of the Accor network.

“The MGallery Collection which is all about boutique, high end hotels with unique stories, resonates particularly well with Reef House Resort & Spa and we are excited to see the hotel flourish under its new, internationally recognised name.”

Brett Skinner, who has worked for Accor for nine-years has been appointed General Manager of Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove as effective 22 February 2013.

In joining the MGallery Collection, Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove becomes part of a highly distinctive set of upscale hotels which posses an exceptional personality through one or more of three principal categories: Heritage, Serenity and Signature. The peaceful and historic surrounds of this tropical resort make it a perfect addition to the MGallery Collection.

Set amongst lush tropical gardens, fragrant frangipanis, three sprawling swimming pools and 300-year-old Melaleucas, Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove is located 25 minutes north of Cairns and directly opposite the main swimming beach of Palm Cove.

Housed in a romantic, colonial style building with white washed walls, Reef House Resort & Spa truly captures the romance of a bygone era as each of the guestrooms boast plush, king size beds draped with light muslin netting and come with private balconies or patios either overlooking the ocean, garden or pool.

The “our house” beach house feel of the property is what has given Reef House that certain “je ne sais quoi” which keeps guests coming back for more.

In addition, every room features a kitchenette, individually controlled air-conditioning, rain showers, a swinging ‘love seat’ and complimentary WiFi.

While Palm Cove is well-known as a fine dining destination, The Reef House Restaurant has earned its reputation as one of Palm Cove’s finest and was most recently recognised in the 2011 Australian Good Food and Travel Guides Chef’s Hats Awards.

Overlooking the palm lined esplanade, the restaurant is revered for its fresh, innovative cuisine, and Executive Chef Ashe Lewis uses local produce and the freshest seafood to create an eclectic menu of Australian, Asian and French inspired dishes.

For a more casual dining experience, the Poolside Restaurant is the ideal place to enjoy a laid back lunch, light snack or cool drink beside the cascading waters of the hotel’s main swimming pool. Surrounded by tropical gardens, it can also be used for private functions with themeing options available.

The resort’s Brigadier’s Bar is renowned in the area, with a reputation that dates back to its early days under the helm of namesake, Brigadier, The Hon. David Thompson, who served cocktails to guests at sunset. Even today, the bar is not officially open until all the candles in the resort have been lit and complimentary Brigadier’s Punch has been offered exclusively to guests. For those that want to have a drink before the bar has opened, a time honoured honestly system applies.

Operated by the internationally renowned Exclusive Spas of Australia (E’Spa), the resort’s recently renovated and awarded Reef House Spa consists of three treatment rooms, two Vichy showers, two dual treatment rooms, a ‘Serenity Verandah’ and offers a range of indulgent treatments which meld ancient therapies from the ‘Dreamtime’ using a uniquely Australian Li’TYA Spa Care range.

Adding to the resort’s standout leisure facilities, Reef House Resort & Spa makes a unique venue for small meetings for up to 40 people or cocktail parties, intimate weddings and celebrations with plenty of outdoor areas for themed events and informal gatherings

By joining the MGallery Collection, a world-renowned network of distinctive hotels, Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove joins five Australian hotels as well as the four-time “New Zealand Hotel of the Year” St Moritz in Queenstown and such distinctive properties as the Baltimore in Paris, St-Ermin’s in London, The Convent Hotel Amsterdam and Vie Hotel Bangkok.

For further information on Reef House Resort & Spa Palm Cove, please head to www.mgallery.com