Hong Kong businessman unveils plans to transform 10-storey Cairns hotel into vertical retirement village

Another hotel is set to become retirement living units after COVID saw tourist numbers slump. Benny Wu – a Hong Kong businessman who owns a number of high-profile Far North Queensland developments – has lodged plans to redevelop five storeys of the 136-room Acacia Court Hotel on the Cairns Esplanade into a 67-room retirement facility. The top floor of the hotel would be set aside for communal-use rooms containing “various games, and health and fitness activities” such as yoga and massage. The other levels of the 10-floor tower would be used for short-term accommodation.

“Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, and a desire to diversify their accommodation offering, the operator will be seeking approval for the conversion …” the application states. “After approval the rooms will be subdivided via a building format plan to allow rooms to be bought and sold.”

Residents would have access to cleaning services, a small convenience store, shuttle bus to the CBD, tennis court and all hotel facilities including a bottle shop. Mr Wu previously had approval for an $80 million redevelopment of the hotel in 2015 which would have seen the hotel increased to 13 storeys and 407 rooms.