General News
27 August, 2026
Strategic iconic five-star hotel returns to the market
THE landmark Pullman Cairns International luxury hotel is back on the market.
JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group has opened an expressions of interest (EOI) campaign for the 17-level hotel which occupies a 8139sqm freehold site in the heart of Cairns.
Strategically positioned directly between the Cairns Convention Centre and The Reef Hotel Casino, and walking distance to the Cairns Esplanade and Cairns Marina, agents say the property “commands the most strategically-significant hotel site in Cairns”.
The hotel last sold to the Shakespeare Property Group in 2015 for about $69 million. It features 324 guest rooms and suites – the largest standard rooms in the Cairns market at a minimum of 40 square metres – alongside conference and events facilities, comprising 15 flexible spaces, anchored by the largest pillar-free ballroom in the market.
It also includes fine dining, a day spa resort-style pool deck, 196 basement car parks and a retail and commercial arcade.
Agents say the property is offered with vacant possession of both brand and management, providing incoming buyers with complete flexibility to reposition under a premium global brand, appoint a new operator, owner-operate or retain the existing operating structure.
The property has been refurbished to the tune of close to $25 million across two-stages.
JLL executive vice-president Adam Bury said the hotel was “a genuine trophy asset in one of Australia’s leading regional cities that comes with solid in-place cashflow and an obvious pathway, offering a high-single digit yield pushing into double digits by the time of the Olympics”.
“High yielding assets with returns of this nature, that also have such a unique quality, prominence and scale are incredibly rare in today’s highly sought-after Queensland market,” he said.
“The combination of an irreplaceable location and landholding, existing yield with clearly defined value-add program makes this a one-of-a-kind opportunity in Australia’s unique Tropical North Queensland.
“We have huge conviction in the Queensland and in the Cairns market itself.
“Cairns has transformed into a resilient and stable market underpinned by a strong domestic leisure base, recovering international visitation, as well established corporate segment in part driven largest conferencing facility in northern Australia.”
The Pullman Cairns International is being offered for sale via an Expressions of Interest (EOI) campaign. For further information contact JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group.
