AusLeisure

Gold Coast based FreeSpirit Resort and Holiday Park Management Group has been awarded as the preferred tenderer for a new tourist accommodation development at Exhibition Park In Canberra (EPIC).

The new park will cover a site approximately 10.6 hectares and will significantly enhance the capability of EPIC, Canberra's major event complex.

FreeSpirit Director Ray Bristow says winning the tender was testament to the company's experience in the tourist accommodation market and its commitment to providing industry-leading services.

Bristow explains "we are thrilled to be awarded the opportunity to develop the new facility in Canberra.

"The development of the project will draw upon our 40-plus years of experience and more than 20 properties owned or managed over that time.

"The eventual management will also incorporate our industry specific training and management processes.

"This is a major coup for FreeSpirit as we will be able to showcase our entire range of services from planning through to operation, and adds another park to our national portfolio."

FreeSpirit Management is recognised as an industry leading operator, receiving many tourism awards, with one of their properties recently awarded first place in the world by 'Trip Advisor' for category, 'Resorts for Families', as voted by people's choice for 2012.

The company was formed in 2004 to assist corporate entities that invested in holiday parks but did not have the expertise to manage them, and has quickly emerged as the leader in the holiday and tourist park management industry.

FreeSpirit currently manages or consults directly to nine popular holiday parks including Darwin's FreeSpirit Resort and Hidden Valley Tourist Park, Hervey Bay's Fraser Lodge, Caloundra Waterfront Holiday Park on QLD's Sunshine Coast, Treasure Island on the Gold Coast, Yamba's iconic Blue Dolphin

Holiday Resort, Darlington Beach on the Coffs Coast, Ocean Beach on the NSW Central Coast and Merimbula Beach on the NSW South Coast.

FreeSpirit also provides selective operational management services, master planning consultancy, marketing and design services for the industry.

ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA says the ACT Government is committed to providing low budget tourist accommodation for school groups visiting Canberra and the travelling public, as demonstrated by their support of this project.

Minister Barr stated "the intended design of the property will provide Canberra with a new standard of tourist park and budget accommodation unlike anything else in Australia.

"It will provide accommodation options for visiting school and sports groups and the general touring and holidaying public."

In March this year the CRVA the national body encompassing the entire caravan, RV and accommodation industry of Australia awarded FreeSpirit as National Trainer of the Year, and over the past two years FreeSpirit managed properties have collected 39 awards across the tourism industry.

FreeSpirit recently announced that it will be stepping back from its management role of four NRMA-owned holiday parks having, for almost seven years, managed Treasure Island on the Gold Coast, Darlington Beach on the Coffs Coast, and Ocean Beach on the NSW Central Coast and Merimbula Beach on the south coast of NSW on behalf of NRMA Motoring and Services.

The company stated that the change would allow it to broaden its product base and expand their training division to offer the expertise to assist with the training and education of employees within the hospitality industry.

For more information about FreeSpirit Resort and Holiday Park Management call 07 5500 7500, E: admin@freespiritresorts.com.au, www.freespiritholidayparks.com.au

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