Ardo was at the centre of national attention this month as the final destination for Jetstar’s 22nd birthday “party flight”, bringing Shannon Noll, a host of lookalikes and high-profile influencers to Townsville.

The celebration began in the sky, with Jetstar transforming a Sydney to Townsville flight into a high-energy event, complete with a live performance from Shannon Noll and a plane full of guests embracing the experience. The momentum continued on the ground, with Ardo Rooftop hosting an exclusive event to mark the occasion.

Approximately 60 of Australia’s well-known influencers attended the rooftop celebration, bringing with them a combined social reach of more than 7 million followers. This created a significant opportunity to showcase Ardo and The Ville precinct on a national stage, positioning us within the premium North Queensland experience.

Guests stayed at Ardo for three days, experiencing a curated itinerary designed to highlight the very best of the region. This included time on Magnetic Island, a bespoke dining experience at Terasu, pilates on the lawns and a range of other premium touchpoints across the precinct.

The rooftop event delivered strong visibility and energy, reinforcing Ardo’s position as a destination for standout experiences and events. More broadly, it reflects the growing profile of Townsville and the role we continue to play in showcasing the region to new audiences.

Moments like this are a great example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships and a consistently high standard of delivery across teams.

WHS Champion – Pania Moore
Pania Moore, Stores Assistant Manager, is an excellent example of safety leadership in action. Pania regularly attends WHS meeting and a strong contributor at each meeting, bringing constructive suggestions and input on behalf of her work team. Pania recently put forward the suggestion for all staff to receive refresher training on the importance of pedestrian safety when moving around loading docks with forklift and heavy vehicle movements.  Pania’s suggestion has been adopted by the business and in April we released the new LMS Module via Allara system “The Ville Precinct: Safety Snapshots 2026”.

Pania’s Safety Moto: Safety starts with every one of us!  Stay alert, work with purpose, and look out for your team. See the risk, speak up early, and act fast to prevent harm through safe work practices, training, and clear communication.

Terms of Reference – Workplace, Health & Safety Meeting

The Ville Precinct has issued new Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Meeting, which sets out our Company’s commitment and expectations of team members.

The Ville Precinct supports consultation and worker representation in health and safety matters in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (QLD).

Team Members have the right to request the election of a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) to represent them on WHS matters.  If a request is received, a process of consultation would commence to facilitate the formation of work groups and HSR election.  If you would like to find out who from your Department currently attends WHS meetings, please speak with your Line Manager.  If you would like to request to elect a HSR, please contact your Manager who will engage with [email protected] to facilitate the process in line with legislative requirements.

Team Members are encouraged to continue raising any health and safety concerns through their Department manager or relevant team member attending our WHS meetings (generally held bi-monthly).

Our next WHS Meeting will be Tuesday, 14 July 2026.

A huge congratulations to Patrick Hill, Bars Manager at Ardo Rooftop and The Ville precinct, who has been named among Australia’s top 100 bartenders in the globally recognised Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year 2026 competition.

Known as one of the most prestigious competitions in the industry, World Class shines a spotlight on creativity, technical skill and exceptional hospitality and Patrick has certainly delivered. Representing North Queensland on a national stage, he was the only bartender from the region to earn a place in the top 100.

Patrick’s entry, a refined clarified sour featuring Tanqueray No. Ten, hibiscus tea, pomegranate and lemon, was a standout interpretation of this year’s “Luxury” theme balancing elegance, clarity and bold flavour.

While illness prevented him from progressing to the next stage, this recognition is a significant achievement and a testament to Patrick’s talent, passion and dedication to his craft.

It also reflects the strength and growing reputation of our bars team, with Ardo Rooftop continuing to elevate the region’s cocktail and dining experience.

Congratulations, Patrick, an incredible milestone and one we’re proud to celebrate.

From 10–14 May, The Ville precinct and Ardo Hotel were proudly represented at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Adelaide,one of the industry’s biggest events bringing together tourism operators from across Australia and around the globe.

Representing our team, Ayesha Maryam (Revenue Manager) and Monique Searle (Business Development Manager) spent five days showcasing what makes our destination truly special. Together, they connected with more than 75 travel agents and key industry partners, building valuable relationships and opening the door to future opportunities for both properties.

It was also a fantastic opportunity to collaborate alongside valued partners, with Morris Escapes and Nautilus Aviation joining the conversation and helping to spotlight the unique experiences our region has to offer.

Moments like these play an important role in growing our reach and positioning The Ville precinct and Ardo as must-visit destinations—both nationally and internationally. A huge thank you to Ayesha and Monique for representing the business so strongly on such an impactful stage.

From left to right: Jamie Binder – Morris Escapes; Ayesha Maryam – The Ville Resort-Casino & Ardo Hotel; Monique Searle – The Ville Resort-Casino & Ardo Hotel; Billy (Wei) Zou – Nautilus Aviation; Jen Penegar – Morris Escapes; Adam Leston – Nautilus Aviation

Innovation was on full display at this year’s AIM Higher initiative, with an impressive 50 submissions received from across The Ville precinct, each reflecting the creativity, insight and forward-thinking mindset of our teams.

After careful consideration, seven finalists were recognised for their standout ideas: Mark Davis, Jo Hicks, Reyna Javelona, Kalyan Karki, Sam Lawrence, Ayesha Maryam and Monique Searle. Each submission demonstrated practical thinking and a strong focus on enhancing both our guest experience and business outcomes.

At the Townhall on 19 May, Beth Van Kooten and Karen Seal were announced as this year’s AIM Higher winners. Beth’s idea focuses on creating a consistent customer service standard of excellence that can be rolled out across the entire precinct, lifting the guest experience at every touchpoint.

Karen’s winning concept centres on developing a more streamlined valet system, supported by automation, to improve efficiency and flow. With a strong focus on the arrival experience, the idea reinforces that service starts at the front door, creating a seamless and memorable first impression for our guests.

Both winners were awarded a $1,000 gift card in recognition of their contributions and the impact their ideas could have across the business.

AIM Higher continues to be an important platform for our teams to share ideas, challenge the status quo and contribute to the evolution of The Ville precinct. Thank you to everyone who participated, your thinking plays a key role in shaping what comes next.

The past two months have been a strong demonstration of what we can achieve when we stay focused and aligned across The Ville precinct.

As we move into June, we also celebrate an incredible milestone — 40 years of The Ville. This is a significant moment for the precinct, and one we’ll be recognising with a full calendar of celebrations across the month.

It’s also an opportunity to celebrate four remarkable team members: Allan Carr, Tony Johnson, Kerry Beeston and Eric Gulson who are marking this milestone in an extraordinary way, each celebrating 40 years of service at The Ville. Their combined experience reflects not only the evolution of the property over four decades, but the consistency, commitment and culture that continue to shape who we are today.

We’ve completed the renovation of Miss Songs and expanded the offerings with the introduction of Uber Eats and $10 Vantage Rewards lunches on weekdays, creating another channel for guests to engage with the brand. Terasu has also evolved, now opening for weekend lunches and continuing to build on its offering.

Margaritaville delivered a very strong month of events, achieving some of our highest numbers to date. Results like this don’t happen without strong collaboration across teams, so thank you to everyone involved.
I also want to recognise the work done in the community. Together, we’ve raised just over $10,000 for Fuel for Schools and Angel Paws, which is a great outcome and something we should be proud of.

Looking ahead, The Townsville Tumbler is progressing well, with branding, location and equipment now coming together. We’ll continue to keep the team updated as it develops.

In June, all team members will take part in Vantage Rewards training as we prepare for the relaunch on 1 July. As with any loyalty program, Vantage Rewards is regularly reviewed to ensure it reflects both our customer expectations and how our business continues to evolve. Since the last review in 2023, the precinct has grown significantly, including the addition of new venues and experiences.

This next phase is focused on ensuring the program remains sustainable, balanced and aligned with where we’re heading, while continuing to invest in what matters most to our members, including service, events and experiences. Your role in delivering this consistently will be key to its success. As customer expenditure changes and discretionary spend is impacted by economic pressures, interest rates and fuel costs, we must always be looking at our business model.

Thank you for the continued effort and professionalism across the precinct. The progress we’re making is a direct result of the work happening across all areas of the business.