By Triana O'Keefe, editor Australian Hotelier
After paying $70 million for Townsville’s Jupiters Casino in 2014, Chris Morris has revealed plans for a $200 million overhaul.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review after the purchase, Morris said the property had great potential, but had suffered from a lack of investment.
"[Echo] had been trying to sell it for two years," he said.
"The only money that had really been spent on it is the gambling facilities."
Ahead of a formal announcement to be made on Tuesday, Morris has detailed plans which aim to breathe new life into the tourist precinct.
“This city needs a lift. Even the locals are down on the town, and they’re trying to turn the bar and restaurant precinct into some sort of inner-city Melbourne scene,” Morris told the Herald Sun.
“My focus is on opening up the resort into a more upmarket, sophisticated hotel, bar and food scene,” he said.
Morris said his dream is to create packages for international tourists that take in the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree and the outback, allowing them to stay at his trio of unique properties.