About Solaris Palace
A family-built casino hotel on the Tweed Coast — 186 rooms, one gaming floor, three restaurants, and a team that's been together longer than most hotel chains keep a general manager.
Built by locals, run like it matters
Solaris Palace started as a roadside motel the Marchetti family bought in 2009 — 40 rooms, a bistro and a licence application nobody thought would clear. It did. We reopened in 2011 with a small gaming room and a simple idea: treat guests like neighbours, because around here they usually are.
Three expansions later — the tower in 2014, the spa and pool deck in 2018, the rooftop bar and ballroom in 2022 — the place still runs on the same rule: the owners are in the building most days, and complaints get fixed before checkout, not in a follow-up survey.
Milestones
2011 opening · 2014 tower (96→186 rooms) · 2018 day spa · 2019 "Best Regional Hotel" at the NSW Tourism Awards · 2022 ballroom & rooftop · 2024 our millionth guest checked in.
Philosophy
Casino hotels usually run on volume. We run on return visits — most of our guests have been here before, and half the staff have been here a decade. Hospitality first, gaming second, gimmicks never.
Community
85% of kitchen produce comes from within 80 km, we're a major sponsor of Tweed Coast junior sport, and our staff-volunteer program puts 1,200+ hours a year into local projects.
The people you'll actually meet
A senior team that stays — our four department heads average eleven years at Solaris Palace.
Elena Marchetti
General Manager
Second-generation owner. You'll find her at reception most mornings — she still checks VIP arrivals personally.
Marcus Thackeray
Casino Operations Director
22 years in gaming across three countries. Runs the floor, the VIP salon and our responsible-gambling program.
Yuki Tanabe
Executive Chef
Ex-Sydney fine dining. Built Meridian's menu around Tweed Valley farms — visits the growers monthly, argues about tomatoes.
Renee Collis
Events & Weddings Lead
400+ weddings delivered since 2015. If it involves a timeline, a seating chart or a nervous parent, it's hers.
What we've hosted lately
A snapshot of the work the team is proud of — weddings, conferences, tournaments and the odd surprise.
The Alvarez–Kim wedding
160 guests, ceremony on the terrace, reception in the Grand Ballroom, and a 1 am send-off through a sparkler line. Weddings at Solaris →
Tweed Coast Poker Open
Our third annual tournament — 214 players across three days, $80k prize pool, and a final table that ran till 3 am. 18+ event.
Pacific Agritech Summit
220 delegates, two days, six breakout rooms and a gala dinner cooked around Northern Rivers produce. Event spaces →