SCHEDULED for soft opening in October, Emirates Hotels & Resorts conservation based Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Australia’s Great Dividing Range is gearing up to open all visitor gates come November 1.
The resort in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area occupies two per cent of a 4,000 acre conservancy reserve. Joost Heymeijer general manager of Wolgan Valley, who has been working with this project for the past four years, is “like a kid in a candy store” when asked if he is excited about its opening.
“I can smell the finish line – which in reality is the starting line too,” Heymeijer told TTN. “I can’t wait but I’m also enjoying this time at the moment.”
He essentially wears two hats: that of hotel project manager as well as general manager. Staff recruitment has been a recent priority, most recruits coming from within Australia and speaking a variety of languages to suit the customer mix.
Initially Heymeijer was anticipating 70 per cent of the business to be international with 30 per cent domestic, but since the credit crunch he expects the domestic percentage to be higher in both the leisure and MICE markets.
Bookings soared after ITB in March and there are a “good number” of bookings from the UK for the Christmas season and into early 2010. While Australia offers many attractions to the Middle East market, most prefer the lure of the Gold Coast for longer stays of three to four weeks. However, “the pattern of travel from the Middle East to Australia is very promising – up 6 per cent every year,” said Heymeijer. He believes the resort will attract the more discerning traveller that appreciates its many ecotourism aspects.
Wolgan Valley is surrounded by two National Parks. It features 40 individual villas surrounded by private decks, each having its own indoor/outdoor swimming pool, and a spa. Its architecture is reminiscent of a traditional rural Australian homestead.
As Emirates Hotels & Resorts’ first hospitality development outside Dubai, the project was developed using similar principles of Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa. Most of the area is operated as a wildlife reserve, and the Wolgan conservancy project protects the region’s indigenous and endangered species, which had previously been under pressure from introduced flora and feral predators, the major causes of species extinction in Australia.
Thousands of native trees have also been planted. Environmentally sustainable practices are an integral part of the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa development. Rainwater collection, grey water recycling and the use of solar panels are incorporated into the architecture, and resort will ultimately have over 100 solar energy units.
By Cheryl Mandy