Image: Will Salkeld Photography
Guests are today checking-in to the new-look and newly-managed Hayman Island by InterContinental for the first time as the highly-anticipated resort opens its doors.
More than $135 million has been spent on the complete restoration and rejuvenation of the Whitsundays island, some two years after the previous iteration was destroyed by Cyclone Debbie in 2017. The new InterContinental is the first of the brand’s four resort properties to open in 2019 – to be followed by resorts in Beppu, the Maldives and Phuket.
The 166-room resort caters to guests arriving by catamaran, seaplane or helicopter, with three separate accommodation wings consisting of rooms, suites and villas – the Beach Wing, Pool Wing or Lagoon Wing. At the highest echelon is the three-bedroom Hayman Beach House, which fronts the beach and offers private swimming pools for each bedroom, dining and living room, entertaining area, sun lounges. Each room is fitted with energy conservation systems.
InterContinental Hotels Group Managing Director Australasian and Japan, Leanne Harwood, said Hayman Island has been pivotal in the company’s expansion plans for the Australian market.
“The resort created a new benchmark for the Australian market upon opening and our investment of $135 million to reposition and relaunch Hayman will create a new standard for luxury resort travel in the region.”
Image: Will Salkeld Photography
Five different dining areas are on the table at Hayman Island, led by the main Pacific all-day restaurant. In addition, the Aqua pool-side eatery is in place, while guests can also choose from the Italian pizzeria at Amici Trattoria or Asian cuisine at Bam Bam. The specialist Bar Fifty cocktail bar, set in 1950s style, rounds out the epicurean experience.
Sustainability is at the heart of operations, with the resort being plastic-free and all guests provided with a reusable water bottle on check-in and a prevalence of water stations. Glass bottles will be crushed and turned into sand for use in the resort’s gardens.
“Today marks a special day for our team who have worked tirelessly on the transformation of this sensational island resort. Designed to be discreetly private, welcoming to families as well as couples, with a meaningful connection to its surrounds, Hayman Island by InterContinental is the embodiment of a luxury resort experience reimagined for the modern traveller,” said InterContinental by Hayman Island Resort Manager, Mark Eletr.