Overview
- Emirates confirmed a AU$50 million renovation and a Marriott partnership to relaunch the 40-key, all‑inclusive lodge under The Ritz-Carlton banner.
- The reopening follows a 2022 landslide that shut Wolgan Road and led to the resort’s mid‑2023 closure and the end of its One&Only operating arrangement.
- Access will rely on the Donkey Steps four‑wheel‑drive route or helicopter while authorities assess repair options and disaster‑recovery funding of up to AU$385 million for road restoration.
- The project is expected to recreate about 150 jobs and boost local suppliers, with Emirates noting it spent around AU$5 million annually to maintain the site during closure and AU$150 million since 2006.
- Upgrades include a full electrification of infrastructure for greater resilience, private‑pool villas, a Ritz‑Carlton Spa, and conservation‑led experiences on the 7,000‑acre reserve.