Thursday, 18 June 2020
Further to the announcement from Chief Minister, Michael Gunner that he will open the Northern Territory borders on July 17, and the re-introduction of Jetstar flights direct from Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s largest integrated resort, Ayers Rock Resort (ARR) will re-open on Saturday, August 1, 2020.
A new look resort will greet guests when they arrive. During the recent closure, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia has taken the opportunity to bring forward the completion of an extensive refurbishment of Ayers Rock Resort and improvements to the airport infrastructure. This encompasses extensive upgrades at the five-star Sails in the Desert including all guest rooms and suites, the lobby, pool and restaurant; completion of upgrades to The Lost Camel, and the replacement of toilet blocks and bathrooms in the popular Campground. Upgrades to the airport infrastructure include new screening areas making it easier for guests to clear security and start their holidays.
“We are looking forward to welcoming guests back to the spiritual heart of our country and showcasing the work we have done at the resort in their absence” said Voyages CEO Grant Hunt. “This is the perfect time for Australians to get out and explore our amazing landscapes including the vast central desert, iconic Uluru and Kata-Tjuta as well as experiencing the important Indigenous cultural stories shared by the Traditional Owners of our land."
During their stay, visitors can enjoy the 50,000 stems of Bruce Munro’s spectacular Field of Light installation, dine under the stars at Sounds of Silence or indulge in a four-course table d’hôte menu at the award-winning Tali Wiru. An extensive range of activities including helicopter rides, segway tours, camel rides and dot painting in and around Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park also will be available.
Around the resort, guests can take part in free activities including bush tucker demonstrations, guided garden walks, didgeridoo workshops and traditional bush yarns.
Popular dining spots including Ilkari Restaurant, Walpa Bar, Geckos Café and Indigenous trainee-run Kulata Academy Café will be open with dine-in and takeaway alternatives.
www.ayersrockresort.com.au/experiences
To celebrate the resort’s re-opening, Voyages will extend special offers for stays of 2, 3 and 4 or more nights with discounts of up to 50%.
Sails in the Desert Hotel, The Lost Camel Hotel, Emu Walk Apartments and the Ayers Rock Resort Campground will allow tourists to experience the Red Centre on a range of budgets.
www.ayersrockresort.com.au/accommodation/specials/welcome-back
The vast landscape of Central Australia already lends itself to social distancing but for the additional safety of guests and staff, Ayers Rock Resort will be implementing strict hygiene measures such as:
- Regular deep cleaning of rooms and public spaces using hospital grade cleaning materials;
- Additional screening of guests arriving into the airport;
- Isolation/quarantine areas on site which can be activated as needed;
- Reduced tour group sizes and agreed health safety programs with all on-site transport and touring companies;
- Comprehensive safety and hygiene training for all staff including mandatory infection control training for COVID-19;
- Enhanced food preparation standards with mandatory PPE requirements for employees; 24/7 in-room dining available at some hotels.
Information on additional safety measures is available on the Ayers Rock Resort website.
www.ayersrockresort.com.au/coronavirus-faqs
Voyages is also communicating regularly with Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Mutitjulu management to ensure that all necessary precautions are being taken to protect the local Indigenous community, located some 30km from the resort.
Additionally, a new guest centric mobile application has been developed to provide a contactless experience. Not only will the app give greater peace of mind to guests, but it will also allow them to manage and own their stay by serving as a virtual concierge pre, during and post arrival. Guests will be able to check in prior to arrival, order in-room dining, and plan their tours, activities, spa and dining activities from the moment they book their stay at Ayers Rock Resort. In addition, human and AI driven chatbot technology will be integrated within the app to provide guests with real-time answers to any questions they have about their holiday experience.
Special rates are available to book now for travel from August 1, 2020, including return airport transfers, in-room Wi-Fi, free guest activities and free use of the resort shuttle service. Desert Gardens Hotel and the Outback Pioneer Hotel will remain closed. For further information visit: www.ayersrockresort.com.au.
