How resort renovations will impact island holidays as tourists return in droves

International tourists are heading back to Queensland’s top island destination in droves, but they won’t be able to enjoy a major draw card with renovations planned in the coming months.

International tourists are heading back to Queensland’s top island destination in droves, but they won’t be able to enjoy a major drawcard, with renovations planned in the coming months.

Hamilton Island’s main pool will be out of action for four weeks from May 27 as the resort completes maintenance and renovations that were postponed due to the pandemic.

Hamilton Island CEO Glenn Bourke has assured guests there were plenty of other pools, including Sails Pool and Bougainvillea Pool, to use at the popular holiday spot which will also undergo works to its Reef View Hotel Pool Terrace Restaurant, Reef View Elevator Lobby and floors 1 to 4.

A renovated lobby at the Reef View Hotel

The Oatley family has invested over $600 million into the island since the early 2000s, and Mr Bourke said their ongoing investment was aimed at ensuring it remained a premium resort.

“Our renovations at the Reef View Hotel started before Covid,” Mr Bourke said.

“Like many projects across the country, renovations were delayed during the pandemic with materials, supply chains, and the workforce severely affected.”

Renovations have been completed at Reef View’s first tower garden view rooms.

Renovations on the Reef View lounge, lobby, and the first tower of garden view rooms were finished in December, with renovations to the second tower of garden view rooms well under way and expected to be completed by the end of May.

Mr Bourke said the resort liked to undertake renovations during the dry season when they can be completed as quickly as possible with minimal disruption to guests.

Renovations have been completed at Reef View’s first tower garden view rooms.

The makeover comes as guests from near and far book out the island for months, with Mr Bourke describing “immense” demand.

“We knew there was an enormous appetite to travel after lockdowns, and the figures have proved that,” he said.

“Our numbers in April were higher than they were pre-Covid.”

Not everything is smooth sailing in the Whitsundays, with the workforce yet to be boosted by overseas workers who set off when Covid-19 arrived.

Several recent TripAdvisor reviews have alluded to staffing issues with guests describing subpar service.

Hamilton Island. Photo: File/ Kara Rosenlund

Mr Bourke said the island acted on feedback to improve operations.

He conceded the Easter school holidays had been a busy period for the island which has struggled for staff during the pandemic, but believed the negative reviews were in the minority.

“The entire tourism industry has struggled for staff, and we’re no different,” Mr Bourke said.

“We’re all looking for more skilled workers to come back to Australia.”

The greatest challenge for island during the pandemic was border closures, and the uncertainty they brought for guests.

Mr Bourke said it was no easy task managing the fallout but he felt positive about the future.

“Aussies had the opportunity to see the beauty in their own backyard and they loved it,” he said.

“We’d like to think Hamilton Island has earned a place in people’s hearts and they’ll keep coming back to the island.

“Tourism for Hamilton Island, and the region is looking prosperous.”

Renovation Program:

Reef View Hotel Maintenance Floors 1-4: April 21 to May 27, 2022 – building works noise

Reef View Hotel Maintenance Pool Terrace Restaurant: May 30 to June 24, 2022 (restaurant will be closed)

Main Pool closure: May 27 to June 24 – closure of Main Pool

Reef View Hotel Elevator Lobby Works Floors 1-4: June-November 2022 – restricted access to impacted floors and building works noise