New ‘5000 star hotel chain’ to expand across Australia

This new Aussie luxury accommodation chain is planning a huge expansion across the country before taking their business globally.

A unique Australian luxury accommodation chain is planning on expanding across the country and Tourism Australia says it couldn’t come at a better time.

Wander, which currently has its “WanderPods” in Queensland’s Scenic Rim and South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, has dubbed itself the “5000 star hotel chain”.

Founder and chief executive Cassandra Sasso says the 5000 stars refers to the fact guests are immersed in nature and can kick back and view thousands of stars from their rooms at night.

Wander leases private land with stunning natural scenery to host the luxury sustainable pods, with the goal of creating a network across regional Australia.

There are currently four WanderPods on the stunning Kangaroo Island, which opened in December last year. Picture: Remy Brand

Wander is currently raising capital to fund its expansion with its sights first set on wine regions around Adelaide, the Grampians, three hours from Melbourne, and the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

“In the high-demand and growing regional destinations around Australia,” Ms Sasso told news.com.au of the location choices, adding that they’ve also started conversations with key people overseas to expand internationally.

The Scenic Rim was Wander’s first location, opened in December 2021. Picture: Krista Eppelstun

It is something Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison believes the country needs, with a shortfall in luxury accommodations in regional areas.

“Since the end of 2020 more than 200 new and renovated hotels have come online across Australia adding an additional 20,000 rooms, which is great news, but we need to be continually refreshing the options available, while also adding new and different types of accommodation into the mix,” she said.

“Luxury travellers in particular are increasingly seeking out bespoke accommodation and experiences, so high quality product which takes advantage of Australia’s stunning landscapes is highly sought after.

“It is also important to have world-class product in regional Australia to encourage international travellers to go beyond the most common destinations and explore different parts of our country.”

Wander wants to expand across the country and eventually, internationally. Picture: Remy Brand

Ms Sasso said their guests are primarily people who drive from the nearest capital city, Brisbane and Adelaide, but this is expected to change now that Covid is behind us.

“Now that we’ve been opened just under two years now, we’re starting to see repeat customers either coming back to the same location or trying out the other location,” she added.

Wander is doing an equity crowdfunding campaign through the Birchal platform to drive expansion. Picture: Remy Brand

Ms Sasso, who lives in Sydney and has a background in hotel design, believes Wander takes the “best parts” of hotels, AirBnbs and the emerging tiny homes market to create a new category of accommodation.

“It gives guests the opportunity to immerse deeply in nature in some of the most scenic parts of the country without the trade-off of quality or sustainability or comfort,” she said.

According to Wander, its pods cost up to 25 per cent less than traditional hotel builds per key and require just 16 weeks for manufacturing.