Bedarra Great Barrier Reef has become another casualty of the Australian Government’s ban on domestic holidays fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming it will be turning away guests from 27 March through until the end of April 2020.
“With the latest Government announcement banning non-essential travel within Australia, we have subsequently decided that we will not be in a position to re-open Bedarra for guests on 27 March and will remain closed until non-essential travel is again reinstated,” the luxury family-owned resort said.
The property vows that it will re-open “as soon as it is safe and sustainable to do so”.
A statement posted on Bedarra’s website regarding coronavirus states: “These are trying times. Our hearts are also with our guests and travellers who have had long awaited holidays, special events and travel plans rescheduled or cancelled, and everyone in the service industry impacted by this sudden and unexpected freefall in the tourism and hospitality industry.”
Bedarra is providing guests impacted by the short notice temporary closure with an updated cancellation and change policy that is “unconstrained and personalised to allow total flexibility for guests regarding cancellations or changes to reservations in these uncertain times.”
Guests booked to arrive in April will be contacted and offered change-of-date options until later in 2020 or 2021. The resort is encouraging those affected to postpone their travel rather than cancel. “This will allow us to look after our dedicated team of staff through this trying time and allow us to be 100% ready for opening as soon as travel restrictions are eased,” Bedarra said.
“As the Government issues further advice over the coming days and weeks, we will attempt to estimate a proposed opening date, and will then contact guests with arrival dates from May onwards to discuss travel arrangements,” the statement concludes.
Meanwhile, Lizard Island Resort has announced it will close for two months, between 29 March and 29 May “to ensure the health of our guests and staff”.
The luxury Lizard Island Resort, located off Cooktown, is encouraging displaced guests to “consider postponing rather than cancelling” stays.
This week, LATTE revealed that InterContinental Hayman Island Resort would be temporarily closing due to the forced travel ban, while Hamilton Island resorts (including qualia), Daydream Island Resort and Orpheus Great Barrier Reef were pulling down the shutters.
More on Bedarra’s COVID-19 policy here.
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