Emirates, Marriott to reopen Wolgan Valley as world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge

Emirates and Marriott International have signed an agreement to reopen the shuttered Wolgan Valley property in Australia’s Blue Mountains as the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge. The move marks a significant shift for the luxury resort which has been sitting vacant for nearly three years.

The 40-key all-inclusive lodge is scheduled to open by mid-2026 following a AU$50 million (US $34 million) renovation of the 7,000-acre conservation property located in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area of New South Wales. The project represents Emirates’ second major operator partnership for the site in less than two decades.

Emirates originally opened the property in 2009 as Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort before partnering with luxury hotel group One&Only Resorts to operate it as Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley. 

The arrangement ended in June 2023 when the resort closed indefinitely due to ongoing road access problems caused by landslides that had cut off the primary route into the valley. The closure resulted in roughly 100 staff layoffs and left the property nonoperational, though Emirates maintained a small crew of local employees to care for the site.

The road issues stem from catastrophic landslides in late 2022 that forced the closure of Wolgan Road, the main access route. 

Emirates’ long-term commitment

Despite the access challenges, Emirates has invested a total of AU$200 million in the property since acquiring it in 2006, including extensive conservation work such as planting more than one million native trees and restoring historically significant structures like the original 1832 homestead.

“We are proud of our long-term investment into the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort which launched one of Australia’s first conservation-based luxury resorts,” said Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline. “Our unwavering commitment to the resort leads us to today’s announcement of an exciting agreement with Marriott International to open the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge.”

The partnership with Marriott marks a strategic shift for both companies. Ritz-Carlton Lodges represent a new category for the luxury brand: purpose-built sanctuaries designed to minimize environmental impact while delivering what Marriott calls “a heightened sense of luxury, comfort and craftsmanship” in natural settings.

“Marking the brand’s lodge debut globally, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will be a major drawcard for our network of 260 million loyal Marriott Bonvoy members around the world,” said Rajeev Menon, President of Asia Pacific excluding China at Marriott International.

What the lodge will offer

Emirates said that the renovated property will feature 40 freestanding lodges, each with private pools and what the companies describe as bespoke amenities. Plans include a signature “sleep-out experience” where guests are guided into remote wilderness for overnight camping under what the property markets as some of the world’s clearest night skies.

The main homestead will house a signature restaurant, lounge bar, wine room, and arrival spaces. Recreational facilities will include an outdoor pool, tennis courts, equestrian stables, a fitness center, and a Ritz-Carlton Spa. A dedicated naturalist hub staffed by a resident expert will offer conservation-focused experiences across the property, which occupies less than 2% of the 7,000-acre reserve.

Guests will access the resort either via the four-wheel-drive Donkey Steps route, which will be positioned as part of the “rural off-road experience”, or by helicopter.

Regional tourism and economic impact

The reopening could create approximately 150 jobs in the Wolgan Valley community and increase opportunities for local suppliers of food and other goods, according to Emirates.

The timing aligns with growing demand for premium nature-based tourism. Tourism Research Australia reported that regional NSW welcomed 15.5 million domestic visitors in the quarter ending September 2025, generating AU$5.9 billion (US $4.1 billion) in spending. International visitors contributed an additional 727,300 arrivals and AU$1.2 billion (US $846 million) in expenditure during the same period.

“For us, Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge will not only be an extraordinary resort appealing to discerning travellers seeking to be close to nature, but also a powerful engine for local economic growth, helping to rejuvenate the Wolgan Valley locality,” Clark said.

The property will join two other Ritz-Carlton hotels in Australia, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth (opened 2019) and The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne (opened 2023). However, it will be the only lodge-format property in the brand’s global portfolio.

Emirates has operated in Australia for 30 years and maintains extensive partnerships across the country, including major sports and arts sponsorships. The airline said it worked closely with federal and state governments, Lithgow City Council, and the Wolgan Valley community to make the project viable despite the ongoing infrastructure challenges.

Whether the road access situation improves before the lodge opens remains uncertain, but Emirates and Marriott are betting that high-end travelers willing to pay premium rates for an all-inclusive wilderness experience won’t be deterred by a rough entry.

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