By James Wilkinson in Cowes, Victoria
Wyndham’s Ramada Phillip Island resort in Cowes, Victoria has been officially opened.
The Victorian Member for Bass and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Ken Smith, declared the hotel open alongside regional tourism and local government representatives on Monday night (Apr 22).
Wyndham acquired 32 units for its Vacation Resorts business at the former All Seasons Phillip Island Resort in 2012, along with the management rights for the property that’s the only internationally-branded hotel in the region.
“I am thrilled to see the international brand Ramada establish its presence on the island,” Smith said.
“The resort has already taken many positive steps in helping to promote and preserve a region that so many Victorians are passionate about,” he said.
Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ Asia Pacific CEO and Managing Director, Barry Robinson, said the property was a strategic acquisition for the company.
“The opening of Ramada Resort Phillip Island marks our sixth, mixed-use resort acquired by Wyndham Hotel Group in partnership with Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific,” he said.
“This mixed-use model enables us to offer a combination of resort accommodation to vacation owners in our WorldMark South Pacific Club and to business and leisure guests.”
Robinson said Phillip Island was a location with loads of potential for Club members and guests alike.
“When we rebranded this resort Ramada, we wanted to establish a resort that would appeal to vacation owners, business and leisure guests alike… those who are planning conferences, weddings and events; those who come to Phillip Island to experience its fantastic events, such as the Moto GP, and those who simply want to experience the magic of its peaceful surrounds and natural attractions,” he said.
“As the largest accommodation provider on Phillip Island, the AUD$6 million plus that Wyndham has invested here will significantly contribute to the Victorian economy as it attracts tourism visitation and provides employment for Victorians,” Robinson said.
The 211-room Ramada Phillip Island resort is the fifth Victorian property for the company, alongside
WorldMark Resort Ballarat, Wyndham Resort Torquay, WorldMark Resort Lakes Entrance and Ramada Encore Dandenong.
They will soon be joined by a new Melbourne CBD property that’s expected to open in mid-2014.
“We have also just announced a sixth resort for Victoria with our recent acquisition of a brand new Melbourne CBD property,” Robinson said. “Still under construction, this property is due for completion in 2014, and will be branded Wyndham on William.
“The re-branding of Ramada Phillip Island and the announcement of a new Wyndham Hotel for Melbourne are integral steps in our company’s strategic direction to grow our portfolio in key tourism destinations with properties that are suitable for mixed-use,” he said.
Phillip Island is well-known for the MotoGP and the Parade of the Penguins, something which attracts up to 2000-people per day.
“We are sponsoring three Little Penguin nesting boxes through the Penguin Foundation’s Adopt-a-Penguin program including funding a University honours research student to study Little Penguins for one year,” Robinson said.
“We actually have a competition to name the Little Penguins. Open to our resort guests and Club Owners, the winning names will be announced at the end of May.”
Ramada Phillip Island is the ninth Ramada-branded hotel in the South Pacific region and joins Wyndham network of 24 resorts across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Pictured above are Wyndham’s Barry Robinson, Bass Coast Councillor Kimberley Brown and Member for Bass, Ken Smith, at Ramada Phillip Island. Photograph by James Wilkinson.