The newest member of AccorHotels’ boutique MGallery Collection, Elements of Byron in Byron Bay, has welcomed its first guests.
Situated on 50 acres, encompassing almost two kilometres of absolute beach frontage on Belongi Beach, Elements of Byron brings “barefoot luxury to Byron Bay”, according to AccorHotels.
Three separate pavilions make up the central resort and leisure facilities, featuring a signature restaurant and lobby bar, poolside bar and kiosk, gymnasium and five suite garden spa. Weaving throughout the resort is an infinity lagoon pool precinct, complete with a communal sunken fire pit.
“We congratulate the owners and hotel team on opening this exceptional world-class resort,” said AccorHotels’ Chief Operating Officer – Pacific, Simon McGrath.
“AccorHotels welcomes this latest addition to our boutique MGallery Collection and franchise hotel network which is set to delight guests with its unsurpassed beachfront locale whilst showcasing the very best of the Byron Bay region.”
Development of the AUD$100 million dollar ‘slow architectural’ resort was overseen by owner Peggy Flannery.
She said design was driven by reverence to the four landscape ecologies present on the site, being rainforest, dunal, eucalypt and wetland. Specific native landscaping, furnishings and colour palettes reflect the ecology or landscape in which each particular villa sits.
Elements of Byron General Manager, Leon Pink, said: “Being privately owned by a couple who are passionate about the site, let alone the resort crafted within it, helps a lot. Nothing was compromised. I’ve never really experienced another similar situation.”
The 94 villas (a further 96 will be built in Stage 2) represent a softer tribute to the four unique ecologies present across the site. Every aspect of design and landscaping, down to the colours, furnishings and subtle signage reflect and celebrate the dunal, rainforest, eucalypt and wetland themes.
Among the artworks commissioned are a suite of paintings in oil, pigment and charcoal on jute by renowned Byron artist Noel Hart celebrating these ecologies. Hart has also contributed the feature work for the reception area – five asymmetrical blown glass forms depicting five Australian Black Cockatoo species, including the locally critically endangered Coastal Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo.
Graze at Elements is also now open, an all-day, produce-first dining option, along with Drift Bar and Barefoot Bar and Kiosk.
Elements of Byron’s signature dining experience, Mixed Dozen Restaurant is scheduled to open over the next few months, as well as a private Beach Club.
Scheduled to open mid-year is a fully refurbished 100-seat two carriage heritage train which will run between the resort and the Byron Bay township, a journey of 3km.
Elements of Byron also offers state of the art conferencing facilities, catering up to 450 delegates.