The Marlin Bar at Lizard Island Resort was reported locked out, with an MP calling for the decision to be reversed. Elsewhere, Ardour Milton Park Bowral reopened after a refurbishment. Hilton expects Waldorf Astoria Sydney to open in the third quarter of 2027.

Opened

  • Ardour Milton Park Bowral reopened after a refurbishment (27 October 2026, Gourmet Traveller).

Opening dates and bookings

Emirates Wolgan Valley is expected to reopen as a Ritz-Carlton Lodge in early 2027. The wait for Waldorf Astoria Sydney looks particularly long beside Emirates Wolgan Valley’s planned early-year return.

New projects

  • Approval was granted to convert the former Shangri-La Melbourne hotel tower project into apartments (8 October 2026, The Urban Developer).
  • Andaz Gold Coast outlined plans for four dining and drinking venues ahead of the hotel’s opening (27 October 2026, The Hotel Conversation; our story).

Approval was granted to convert the former Shangri-La Melbourne hotel tower project into apartments. For Melbourne’s luxury hotel ambitions, losing a planned Shangri-La to apartments is a dispiriting turn.

Rebrands, renovations and new venues

  • Shoreline Kitchen opened at Adina Sydney Darling Harbour as an all-day restaurant (6 October 2026, TFE Hotels).
  • Crystalbrook Sam revealed plans for Matines, a rooftop restaurant at the Adelaide hotel (7 October 2026, Crystalbrook Collection; our story).
  • T’ang Court at The Langham, Gold Coast is scheduled to reopen on October 31 with Mark Tumacder as chef de cuisine (21 October 2026, Langham Hospitality Group; our story).
  • Luxury Lodges of Australia members outlined work at Saffire Freycinet, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef and Bullo River Station (22 October 2026, travmedia.com).
  • Andaz Gold Coast previewed four dining and drinking venues, including its restaurant Nove, ahead of the hotel’s opening (28 October 2026, The Hotel Conversation).

Closures

  • The Marlin Bar at Lizard Island Resort was reported locked out, with an MP calling for the decision to be reversed (30 October 2026, cairnsnews.org).

An MP’s intervention makes the Marlin Bar lockout a reputational problem for Lizard Island Resort.

Awards

  • The Louise placed 10th in Condé Nast Traveler’s World’s Best Hotels, Australia and New Zealand ranking (7 October 2026, Travel Weekly).

Pre-opening teams

  • Waldorf Astoria Sydney appointed Mark Newey as commercial director ahead of its opening (15 October 2026, Hotel Management).
  • Andaz Gold Coast appointed Rafael Dias chef de cuisine of its restaurant Nove (28 October 2026, The Hotel Conversation).
  • Keith Massey was appointed general manager of Emirates Wolgan Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Lodge (29 October 2026, The Hotel Conversation; our story).