Hayman Island has s long been one of Australia's "must go" destinations for those wanting a real getaway amid the tropical tranquility, azure blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef with all it's activities and amazing seafood. And Emirates Wolgan Valley is newer to the scene but leading the world as an environmental hotel destinations, set in one of Australia's most extremely panoramic locations, the Greater Blue Mountains UNESCO Heritage Listed Region.
AN ULTRA-LUXURY
CONSERVATION-BASED RESORT OCCUPYING JUST ONE PERCENT OF A 7,000 NATURE RESERVE
IN THE GREATER BLUE MOUNTAIN WORLD HERITAGE AREA.
The name Wolgan Valley is derived from the Aboriginal word
'wolga' used for the vine commonly known as Old Man's Beard, found throughout
the region.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is the first hotel in the
world to achieve internationally accredited carbon-neutral certification by
CarbonZero, a distinction it continues to receive every year.
In 1836, Charles
Darwin was amazed
by the sheer
beauty of Wolgan Valley.
A scenic 2.5 hour drive from Sydney, located on Australia's
Great Dividing Range between the Wollemi National Park and the Gardens of Stone
National Park, within the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains. The
resort occupies just one percent of its own 7,000 acre conservancy. The Wolgan
Valley is approximately 26 kilometres long and seven kilometres wide. The
Wolgan River cuts a deep gorge through the sandstone in part of the valley,
forming a bottleneck that is only one kilometre wide. Steep cliffs contrast
with the gentle curve of the valley floor and a picturesque road winds along
the river to reach the resort on the eastern end.
___________________
James Wyndham, General Manager
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley
James is responsible for the operation of Emirates One&Only
Wolgan Valley where he will lead the continued innovation of extraordinary
guest experiences that celebrate The Blue Mountains. “James’ international hospitality experience
combined with his deep knowledge of the Australian market and commitment to service
excellence make him the perfect fit for this job” commented Mark DeCocinis,
President and Chief Operating Officer of One&Only Resorts. “I know he is
excited to return to Australia.”
James joined Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley as Resort
Manager earlier this year following his transfer from
Atlantis, The Palm, the flagship
entertainment destination resort of Kerzner International. At
Atlantis, James successfully held the position of Vice President, Guest Relations
of the iconic resort for 4 years. He started his career in hospitality over two
decades ago and has worked for multiple international hospitality groups. James
was also involved with the opening of One&Only Hayman Island where he
played a key role as part of the pre-opening task force. Prior to James joining the Kerzner
International portfolio
of resorts, he worked with Accor, Ritz Carlton, Four
Seasons, and Jumeirah Group, and he has held roles in various areas, including
Food and Beverage and Sales. In addition
to his hospitality experience, James also held the position of Director of
Trade and Investment, and as Trade Commissioner and Deputy Consul General for
Australian Government entities based in the United Arab Emirates.
Chef Nancy Kinchela
Executive Chef
Nancy Kinchela, an award-winning Australian chef with over
20 years’ experience, has been appointed as the Executive Chef at Emirates
One&Only Wolgan Valley, where she will lead a dedicated Food & Beverage
team with an ongoing commitment to showcasing the very best in regional
produce.
Ms. Kinchela began
her career at the Sofitel in Melbourne before moving to London where she worked
at The Savoy and Lindsay House.
Kinchela’s global career has also taken her to Emirates Towers Hotel in
Dubai and the Heritage House in Northern California, The Club at The Saujana in
Kuala Lumpur and The Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa in Johannesburg.
Nancy Kinchela has also been widely recognized by her peers and the industry
over the years, awarded “Chef of the Year” at the Chain De Rotissuer in
Malaysia, Gold Medal (Best in Class, British Cuisine) at London Olympia and
“Les Grand Dames” as one of the Top 10 Female Chefs at a ceremony in
Switzerland.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley prides itself on
delivering a world-class culinary experience showcasing the very best local
produce from across regional New South Wales. From the vineyards of Mudgee,
Bathurst and Orange to the artisan producers in the Blue Mountains and
Hawkesbury catchments, the ever-changing menu and wine list at Emirates
One&Only Wolgan Valley is reflective of the season as well as simple
ingredients beautifully executed.
GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA
NESTLED AT THE NORTHERNMOST POINT OF
AUSTRALIA’S WHITSUNDAY ARCHIPELAGO, BEYOND VERDANT CLIFFS REACHING INTO ENDLESS
SKY, IS ONE&ONLY HAYMAN ISLAND IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF – AN IDYLL IN A
CELESTIAL-BLUE SEA.
Swim. Dive. Explore the sea. You
have entered an enchanted natural world on a private island – a land alive with
vividly coloured birds, wallabies, and the magnificent variety and beauty of
sea life in the Great Barrier Reef. Take a seaplane or a helicopter over lush
islands where the plaintive cry of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Rainbow
Lorikeets can be heard in the trees. Marvel at the shades of a thousand
different shimmering fish – like the yellow-tailed fusiliers that brush close
enough to touch. As the sky begins to glow with myriad shades of pink and
orange, slip into a private pool where your eye is again drawn to the
Whitsundays. Perhaps this will be your moment to indulge in an Ocean Dreaming
Massage – perched on the surface of tranquil waters amid gentle tides and warm
tropical breezes.
Scott Williams
General Manager
Mr.
Williams joined One&Only with over 13 years’ experience in the hospitality
industry, including extensive experience in the Asia Pacific region. He
started his career in 2003 at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne in Australia where he
worked until he was promoted as Acting General Manager/Hotel Manager at the
Crowne Plaza Fudan in Shanghai, China. He continued to develop within
IHG, with further roles in Shandong and Beijing.
In
2010, Mr. Williams moved to InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa,
leading the Team to over 10 awards. He significantly improved the guest
experience at the resort and played an instrumental role with the community,
expanding the School Community Fund and developing the SanaSana Village
Hospitality Academy. Most recently, Scott was General Manager of InterContinental
Wuhan where he also oversaw the Wuhan International Convention Center.
Justin Dingle-Garciyya
Culinary Director
Justin brings
to One&Only Hayman Island over twenty years of industry experience.
Beginning in his native Australia, Justin has worked across Europe and Asia
Pacific for famed establishments such as The Iguana Australia, The American
Clubs in Hong Kong, Le Manoir Aux Quatres Saisons UK, Park 97 Shanghai, The
Chedi Ubud and The Grand Mirage in Bali Indonesia, gaining himself vast experience
and knowledge in culinary arts. Justin Dingle-Garciyya trained under Raymond
Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons before being Area Chef for Aman Resorts in
India followed by Culinary Director with Morgans Hotel Group, covering The
Mondrian in London, Miami and Qatar, Sanderson in London and Hudson in New
York, and cooking for the likes of Madonna, Mick Jagger, Beyonce and members of
the British royal family. Justin is highly skilled in concepts and
presentations of Asian, Continental, modern French, Italian and New World
cuisine.
About One&Only Resorts
Created exclusively for the
ultra-luxury resort market, One&Only Resorts are conceived as hallmarks of
excellence. Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, each
award-winning resort offers guests a distinctive style and personality borne of
its local culture, a genuine hospitality and a lively energy that is
unrivalled. These properties include One&OnlyReethi Rah in the
Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage
and One&Only The Palm in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas,
One&OnlyPalmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico, One&Only Cape Town in South
Africa and One&Only Hayman Island, Great Barrier Reef and Emirates
One&Only Wolgan Valley in The Blue Mountains in Australia.
One&Only has also announced plans to develop and operate five new
One&Only resorts, in Sanya, Hainan, China; in Montenegro, which will be the
first property for the collection in Europe, Bahrain and two new resorts in
Mexico. More information on One&Only is available at oneandonlyresorts.com.
Kerzner International Holdings Limited, through its
subsidiaries, is a leading international developer and operator of destination
resorts, ultra-luxury hotels and residences and innovative entertainment and
gaming experiences. Kerzner’s flagship
brand Atlantis, includes Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, a 1,500-room, water-themed
resort on The Palm, overlooking the Arabian Sea and mainland Dubai; and
Atlantis, Sanya Hainan in China, under development, as well as The Royal
Atlantis Resort and Residences in Dubai.
Under the One&Only brand, Kerzner manages nine of the top-rated
luxury resort properties in the world, located in The Bahamas, Mexico,
Mauritius, the Maldives, South Africa, Dubai and Australia. Additionally, Mazagan Beach & Golf
Resort, a 500-room destination golf and casino resort in Morocco, is also
operated by Kerzner. For more
information concerning Kerzner and its operating subsidiaries, visit
kerzner.com.
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