Media Releases
Cyclone Yasi - Update Friday 4 Feb
Friday, 04 February 2011 18:50
Friday 4 February:
Hideaway Resorts, operator of Dunk and Bedarra Island Resorts, today continued the task of relocating staff to the mainland in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Yasi.
All Bedarra and Dunk staff, other than a skeleton crew have now been transferred to Mission Beach, for on transfer to Cairns, now that the roads are open
(or already to Cairns by helicopter).
Communications with the islands remain a major issue, with power and landlines out, and intermittent mobile communication only, making it difficult to provide up to date information.
There has been speculation about the circumstances resulting in staff remaining on the islands prior to TC Yasi hitting the islands.
Preparations were undertaken in line with established cyclone procedures, which do not typically include provision for mass evacuation of staff (the resorts typically re-open 3 – 4 days after a cyclone has passed the islands).
All remaining guests and those staff scheduled to leave the islands on Monday, 31 January or Tuesday, 1 February did so, with the last leaving either by plane at 1pm, or boat transfer to Mission Beach at 3pm on Tuesday, 1 February. At this time, our best information was that TC Yasi was heading north towards Cairns as a possible category 4 (upgraded from a category 3 forecast earlier in the day) and Dunk’s Resort General Manager and Bedarra's Acting General Manager had not at this time been approached by any staff requesting to leave the island.
Early on Wednesday, the cyclone started heading south west and increased to a possible category 5. At this point, those remaining were committed to stay, with no safe option to leave the islands. Staff were located in cyclone rated accommodation and all times remained there safely until the cyclone passed.
As previously advised it is too early to say for how long the resorts will be need to be closed to undertake necessary clean up and repairs, with property assessments hampered by weather conditions and safety considerations, as well as the prioritization of the staff re-location.
Those with bookings made for travel prior to 31 August 2011 are being cancelled (without penalty), with further updates to follow in this regard.
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Tropical Cyclone Yasi impact on Bedarra and Dunk Island
Thursday, 03 February 2011 14:57
Thursday 3rd February
Tropical Cyclone Yasi impacted Bedarra (www.bedarra.com.au) and Dunk Island resorts (www.dunk-island.com) overnight.
As previously advised, all staff who remained on the resorts during this period are safe and accounted for. No guests were at the resorts at the time.
We are currently re-locating all staff from the island to the mainland, other than a skeleton team who will remain to secure the resorts, and arrangements are currently being put in place for transfers off the islands, the provision of accommodation, and where required, for counselling of staff on the mainland.
In addition to attending to staff re-locations, Dunk Island Resort General Manager, David Henry and Bedarra Acting General Manager, Sophia Rutty, who were both with their staff overnight, are currently undertaking a preliminary situation analysis to determine the extent of damage to the properties. It is still too early to determine how long the resorts will need to be closed to allow the necessary clean up and repair works to be undertaken, however, it is clear that the damage is extensive. A further announcement will be made in due course in this regard.
Hideaway Resorts CEO, Mark Campbell and Director, Andrew Menzies have recently arrived on Dunk Island to support David and Sophia.
Hideaway Resorts Chairman, Rupert Greenhough said “We are enormously relieved that all staff have safely come through this extraordinaryexperience, which is testament to the planning and preparations undertaken for these situations. We are confident that with their combined, and significant experience of these properties, Mark and David will lead us through the recovery efforts, and allow the resorts to be up and running again, as soon as possible.”
For further information please contact Rupert Greenhough via Hideaway Resorts Head Office: +61 3 9854 5740.
For images of Dunk Island, visit http://www.dunk-island.com/media-home/ and Bedarra http://www.bedarra.com.au/media-home/.
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Dunk 2011-12 Rates: Full Board Will Cost Less
Tuesday, 30 November 2010 12:09
In response to feedback received, Dunk Island Resort will be changing its tariff to full board from 1st April 2011, with new rates including bed/break fast and lunch/dinner delivering a win for guests.
“The new Full Board rates are structured so that guests will pay less on the new tariff than if they currently stayed at the resort and paid current rates with added meal plans. For example, a couple currently staying in a Garden Room with a daily $69 meal plan (L/D) pay $486. Under the new rates, the same product will cost $475 - a saving of $11.00,” said Hideaway Resortsʼ chairman Rupert Greenhough.
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Dunk & Bedarra Island Resorts Transformation Underway
Thursday, 18 November 2010 10:39
Artists Impression - Dunk Island Resort Cabana revision
Hideaway Resorts, operators of Dunk Island Resort and Bedarra Island Resort, have revealed details of a $10 million upgrade and enhancement program designed to return the two popular Queensland island properties to the top position in their respective markets.
Rupert Greenhough, chairman of Hideaway Resorts, said that the extensive upgrade program would be completed by mid 2011, and would serve to unlock the potential of both the islands.
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Escape to Dunk Island for Christmas
Thursday, 18 November 2010 10:04
In December 2010, Dunk Island is being transformed into a Christmas wonderland, and the festive magic touches each and every aspect of the 12 Days of Christmas.
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