Lindeman Island is having a resurgence as Marriott International partners with Well Smart Group and La Vie Hotels & Resorts to open Le Méridien.
Expected to open in late 2027, Le Méridien Lindeman Island Resort & Spa will occupy a 70-hectare parcel of land with private beach frontage on Lindeman Island, which was closed by Club Med, after it said tourists wanted more upmarket experiences.
In 2011, Cyclone Yasi and a downturn in the tourism hastened the demise of the 218-room three-star property, 30 minutes by boat from Hamilton Island.
The transformative AU$60 million redevelopment will be headed by Singapore-based investment company, Well Smart Group, which acquired the island in 2023.
Lindeman Island’s new luxury resort will be under La Vie Hotels & Resorts management
Managed by La Vie Hotels & Resorts, the resort will feature 200 premium guest rooms and nine suites, two restaurants and a lobby lounge and bar.
Le Méridien’s Whitsundays outpost will offer guests a range of recreational experiences – including water sports, indoor golf facilities and an archery range – alongside a pool, fitness centre, tennis courts, a kids’ club and the luxe Explore Spa by Le Méridien.
Marriott International’s vice president of hotel development for Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific, Richard Crawford said that the resort marks the company’s first property on Queensland’s iconic Whitsunday Islands.
“The resort will join our existing high-performing Queensland assets, located in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Port Douglas. Whilst the Whitsunday Islands has been a much-loved destination for Australian travellers since the 1980s, visitation from international markets has been inhibited by a limited offering of international branded resorts.
“Well Smart Group’s commitment to a full hotel refurbishment, and our first collaboration with La Vie Hotels & Resorts, make this a landmark advancement for Marriott,” Crawford said.
Resurrecting Lindeman Island
Director of Well Smart Group, Jack Jia, said that securing Le Méridien was a defining moment for the Lindeman Island development.
“This is a destination with a proud history, and together with La Vie Hotels & Resorts and the Marriott Bonvoy platform behind us, we are confident Lindeman Island will reclaim its place as one of Australia’s most iconic resort experiences – and take its rightful position on the world stage,” he said.
CEO of La Vie Hotels & Resorts Jerry Xu said the partnership was a truly landmark moment.
“The Marriott Bonvoy platform gives Lindeman Island immediate access to a global audience of hundreds of millions of loyal travellers, and Le Méridien’s creative, design-led identity is a natural match for the extraordinary natural beauty we are restoring here,” said Xu.
“This is the beginning of an exciting new stage for the project, and we look forward to building a strong and enduring relationship with Marriott International as we bring this iconic Australian destination back to life.”
