Baillie Lodges has added Vancouver Island’s acclaimed luxury camp Clayoquot Wilderness Resort to its expanding portfolio of luxury lodges, marking the company’s launch as an international boutique luxury tourism collection.
The move comes as Baillie Lodges’ partnership with US-based KSL Capital Partners nears its third year, with the acquisition and planned renovation of Tropical North Queensland icon Silky Oaks Lodge already part of the group’s expansion activity.
Remotely located among Vancouver Island’s pristine wilderness and on the shores of Clayoquot Sound, the acclaimed Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is accessible only by seaplane, helicopter or boat. The retreat features an intimate 25 luxury tents each with views of the sound and offering access to a swag of adventures from horse-riding, whale and bear-spotting to canyoning and scenic helicopter flights.
Working closely with the team at KSL Capital Partners which has owned Clayoquot since April 2019, Baillie Lodges has developed a three-year strategy to elevate the guest experience and bring the award-winning luxury wilderness lodge into the company’s growing portfolio of boutique luxury lodges around the world.
As part of the plan, the resort will be renamed Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge to align it with its Baillie Lodges sister properties in Australia; Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island, Longitude 131° at Uluru- Kata Tjuta and Silky Oaks Lodge in Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest. Baillie Lodges’ flagship property, the award-winning Southern Ocean Lodge was tragically destroyed in the bushfires on Kangaroo Island in early 2020, an event that drew global media attention. Baillie Lodges is currently planning its rebuild.
From a brand perspective, the property has a new logo, suite of guest collateral and website which have all been revealed today: clayoquotwildernesslodge.com
Following a hiatus in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge will reopen for its 2021 season on May 13 and operate through until September 30, 2021. Ahead of the season launch, the property will undergo an interior refurbishment of its 25 luxury tents, leading with a lighter, more refined and contemporary vibe inside with luxurious linens, new king beds and bespoke furnishings created by local artisans. The tents will retain their individual styles with views opening directly to Clayoquot Sound and its pristine wilderness surrounds.
A second stage in the property’s renovations will take place after the 2021 season, and include a significant refurbishment to the Cookhouse Restaurant, bar and central guest facilities.
Renowned for its range of exhilarating adventures as well as spa treatments and daily yoga, the new-look Clayoquot will feature an itinerary of signature experiences to showcase the natural highlights of Vancouver Island, and align it with the all-inclusive product profile of the existing Baillie Lodges properties.
Clayoquot General Manager Sarah Cruse will once again lead the Clayoquot team, returning with her many loyal Canadian staff members who know and love the property. Two of Baillie Lodges’ key staff members will also join the Clayoquot family next year, including Executive Chef Asher Blackford, formerly of sister property Southern Ocean Lodge, and Kate Hollick, formerly of Longitude 131° who will take up her role as Assistant General Manager in a very different wilderness setting.
Baillie Lodges Founder James Baillie said he was delighted to see a world-renowned wilderness camp of Clayoquot’s calibre joining the collection.
“The addition of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge to the Baillie Lodges collection is a significant step in our growth as a company as the first luxury lodge located outside of our home base in Australia, so in effect this marks our launch as an international collection of luxury lodges,” Mr Baillie said.
“One of the strengths of Baillie Lodges has always been the feeling of being an extended family, with each of its remotely located lodges remaining close in both team relationships and in a dedication to the Baillie ethos of delivering extraordinary experiences for our guests,” he said.
“When my wife Hayley and I started working with the team at KSL Capital Partners, we were subsequently invited to stay at Clayoquot for a few days during a trip to North America.
“We were struck by not only the possibilities for this remarkable lodge, but also by the ready synergies between Clayoquot and our existing luxury lodges. It’s a very natural fit for Clayoquot to be part of the Baillie Lodges family and will be the most remote and wild addition to the collection to date.
“There are also many natural synergies between Canadians and Australians, and we look forward to bringing a new energy and spirit to an already special product, and to introducing our guests to exciting new itineraries in some of the world’s most remarkable destinations.”
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