CORPORATE
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Voyages?
Voyages is an Australian travel company providing experience-based holidays in spectacular wilderness locations including the Red Centre, the Top End, Tasmania’s Central Highlands, the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Queensland Outback and the Great Barrier Reef.
2. What properties do you operate?
Voyages operates 19 hotels across 15 resorts including award-winning properties such as Longitude 131°, Lizard Island, Ayers Rock Resort, Kings Canyon Resort, El Questro Resort, Bedarra Island, Silky Oaks and Cradle Mountain Lodge.
3. What makes Voyages different?
Firstly, our philosophy. We are singularly focused on providing guests with incredible, memorable experiences which they would not be able to enjoy anywhere else in Australia. We believe that travel should enrich the body, mind and spirit and this is reflected in the location of our resorts and the way we operate them.
Secondly, the responsibility that comes with the operation of remote wilderness locations and how that manifests itself in our culture. Voyages is committed to nurturing and sharing Australia’s sensitive and complex eco and cultural destinations and also to protecting them so that our guests might continue to enjoy them for years to come.
It is critically important to us that we address local needs and concerns – at Voyages the social and environmental contracts we have created are not an option, they are a vital way of life for us as a company and for our partners.
4. Can you give examples of your environmental initiatives?
We are a recognised leader in sustainable environmental tourism practice. We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Through a series of initiatives across all our resorts we are focusing on energy management – reducing electricity consumption and LPG usage – and waste management techniques to reduce disposal to landfill. We also focus on efficiently managing our water resources and protecting biodiversity – native flora and fauna.
5. How do you interact with the local communities in which you operate?
At Voyages, we take seriously our commitment to support and empower the local communities in which we operate.
Our focus is on local needs and issues where we feel we can genuinely make a difference. Our approach is not boiler plate but rather is tailored to each specific location.
Our commitment extends to:
- Financial/cultural partnerships
- Joint venture agreements and partnerships with aboriginal tour operators so that guests might experience an understanding for the land from its Traditional Owners
- Education programs – including work experience agreements with local aboriginal colleges
- Arts and Crafts programs
- Sponsorships
One of our recent initiatives has been to help set up the Mutitjulu Foundation for the benefit of Ayers Rock Resort’s nearest neighbours, the Mutitjulu community. The Foundation aims to relieve poverty, improve health standards, improve education and provide vocational training which will lead to employment.
Voyages kicked the Foundation off in December 2003 with a start-up contribution of $250,000. Guests are encouraged to contribute to the Foundation and Voyages matches this contribution dollar for dollar.
