From the red heart of Australia to the wind-scoured edge of Patagonia, from a rainforest canopy above the Great Barrier Reef to a wilderness shore on Vancouver Island, a new name is about to become one of the most recognisable in luxury travel. Beckons launched in March 2026 with nine extraordinary properties and a philosophy that the world’s most remarkable places deserve to be experienced properly, and that the people who visit them should leave changed for the better.
According to CBRE’s 2025 Luxury Lodging Report, demand for authentic cultural immersion and genuinely transformative travel is growing rapidly, driven by a rise in high-net-worth individuals and a younger aspirational demographic entering the market. Beckons arrives with both the heritage and the infrastructure to meet that moment.
At the helm is Michael Crawford, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, who brings experience at Four Seasons and The Walt Disney Company to a brand that is, by design, built around people as much as place.
Two Portfolios, One Philosophy
Beckons is built on two companies that have spent over 20 years quietly earning a reputation for doing things well. Baillie Lodges, founded in Australia, is known for opening up access to destinations rich in natural and cultural significance, often set within or alongside World Heritage-listed sites. Tierra Hotels, based in Chile, brings a collection of intimate lodges, each thoughtfully designed to reflect the landscape around it.
“Our portfolio is a platform for travellers to experience the world more deeply through genuine cultural exchange, we believe meaningful travel should enrich everyone it touches: our guests, our teams, and the places that welcome us. Our people are at the heart of that hospitality philosophy, bringing a generosity of spirit and a shared commitment to emotional connection, regeneration, and cultural continuity to every journey.” Michael Crawford, Chief Executive Officer, Beckons
What connects both is a shared belief that luxury travel should offer more than just comfort. The new brand takes a regenerative approach, focusing not just on sustainability, but on leaving a positive, lasting impact on the landscapes, wildlife, and communities that make each destination special. With an average of just 25 suites per property, everything is intentionally kept personal.
$100 Million Investment
The launch of Beckons is more than a rebrand, over the past few years, the group has invested around $100 million USD into improving and evolving its properties. Two of the biggest recent projects include the renovation of Huka Lodge in New Zealand and Tierra Atacama in Chile, both of which reopened to strong praise in early 2025.
Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island also saw a remarkable revival after the devastating 2019 bushfires, reopening in late 2023 and later earning a place on the extended World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list. The investment continues into 2026, with new wellness facilities planned for Silky Oaks Lodge and The Louise in Australia, as well as new premium suites at Tierra Patagonia in Chile.
Australia and New Zealand: Wilderness, Wine, and the Reef
Australia opens its doors to adventure and indulgence. In the heart of the Northern Territory, Longitude 131° positions 16 tented pavilions with direct views of Uluru, right within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta World Heritage area. On Kangaroo Island, Southern Ocean Lodge perches on one of Australia’s most dramatic coastlines, immersing guests in native wildlife and earning a spot on the extended World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list. Further north, Silky Oaks Lodge offers 40 luxury treehouses in the Daintree Rainforest canopy, where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet the horizon. Each of these three properties holds two MICHELIN Keys.
In South Australia’s Barossa Valley, The Louise channels Southern European elegance with 15 suites opening onto private courtyards framed by lavender and grapevines. Its restaurant, Appellation, draws nearly all ingredients from within 30 kilometres, while curated wine experiences take guests to more than 100 cellar doors across the region. On the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island, Capella Lodge offers nine intimate suites at the base of Mounts Gower and Lidgbird, with private decks overlooking ocean and subtropical reef, which is a rare luxury on one of the world’s most tightly controlled islands, also holding two MICHELIN Keys.
Across the Tasman, Huka Lodge rests among 17 acres of parklike gardens on the Waikato River in Taupō, a short walk from the Huka Falls. A century-old fishing lodge transformed into one of New Zealand’s most celebrated escapes, its NZ$25 million renovation in 2025 introduced expanded suites, the new River Room with floor-to-ceiling river views, and a refined wellness offering. It’s recognised on the extended World’s Best Hotels 2025.
The Americas: Stargazing, Glaciers, and Wilderness Adventures
At the edge of Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile, Tierra Patagonia rises gently from the Patagonian steppe, its curved wooden form echoing wind-bent trees against a backdrop of granite towers and glaciers. It holds three MICHELIN Keys and features on Travel + Leisure’s T+L 500 most-loved properties in 2025.
In northern Chile, Tierra Atacama opens almost entirely to the surrounding desert, where indoor and outdoor spaces merge with the landscape. Following its 2025 renovation, it earned three MICHELIN Keys and a place on the T+L 500 alongside its sister property. Together, the Tierra lodges offer access to geothermal pools, salt flats, ancient petroglyphs, and some of the planet’s clearest skies for stargazing.
On Vancouver Island, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge operates seasonally on the shores of Clayoquot Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, blending safari-style adventure with temperate rainforest. Ranked 25th on Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Resorts in the World, it pairs guided wilderness excursions such as bear watching, kayaking and salmon fishing, with tented accommodation that sits lightly within the environment. Holding three MICHELIN Keys, it completes an extraordinary collection of Americas properties.