The future Rydges Wailoaloa, situated on the beachfront at Wailoaloa Beach, is set to be developed by Hari Punja & Sons Limited. The development, spearheaded by the owners, will feature a cultural village alongside plans for 258 rooms and suites, including swim-up rooms. Additionally, the resort will boast extensive recreation facilities, a spa, event and conferencing spaces, multiple food and beverage outlets, and Fiji’s largest swimming pool.
Rydges Wailoaloa Brings Luxury Beachfront Accommodation to Fiji
The Rydges Wailoaloa is expected to take up to two years to complete, upon its opening, the resort will be managed by Rydges, leveraging their extensive regional experience and ‘refreshingly local’ brand in Fiji. Norman Arundel, Director of Hotels & Resorts at EVT (Entertainment. Ventures. Travel) expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting EVT Hotels & Resorts’ strategic focus on brand expansion in local and targeted international markets.
Emphasizing the resort’s commitment to the Rydges brand positioning of ‘refreshing local,’ the EVT design team will collaborate with interior designers to incorporate textures and tones that reflect Fiji’s natural beauty and heritage. Hari Punja, Chairman of Hari Punja Group of Companies, discussed the accommodation shortage in Fiji and Rydges Wailoaloa’s role in addressing this while also boosting the construction and tourism industries.
Scheduled to open in late 2026, pending development approvals and timelines, Rydges Wailoaloa will join the 43 Rydges Hotels & Resorts currently operating across Australia and New Zealand.
FURTHER READING: For those interested in exploring this topic further, additional resources and in-depth materials are provided below when available; otherwise, no further reading is included at this time.:
REFERENCES: This guide is based on over a decade of research and firsthand experience living in Fiji. It incorporates extensive knowledge gained through long-term residence and ongoing engagement with the region. Images and text have been sourced from official references, which are acknowledged below, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
FOOTNOTES: Additional details, clarifications, or sources referenced in this article are included as Footnotes below the text when applicable; otherwise, no Footnotes are provided.
- About Rydges: Rydges Hotels operates quality city, suburban and resort-style hotels in key destinations across Australia and New Zealand with a refreshingly down-to-earth approach. For more than 30 years, Rydges has provided genuine local hospitality with quality essentials alongside its trademark ‘too easy’ service. The group accommodates more than one million guests each year across a range of market segments, including corporate, conference, government, leisure, inbound and domestic groups, and international travellers, with a focus on creating a home-away-from-home for every guest. Community-minded, Rydges is committed to supporting the local areas in which they operate while delivering exceptional service that is guaranteed to exceed guest expectations and make the day better. The Rydges portfolio appeals to both leisure and business travellers looking for quality and value and sits alongside the broader EVT stable of hotel brands, including Atura Hotels, QT Hotels and Resorts, LyLo and Independent Collection by EVT.
- About EVT: Entertainment businesses that excite every sense. Commercial Ventures driven by a passion for new opportunities. Travel businesses that always feel local and authentic. In a world of cookie-cutters, EVT is reshaping what’s possible in experience and commercial opportunity. Backed by our team of Daymakers, we go all the way to elevate our people, customers, communities, and environment every day. Rydges Hotels and Resorts are a part of EVT.