In the luxury resort space, Beckons is a brand that proves it’s possible to make a big impression with a small footprint. Though Beckons only launched in March 2026, its curated portfolio of nine resorts includes some very well-established and extremely high-profile properties — including Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Australia, and Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in Canada.
That number will soon rise to 10, with the announcement of a new ultra-luxury lodge at Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Beckons’ second property in Australia’s iconic Northern Territory, slated to open in early 2028. Like all the brand’s lodges, the new retreat will be intimate (just nine suites) and deeply rooted in the environment and cultures that surround it.
While the newbuild is exciting enough on its own, it’s far from the only plans Beckons has in the works. In addition to recently debuting its Tomorrow Beckons regenerative initiative — a program that will help protect and renew the natural environments, wildlife and communities of each destination where it operates — the company has serious intentions of further expanding its portfolio, according to CEO Michael Crawford.
“Our pipeline of growth is actually bigger than what we have open today,” he said. “We have four lodges that we're probably going to announce in the next month that we've acquired and are going to add as part of our portfolio.”
While details on those up-and-comers have yet to be released, Beckons also recently renovated Huka Lodge in New Zealand, hiring its original designer to freshen up the property while maintaining “the integrity of the design,” according to Crawford.
Huka Lodge in New Zealand has been refreshed.
2026 George Apostolidis“This is a lodge where the Queen of England, when she was alive, stayed over half a dozen times,” Crawford noted.
We sat down with Crawford to find out what will make the new Uluru lodge just as special as the rest of the collection (which also spans five properties in Australia and two in Chile), what defines a Beckons lodge and more.
Beckons already has a property in Uluru-Kata Tjuta. Why build another one?
We are so excited about what's been going on with our Longitude 131 property and have been for a very long time. It's such an iconic piece of architecture, and how it embraces the culture and the environment is really wonderful. And we'd heard from our guests — a lot of repeat visitors — that it's such a fantastic place that we thought, "Why not give them another type of experience?"
Longitude 131offers direct views of Uluru and opportunities to explore the Red Centre.
2026 George ApostolidisLongitude 131 is a luxury tented asset that has fantastic food, a great pool, a beautiful new spa and lots of [immersive] programming. We said, "Let's continue to build our presence here."
Give us a sneak peek at the property, and how it will be different fromthe existing Uluru lodge.
It's nine keys; another very boutique, luxury, experiential destination. You will have your own personal guides to even more fully customize the experience. It won’t be visible from our existing lodge.
Construction starts on the lodge almost immediately. And we're doing this in a somewhat unique way because it's a really difficult environment to build in. We're doing a lot of the construction off-site, almost from a modular point of view, bringing it in and then assembling it at the destination.
The new Uluru lodge will have a different architectural feel from the existing Longitude 131.
2026 VASTViewThe architecture is completely different. So, this is not a tented structure. There is a wonderful arrival experience that embraces local art. It takes on the colors and feel of the environment. It'll have a slightly more modern design, with pools that complement the stay. and food and beverages that are different [from Longitude 131] but unique to the location. So, many of the same characteristics of 131, just packaged and designed differently.
What are the distinguishing features of a Beckons property?
Our footprint is, on average, 25 keys. We love to have spaces for communal gathering and shared experience. And we're in destinations that are only dreamed about. Maybe you get there once or twice, and when you do, you need somebody you can trust to get the best possible access to everything in those locations.
I think the goal is to take people on journeys.
I think the goal is to take people on journeys. And we believe that our boutique luxury experience model really allows us to customize in ways that other great hotel companies are trying to do, but at scale.
[Our properties] take on the feel of the environment that they live in. There is not one Beckons property that looks like another. The common thread that weaves through all of it is high-quality food, high-quality experiences and luxury that allows you to experience the destinations in a way that emotionally connects you.
Given that Beckons has a tightly curated portfolio, how does the brand approach expansion?
Where are the places in the world that are the most admired, the most sought after and maybe the most difficult to get to? We start with that. And what are the locations that combine nature, wildlife and culture?
Where are the places in the world that are the most admired, the most sought after and maybe the most difficult to get to? We start with that.
Where we want to be is not about quantity, it's about quality. We don't want to be above 40 keys at the mostbecause it then sort of dissipates that intimate, personalized environment that we create so well.
Every [property] we add is another pearl on the strand, and so it has to live up to those expectations and enable you to experience that location. If you're going to Africa, of course you want to see animals, right? But you should be able to connect with the environment on a much deeper level. You should be in your own photos. You should hear your own breath — without having hundreds of other people around you.
That's why we spend a lot of time on our pipeline for growth, making sure that wherever we are, you feel like only you're there. It makes it more challenging, but it’s a lot more fun when you hit the jackpot.
Michael Crawford, CEO of Beckons
2026 BeckonsAre there specific locations Beckons is interested in pursuing?
Absolutely. The U.S. is a huge market for us. Having a physical representation of our brand in the U.S. is incredibly important, so we are working diligently to find a flagship here. I think Africa always comes to mind. Antarctica comes to mind. Something in an island environment. Beyond that, we're opportunistic. If an incredible ryokan opportunity became available in Japan, would we go there? Sure, we probably would.
The other thing that is very important for us is the communal attachment to whatever the asset is, and [our ability to] help regenerate wherever we're living. In Uluru, we invest in an Indigenous art program. At Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island, we work with a group called Red Fish, and they are rebuilding salmon sanctuaries in riverbeds and sounds.
At Huka Lodge, which we just reopened last year after a very significant renovation … we’re replanting [trees] beyond our property to help replenish the forests. And so, it's about where we can go to really help create a connection between what we do and the environment or the communities.
