Lady Bay Resort — Hotel in Warrnambool

Lady Bay Resort is well located near the Warrnambool breakwater and Lake Petrobe. Our split-level room - really an apartment - was clean and comfortable. So, what's not to like? |Well - it was expensive for what it was and the check in was a bit like that scene in Mrs Doubtfire where an unsuccessful candidate is explaining what she doesn't do. They don't service the rooms, they don't do breakfast, the restaurant isn't open for lunch or dinner on Sundays or Public Holidays (so, that'd be two of our three days there, given it was the Australia Day weekend), ask at reception if you need anything but reception closes at 4pm on public holidays, etc, etc. There was also a flavour of control-freakery and treating guests as inconveniences whose behaviour needs to be strictly controlled rather than valued customers. Signs proclaim dire consequences if you park incorrectly in the car park (even though there was plenty of space). Signs in the apartments demand you wash your dishes before you leave (no - it's bad enough that you don't service the room during our stay, you can sort out the dirty cups when you're doing the clean between guests). Signs announce the pool and gym (btw the gym is a typical hotel one - one bike and a broken multi-weight machine thing) are for guests only and trespassers will be prosecuted. The guest information contains lots of rules and regulations with supposed penalties/fines for breaking them. And so on. I don't doubt that these are in part to address issues that may have arisen but it doesn't exactly make it a friendly or welcoming environment.|Oh, and if you leave something behind they won't make any attempt to return it to you. |There is also a boy-racer / hooning issue on the road outside late at night.|We enjoyed our stay, but wouldn't...

Lady Bay Resort is well located near the Warrnambool breakwater and Lake Petrobe. Our split-level room - really an apartment - was clean and comfortable. So, what's not to like? |Well - it was expensive for what it was and the check in was a bit like that scene in Mrs Doubtfire where an unsuccessful candidate is explaining what she doesn't do. They don't service the rooms, they don't do breakfast, the restaurant isn't open for lunch or dinner on Sundays or Public Holidays (so, that'd be two of our three days there, given it was the Australia Day weekend), ask at reception if you need anything but reception closes at 4pm on public holidays, etc, etc. There was also a flavour of control-freakery and treating guests as inconveniences whose behaviour needs to be strictly controlled rather than valued customers. Signs proclaim dire consequences if you park incorrectly in the car park (even though there was plenty of space). Signs in the apartments demand you wash your dishes before you leave (no - it's bad enough that you don't service the room during our stay, you can sort out the dirty cups when you're doing the clean between guests). Signs announce the pool and gym (btw the gym is a typical hotel one - one bike and a broken multi-weight machine thing) are for guests only and trespassers will be prosecuted. The guest information contains lots of rules and regulations with supposed penalties/fines for breaking them. And so on. I don't doubt that these are in part to address issues that may have arisen but it doesn't exactly make it a friendly or welcoming environment.|Oh, and if you leave something behind they won't make any attempt to return it to you. |There is also a boy-racer / hooning issue on the road outside late at night.|We enjoyed our stay, but wouldn't...

My team and I run a national leadership program and we had our first module and conference take place at the Lady Bay Resort, with close to 40 participants over 4 days at the beginning of 2024. We had almost every room available, the feedback we received was incredible.

The entire Lady Bay Resort Team was incredible to work with. Literally nothing was too difficult. The reception staff checked in everyone under 5 minutes. 10+ barista coffees made in as many minutes, smooth, efficient, great coffee.

Close to 50 À la carte meals (including staff) dined in their dining room on one night, the kitchen absolutely smashed out the service. Albeit it took hours, they worked tirelessly to serve us all, sides, mains, cheese platters, desserts, drinks. The portion sizes were incredible, the menu was wide ranging and delicious, the cocktails made were being remembered by our participants weeks later (they recommend the margarita's), the chef and restaurant staff assisting in some very specific dietary requirements perfectly.

The conference ran smoothly, with incredible morning tea and afternoon tea offerings. Sit down three course meal for 45+, no issues, very tasty food and pumped out by the kitchen. Our participants wanted to do karaoke, no issues at all, microphones ready to go, choose a song. A last minute cultural performance out on the front patio, no problems at all, happy to assist.

Would highly recommend this hotel to anyone considering a stay in coastal regional town of Warrnambool.

Outside of being 5 out of 5 stars (I do live in a realistic world), some of the only negative feedback we received include the reception and lobby not being open until 8am (this was in regard to morning breakfast and coffee) and one issue with water pressure in one apartment bathroom (which...