Kiama councilors, business chamber members and tourism industry executives attended Ananda Wellness Retreat to see the transformation first hand.

Mayor Mark Honey cut the ribbon and described it as a great tourism attraction for the area.

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The site originally opened as Uncle Tom's Hutt in the 1960s and the 25-metre pool was used by the Australian Olympic swim team for training camps in the 1970s.

After hosting thousands of weddings in the 1980s and 90s Jamberoo Valley Lodge was sold in 2013.

Two owners then came and went as the business operated as Jamberoo Resort and the present owner acquired the property in April 2020.

The resort sold at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the stockmarket was plummeting and borders were slammed shut just as the South Coast was still reeling from a black summer of bushfires.

Matt Davidson, of Tourism Property, said the new owner was "bold enough to take the property on in the midst of dramatic uncertainty and used the quiet time to invest significantly in major improvements".

"It re-opened to guests prior to Christmas and is now hosting regular weekly yoga retreats that sell out quickly," he said.

"They do two to three yoga retreats a week.

"They had a really big January and February. It is great to see the level of interest in a property like this."

Read more: New look wellness centre at Jamberoo Resort healthy for region's visitor economy

Ragesh Shah said he had been searching for a facility to host retreats and chose Jamberoo for its tranquil scenery and proximity to Sydney, Shellharbour Airport and Jamberoo Action Park.

"We could see such great potential here, but everything needed so much work," Mr Shah said.

"There was certainly a risk and uncertainty with COVID, but we took the view that Australians will still need short breaks and would be seeking quality travel experiences, plus the the wellness sector is growing very quickly.

"We took advantage of the various shutdowns in 2020 to freshen everything up and we are now able to offer a genuine 4 star resort experience.

"We've also upgraded WiFi, security and technology throughout the property. We are very proud of what we've achieved."

Major works included the refurbishment of the swimming pool and tennis court, conversion of unused space into a dedicated yoga and wellness centre.

The former manager's residence has become a day spa with floatation tank, vichy showers, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. There are also two gymnasium spaces with new equipment.

The large conference centre has been renovated and work is continuing in the guest rooms with new flooring, cabinetry, ceilings, lights and beds.

Mr Shah said the restaurant which was closed for many years has been refurbished and reopened as Ananda Green restaurant with vegan fusion cuisine.

"We've started opening for lunch as well as dinner on weekends," he said.

Mr Shah said the Ananda Wellness Retreat is being marketed in Melbourne and Brisbane.

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