Victoria’s Surf Coast has a new hotel at the helm. The Sands Torquay has appointed Trilogy Hotels as operator, and the resort may now be set for a sharper swing.
Central Real Capital has named the independent hotel group as operator of The Sands Torquay Resort, effective 1 July 2026. The move places one of Victoria’s best-known golf and coastal stays under the ownership of a company that is building a strong resort portfolio. For Torquay, it is not just a change of manager. It is a clear statement of intent.
The Sands Torquay sits about 90 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and 20 minutes from Geelong. It has 112 suites and an 18-hole championship golf course. Many suites look across the fairways and the coastal landscape. That gives guests the happy choice of morning golf, afternoon beach and, with luck, no lost ball in between.
The resort has also been through a major renovation program. The official resort site describes The Sands Torquay as a relaxed coastal base near Whites Beach, with modern rooms and suites, dining, resort facilities and golf access for guests and visitors.
Golf remains its strongest card. The course was designed by Australian professional golfer Stuart Appleby. The Sands says the 18-hole links-style championship course is built into the coastal sand dunes and is open to resort guests and the public. That pedigree counts. A fine golf resort needs more than grass and flags. It needs care, pace, service and a 19th hole that knows its duties.
“Our aim is to preserve, stabilise and enhance The Sands as an exceptional, high-quality, residential, hospitality and golf destination for the long-term. We look forward to working with Trilogy Hotels, an operator whose expertise, experience and commitment give us the confidence to see our vision come to life for resort guests and the surrounding community,” shared Tony Denny for Central Real Capital.
For Trilogy Hotels, the deal opens the door to the Surf Coast market. It also adds another premium leisure asset to its fast-growing stable. Trilogy describes itself as an independent hotel manager that handles daily hotel operations for owners, including revenue management, cost control and people management. Its portfolio page points to a model focused on owner alignment, guest experience and stronger hotel performance.
The company currently oversees a portfolio and pipeline of 24 hotels. It also has experience with regional resorts and golf-linked assets. These include Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains MGallery Collection, Leura Golf Club and Comfort Resort Leura Gardens. That background should help The Sands compete for leisure breaks, golf groups, wellness stays and business events.
“We are honoured to have been appointed by CRC as operators of The Sands Torquay. Building on the resort’s natural strengths in golf, wellness, coastal leisure and business events, we are focused on unlocking the resort’s potential and delivering an enriched experience for guests and community,” shared Scott Boyes, CEO of Trilogy Hotels.
The resort is not relying on golf alone. Guests can use a health club, a six-lane, 25-metre, heated indoor pool, a gym, two tennis courts, and group fitness classes. Food and drink venues Spike Café, Bunkers, and Shirley’s serve hotel guests, golf members and locals. Conference and event spaces can host up to 400 guests in theatre format.
Location is the other ace. Torquay is widely known as the Gateway to the Great Ocean Road. Bells Beach, Point Danger Marine Sanctuary, Whites Beach and Point Impossible Beach are all within easy reach. Visit Victoria describes the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach as the longest-running surfing contest on the World Surf League Championship Tour. That gives the region an annual sporting drawcard with real bells attached.
For meeting planners, the case is simple. The Sands is close enough to Melbourne and Geelong to be practical. It is far enough from the CBD to feel like a proper escape. After years of windowless meeting rooms and lukewarm urn coffee, a coastal golf resort starts to look rather civilised.
The pitch is plain. Golf sells. The coast sells. Access helps. Guests want space, fresh air and a real reason to stay. The Sands can offer that mix without fuss.
The appointment gives The Sands Torquay a chance to turn fresh investment into lasting momentum. Central Real Capital has set the vision. Trilogy Hotels now has the task of making it work day by day. If the fairways, rooms, food, events and local ties all move together, this Surf Coast resort could become a stronger draw for guests, members and the Torquay community.
By: Soo James – © 2026.
Read Time: 3 minutes.
Author Bio:
There’s nothing rehearsed about Soo James, and that’s precisely the point. Malaysian by heritage, Sydney-schooled, she arrived at UNSW to study Arts, then took a left turn into IT, not out of ambition but out of curiosity. Somewhere among systems and schedules, she worked out what really held her attention: people, language, and the quiet spaces between them.
Writing followed naturally. Travel and lifestyle gave her room to observe, to listen, to notice the details others rush past. Soo writes the way good travellers move, watching the room before admiring the view, catching the gesture before chasing the headline.
At Global Travel Media, her stories don’t shout or sell. They linger. They slow you down, open a door, and gently suggest there’s more to see if you’re willing to look.
