A 9-month, A$6.5m refurbishment programme at the Orient-Express-owned Lilianfels Blue Mountains hotel near Sydney will be complete by the end of July.

The historic 5-star hotel – overlooking the Blue Mountains National Park at Katoomba – has seen its 85 guest rooms and suites fully redecorated and the guest areas, five conference rooms and lounge completely refurbished.

The hotel’s Darley’s Restaurant has been joined by the Tre Sorelle – Three Sisters – Italian restaurant.

Elsewhere, the Lilianfels’ health club has been expanded to include four private treatment rooms and manicure and pedicure stations. The existing Cottage suite has been converted into a gymnasium, with all new equipment.

A new outdoor heated pool has also been constructed.

The improvements to the Lilianfels have already won it recognition, the hotel having been awarded Best Regional Property and Best Redeveloped Property in New South Wales at the 2003 NSW Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence in May. Details: www.orient-express.com