LUX Hotel & Spa Awards 2016

LUX - Hotel & Spa Awards 2016 53 Most Unique Rural Retreat - 2016 Most Unique Rural Retreat - 2016 Elm Cottage has been transformed from a barren, overstocked pasture in 2003, into a unique rural retreat. It is a brainchild conceived to meet and even surpass customers’ expectations of an authentic regional Australian experience, where guests can disconnect and leave the hustle and bustle of today’s working environment behind to reconnect with nature and families. Company: Elm Cottage Tumut Name: David & Deborah Sheldon Email: [email protected] Web: www.elmcottage.com.au Address: 3/722 Little River Road, Tumut, NSW Australia 2720 Postal Address: P.O. Box 40 Tumut, NSW Australia 2720 Phone: +61 2 69475818 HO160020 Elm Cottage Tumut Emphasising the greatest qualities of their slice of New South Wales, David and Deborah Sheldon describe the locale within which they built four self-contained, individually decorated cottages. “Guests can sit back and relax on the balcony, listen to the sounds of the river or enjoy a glass of wine and watch the beautiful sunset, meander along the 2klm’s of river, enjoy a camp fire by the river or BBQ on the balcony, with over 140 varieties of birdlife to interact with. Elm Cottage can also be the perfect base camp to discover Kosciuszko National Park. “At Elm Cottage we believe in unobtrusive customer service – it is our guests’ time, their getaway, their holiday, something we greatly respect.” On arrival, Deborah familiarises the guests with the cottage and property’s facilities and services. Providing 24-hour service on all seven days of the week when required, guests can be allowed to rest in their own manner. This unobtrusive customer service has won Elm Cottage much praise from guests and awards over the years. Deborah sees Elm Cottage as holding a very advantaged position within the wider market, but also admits to some of the challenges that have arisen in the new digital age. “The major change we have witnessed is the booking platforms, social media and digital space. Both owners have attended training and workshops to stay abreast and assess the realities on a weekly basis. Elm Cottage has a reinvestment program that is strictly maintained to ensure the expectations of our guests is met. “When we first opened we quickly realised to succeed in a remote region, a non- recognised destination we had to set our own strategies. We designed our own website, brochure and TV ads, which have given Elm Cottage a broader base of customers and has prevented segment categorisation and a sectionalised demographic.” Elm Cottage provides all the mod-cons that a retreat could be expected to provide, and as far as the future goes, the Sheldons express the greatest optimism, as the scenic rivers and gentle distractions continue to lure clients into their embrace. “The business has continued to grow and in line with our business plan a new cottage is being developed, that will provide a large meeting room to cater for the increase in reunions, wedding, anniversaries, special interest get-togethers, et cetera.”