www.lux-review.com Page 41 Page 40 www.lux-review.com LUX 2021 Resorts and Retreats Awards LUX 2021 Resorts and Retreats Awards Essque Zalu Zanzibar is an intimate resort destination nestled in a natural cove on the island’s north-eastern coast of Ungunja, Zanzibar. Essque Zalu Zanzibar combines contemporary luxury with a real sense of place. This boutique hotel has the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, lush green forests, and a hint of spice in the warm and fragrant tropical air. Essque Zalu Zanzibar features 40 suites and has a luxurious-styled space, crafted from local materials, adorned with native artwork, and housed under a traditional pitched Makuti roof. Essque Zalu Zanzibar works with all travel service providers including DMCs, STOs and OTAs with a focus on luxury and exclusive travel customers. Additionally, Essque Zalu Zanzibar features four unique restaurants to satisfy every tastebud with any choice of meal, a visit to the café or drinks from one of three well-stocked bars. The restaurants within are built in the traditional style, with a rustic thatched roof but with state-of-the-art cooking facilities. The studio has been dedicated to native African Chefs, who have been developing the cooking class throughout the years with the resort. This is a much-in-demand signature fixture, teaching eager students from around the world how to prepare mouth-watering traditional dishes and sample the best that the “Spice Island” has to offer. Essque Zalu Zanzibar believes that good customer service involves the timeliness of responses. The guests are assured to receive good service as the team is always on standby 24 hours a day, ready to serve. To receive customer excellence, it is Essque Zalu Zanzibar’s sole duty to know every aspect of its guests’ needs to provide a homely stay. It does not sell a hotel; it provides a home away from home that suits each guests’ special requirements. Essque Zalu Zanzibar is dedicated to creating a positive and lasting relationship with each guest. To provide excellent service, members of staff listen intently, always willing to help guests before and during the overall stay. Opening for business in 2004, Elm Cottage is the vision of tree-changers Deborah and David Sheldon, Elm Cottage is set on 62 acres in the Goobarragandra Valley and caters for those looking to get away and experience a “true blue’ regional Aussie experience. Elm Cottage with its 5 differently configured cottages has a wide and diversified customer base catering from couples, families, small family gatherings to international visitors and accessible tourism. The accommodation and property also cater for those looking for a wedding with a difference and small business functions. Both David and Deborah emphasise “Providing unobtrusive customer service is paramount to the Elm Cottage mantra and our vision is an ever-evolving customer experience. We monitor current trends, making sure we are always staying ahead of developments within the industry, whilst many accommodation providers are cumbersome and unable to adapt quickly our team is small and effective, remaining nimble and able to adjust as required. First impressions are important within the accommodation industry, ensuring that guests’ initial thoughts are favourable towards the establishment”. On arrival at Elm Cottage all guests are welcomed and provided with a personalised familiarisation of their cottage and the property. If arriving late, the Cottage is left open with lights on, air conditioning appropriately set, with all instructions in clear view and a personalised familiarisation taking place in the morning. “On departure guests are thanked, presented with an Elm Cottage gift and asked if there are any suggestions they have for us to improve the Elm Cottage experience.” Elm Cottage provides a small and effective team, employing two full-time staff and two Jun21269 Jun21181 Essque Zalu Zanzibar Most Intimate Boutique Destination - Zanzibar Elm Cottage Best Pet Friendly Retreat 2021 - Snowy Mountains At Essque Zalu Zanzibar, professionalism permeates everything it does while trust, integrity, honesty, and ethics are non- negotiable for its team. The staff commit to quality without question and believe in open doors. Each member of staff works hard to inspire passion within the team, and aims to encourage community and family. In the recruitment stage, Essque Zalu Zanzibar seeks out young, local talent who are then trained to be innovative and creative every day, which then drives success. “Our culture is rooted in celebration as we believe that we do our best together and create new expectations every day.” However, like many within the market, Essque Zalu Zanzibar has experienced difficult times due to COVID-19, adapting by updating its standard operating procedures in line with the local Ministry of Health as well as the standards prescribed by WHO to ensure the safety and wellbeing of guests and staff. Its facilities are now fully compliant and have been quick to make any changes that will make guests and staff safer while enjoying the stay with minimal inconvenience. While the future looks unpredictable, Essque Zalu Zanzibar is confident that its team is well prepared to match any challenges presented by the changing world. It has continued to invest in the development of staff and improvement of the facilities, ready for the new normal and is consequently looking ahead with a lot of optimism. Company: Essque Zalu Zanzibar Name: Cyrus Mutuota Email:
[email protected] Web Address: www.essquehotels.com Address: P.O. BOX 3151 NUNGWI, ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA Telephone: +255 778 683 960 part-time employees, and as such training is kept relevant and up to date with today’s ever-changing world. The Elm cottage team pride themselves as a small award-winning team not a team of award winners with guests saying the Elm Cottage experience continues to exceed their expectations. With Elm Cottages unique location on a headland that provides over 2 miles of river frontage that offers stunning river and valley views and magnificent walks along the riverbank for both canines and humans alike, it is a picture- perfect location. Having made the decision very early on to lead the way and establish Elm Cottage as a truly pet friendly establishment that value the importance of dogs to the family unit has proved extremely successful to Elm Cottage. The dogs themselves are provided with treats as part of their stay, three cottages have their own fenced yards and the other two provide secure dogs areas on the balconies, The dogs are permitted and welcomed inside the cottages, which few other accommodation providers allow. The Sheldon’s will also provide a dog sitting service if the dogs are sociable and prior arrangements are made. “After all, too many families, dogs and pets are an integral family member, so Elm Cottage believe dogs and pets deserve a holiday too,” said Deborah. Described as cottages the houses provide all the modern amenities of our guests’ home with quality furnishings, superior linen, fully equipped kitchens right down to the ‘cling wrap’. Elm Cottage provides tranquillity at its upmost, it is a home away from home set in a picture postcard backdrop 365 days of the year.” The Elm Cottage team consistently monitor trends within the industry, ensuring the business is able to stay ahead of new developments, delivering campaigns and experiences designed to make guests return to the facility. Even during these trying times the world has faced the Sheldon’s took the opportunity to further enhance the visitor experience with new kitchens and renovations, the constructions of undercover parking with carports, adding an en- suite to River’s Edge and sealing of roads. Elm Cottage effectively uses social and digital technology to keep clientele up to date which is in-line with their ever-evolving vision, As Deborah explains “as the Elm Cottage experience evolves, we are witnessing an increase in family reunions, a considerable growth in revisits and longer stays. For the last five years, our marketing campaigns have been designed around these trends which seem to be paying dividends, as over 65% of our visitation is repeat, most with the family and the K9.” As David states, “the Elm Cottage experience is better than a trip to the moon and what’s more your pets are invited to enjoy the holiday.” From island sands, breeze, and food to the soulful, restful and peaceful destination of Zanzibar, Essque Zalu Zanzibar offers a tranquil paradise in its intimate boutique hotel. Recognised as one of Australia’s most sought-after pet friendly retreats Elm Cottage, Tumut, in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains in NSW has built a reputation over the years over greatly exceeding their guest’s expectations, perhaps that explains why over 65% of their business is repeat. This luxury farm stay really is a destination in its own right. Company: Elm Cottage Contact: Deborah Sheldon Email:
[email protected] Address: Elm Cottage, PO Box 40, Little River Road, Tumut, NSW 2720, Australia Phone: 0002 6947 5818 Web : www.elmcottage.com.au