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Media Release
Australia's Number One Holiday Resort Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary
The owners of Australia’s finest holiday resort are toasting an unbeaten 40 years of setting industry benchmarks this year, at their multi award-winning, family owned and operated holiday park, BIG4 Beacon Resort in Queenscliff.
Industry pioneers, the Golightly family have transformed what used to be a cow paddock in the 1970’s, to one of the most preeminent accommodation providers in Australia today – Beacon Resort was the first Victorian Holiday Park to be crowned five-stars, and most recently was announced as the winner of the 2009 Qantas Australian Tourism Award for Tourist and Caravan Parks.
Owner, Lorraine Golightly, explains how her family’s vision and innovation have not only helped to build Beacon Resort from the ground up, but has revolutionised the holiday park experience and the industry as a whole, which has been a proven asset to Tourism Victoria.
“Our dream has filtered through the generations, from 60 sites in the middle of a cow paddock when my parents started the park, to a resort where we now provide (insert number) luxury cabins with LCD televisions, iPod docks, a new indoor pool and spa, state of the art kitchen facilities and (insert number) sites.
It has been an incredible journey for us, from identifying an opportunity to provide holiday park accommodation to the Bellarine Peninsula in 1970, to present day, setting the standard of holiday parks in Australia.” Lorraine says.
Tourism Victoria's Marketing Director Don Richter commended BIG4 Beacon Resort operators on their outstanding 40-year contribution to the Victorian tourism industry.
"The Golightly’s continually go the extra mile to give their visitors a memorable holiday experience," Mr Richter said.
"A multiple Victorian Tourism Awards winner, BIG4 Beacon Resort is a tremendous tourism asset for our state. It represents the ultimate in holiday park properties offering contemporary, resort style facilities and a variety of accommodation options to suit all families and budgets," he says.
Carrying on tradition, the third generation of Golightly’s now work at BIG4 Beacon Resort, with Lorraine’s niece Rachael working at the park while studying nursing, as well as her nephew part time pool attending. The BIG4 Beacon Resort management team has been with the Park since the early 90’s, which makes them part of the family too. Lorraine describes the benefits of being a close knit team.
“Family is everything to us here, and it has helped to give the business a real continuity. We all have different personalities that come out in our individual management and operating style and our almost nonexistent staff turnover reflects the strong culture and longevity which visitors feel when they come and stay,” Lorraine says.
The true point of difference at Beacon Resort is not only the premium facilities that the park showcases, but the personable experience that the Golighltly family and their staff offer their guests, keeping them coming back to the park time after time. The secret to their success and the x-factor of Beacon Resort lies with their ability to understand the modern day consumer and not only meet their needs, but also ‘wow’ them.
“We pride ourselves on offering our guests a more personable stay. We really get to know them and learn how to cater to their individual needs. For example, we have a guest who only drinks skinny milk, so there is always a fresh bottle in his cabin for him. This is why people keep coming back, I believe,” Lorraine concludes.
With this kind of service, it is no surprise that 75 per cent of Beacon Resort customers are through referrals, which speaks volumes for the top line quality and service provided at the award winning resort and is the reason Beacon Resort are industry leaders.
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