Best Western Seachange Coolum Beach
Chris and Patricia O’Brien were novices to the accommodation industry when they purchased their first management rights – Seachange Coolum Beach – almost six years ago.
But it didn’t take them long to outgrow the novice status as they quickly built up their business from the blank slate they purchased to the well renowned and successful property it is now.
Today, Seachange Coolum Beach is Best Western Seachange Coolum Beach after the O’Brien’s accepted the accommodation chain’s offer to join their growing resort and motel portfolio.
Chris said the decision wasn’t an easy one and took much deliberation and research but they are now reaping the rewards. “When Best Western first approached us in mid 2008, we thought their fees and charges were too expensive but when they came back to us again after the recession hit, their monthly fees were greatly reduced and we knew that with their mass marketing capabilities this would be money well spent.
“We’ve had the Best Western signage up for two months now and we have quadrupled our walk-ins and once Best Western educates its clients to our style of accommodation, we can only grow more.”
Whilst their portfolio has been predominately 3½ to four star motel in the past, Best Western has started to expand into the management rights sector adding luxury accommodation properties such as Seachange Coolum Beach to it’s list of complexes.
Now in its sixth year, the O’Brien’s have plans to give all of the Seachange Coolum Beach’s apartments a freshen up to maintain their comfortable 4½ star accommodation.
Before Seachange Coolum Beach, Chris and Patricia had both spent many years working long hours in stressful careers and were looking for one last challenge before retirement when they discovered Seachange Coolum Beach. Chris said, “We were looking for a secure way to get to retirement and wanted something that wasn’t long working hours or as stressful. Of course that’s not the case but we enjoy this and we love living in Coolum Beach, it is a nice, peaceful seaside village.”
To assist with the promotion of Coolum Beach accommodation, Chris is heavily involved with the Coolum Business and Tourism group, formerly the Coolum Business & Commerce.
“During the recession Coolum Beach was hit the hardest; bookings were down 40 to 50% while nearby areas were only down 20 to 30%. Coolum Beach Business and Tourism is actively raising the awareness of Coolum Beach as a tourist destination to help boost these figures in the good times and the bad.”
Beachside Style
Best Western Seachange Coolum Beach offers 35 boutique air-conditioned apartments that have real style and character. Specifically designed to be different from the rest of the Sunshine Coast, each of these units are luxuriously spacious and feature kitchens with all the latest appliances, laundries with washing machine and drier, satellite TV and private balconies, with a handful also boasting ocean views and rooftop spas.
Within the complex guests can enjoy a range of leisure facilities such as large lagoon style pool, spa, lap pool, games room, tour desk, Internet access and pay television channels.
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