Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages recently took out gold for the second year in a row, in the 2018 Perth Airport Western Australia Tourism Awards in the self-contained tourist accommodation category.
The awards gala dinner held at Crown Perth on Saturday, November 10, recongised leading tourism operators in the state for their innovation and commitment to the tourism industry.
Tourism Council WA chief executive officer Evan Hall said WA has such a diverse range of tourism businesses, which is reflected in the entrants and medalists in the awards.
“Each and every year, the judges are impressed by the commitment to continuous innovation and improvement displayed by entrants – a testament to the great work being done by tourism operators, big and small,” he said.
With a previous background in marketing and events Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages owners Deb and Brian Vanallen said they were thrilled that their business won gold again this year.
“We pride ourselves on our personalised customer service and have worked very hard to add those one percenters to ensure our guests have a truly special experience,” they said.
Their accommodation features six fully self contained cottages spread throughout a hilltop forest on a 46 acre block, providing guests with their own slice of heaven in the small town of Balingup.
We pride ourselves on our personalised customer service and have worked very hard to add those one percenters to ensure our guests have a truly special experience.
- Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages owners Deb and Brian Vanallen
“Moving from Perth with our two daughters to a rural area in 2009 was completely new to us. We had to learn new skills like fire and weed control but it brought back existing skills of marketing and event management,” they said.
The couple said that much of their success has come from a lot of hard work and also the development of partnerships with other small businesses in the region.
“We’re proud of Balingup and our continued growth depends not only on visitors enjoying their stay with us but on them having fabulous experiences right throughout the region,” they said.
The couple will now go on to represent Western Australia at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, being held at in Launceston, Tasmaina on March 1, 2019.