Thirty years ago Empire Retreat and Spa owners Perry and Jill Coleman turned their old farmhouse into a bed and breakfast.
Three decades on, the retreat has been named one of Australia’s most exclusive hotels by Trivago after the couple expanded their small business into a private retreat with 10 villas and a day spa.
It is also the only South West establishment to be featured on the boutique travel site Mr and Mrs Smith.
“Being listed on that site helps bring customers from the US and Europe,” he said.
“Our biggest customer group is definitely still people from WA who come down south for the weekend.”
Mr Coleman said he was proud of what they had achieved over the past three decades and to be acknowledged in such a way was fantastic.
“It was a surprise but we reckon we deserve,” he said.
“It has been a real buzz getting it to this stage, we always felt it was good but to get recognition from someone you do not even know is fantastic.”
Since revamping the rooms last year Mr Coleman said they had received a lot of positive feedback from their customers on social media travel sites.
With the help of his daughter Elissa they spruced up the 10-year-old rooms, with decor from the family’s furniture and homeware business, redoing everything from the floorboards to painting the walls.
“When we started it was very low key,” he said.
“Gradually we increased the rooms to what they are today.”
Empire Retreat and Spa general manager Cameron Knight said the recognition from customers on public forums mostly came down to the natural environment which surrounded the retreat.
Mr Knight said their guests coexisted with nature during their stay which helped people to relax and forget about everything else that was going on.
“People want to getaway from their hectic lifestyle and we provide them with the silver service that is expected, but we make it homely,” he said.
“We want to make sure our guests leave rejuvenated and we pride ourselves on customer service.”
With many people resorting to online travel reviews to choose their accommodation Mr Knight said it was important when people left to go back home, that they wanted to tell others about their experience.
Mr Knight said while there was the odd complaint, most of the feedback from customers on public forums had been positive which helped with their exposure to international markets.
“Customers tell us we have our magic back, especially those guests who have visited us multiple times,” he said.
Trivago media relations spokesperson Samantha Hendricks said Empire Retreat and Spa were researched by their Australian editorial team who specialise in hotel guide content.
Ms Hendricks said the retreat was named one of the most exclusive hotels because of the experience it offered guests.
“It is like an Australian version of a chateau in the South of France with its own private vineyard and winery,” she said.
“The level of exclusivity is so prominent with only 10 luxurious suites to ensure complete privacy.”
Ms Hendricks said the interior of the rooms were a standout with stone and furnishings that ooze class and attention to detail.
“All against the backdrop of the Empire Estate vineyard and that glowing sunshine in WA’s unique South West,” she said.
