Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort is a family owned and run business in Coffs Harbour, read about how it all got started !

Hi Bodie. Can you tell us about your connection with the Coffs Coast?

Our family visited this beautiful area every year for holidays and loved it so much we moved here permanently in the early 1990’s. So I think we can call ourselves locals! I did my early schooling at Kororo Public School and went to Jetty High and then CHEC for my secondary years. I also stayed local for my Hotel and Resort Management degree here at Southern Cross University. I’ve done a lot of travelling world-wide, but my heart has always pulled me back to the Coffs Coast, so when I got the opportunity to join the family business, I jumped at it. Since then, I found the love of my life, Amy, who was born and bred in the Coffs area and we’ve settled down in Sapphire with our two new Coffs Coast rugrats.

When did you and some of your family members start managing holiday apartments?

My father, Barry Greenwood, started way back in 2007. He and mum owned a unit at the resort and thought it would be fun to manage it themselves. In 2015 some more units came on the market … I bought my own unit, and mum and dad purchased a further two. Dad was excited to give up his job to take on the management, he thought he was going into semi-retirement. Hah! Since then, the extended family came on board – my uncle bought 2 units, my grandfather bought one, dad bought another one and my grandmother has recently bought one right next to dad and his new partner, Alison. A real family affair!

Can you tell us about how Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort came about?

Dad was doing a great job marketing and managing our family’s rooms. At the time, many of the other investors were not doing so well so some of them approached dad, asking if he could also manage their units. He came up with a strategy that they liked, and it steam rolled from there. Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort was born.  As the business grew it was clear that dad needed help and I happily joined the company in late 2015. We also managed Salt at South West Rocks for their first year of trading and our sister business, Echidna Getaways manages individual investment properties for holiday rent

al purposes.

You and a number of family members actually live at Charlesworth Bay, what do you love about it and the area there?

I lived in my unit at the resort for a few years but as my family grew, so did our need for a bit more floor space. Dad and Alison have lived in the resort for over 10 years now – they were both happy to downsize and just adore living here. My grandparents were living in a retirement village on the Central Coast and were visiting the resort for short stays. They loved it so much they moved here full time to be closer to family – right next door to dad! It is delightful to wake up to the sound of birds, sit on the balcony to enjoy the beautiful views and choose which of the three pools to swim in. You can decide to play a game of golf, tennis or basketball, take a leisurely stroll around the resort, or watch the waves roll in on Charlesworth Beach. Now that is heaven! The wider Coffs area has so much to offer too. Dad and Alison can hop on their bikes and choose between road biking and mountain biking. They have ocean skis at the yacht club and love to get out on the harbour or venture out into the ocean if the water isn’t too rough. For a surf, we have a plethora of amazing beaches to choose from and glorious countryside to the inland. Look any direction and you can find great places for a coffee or meal. There is something for everyone on the Coffs Coast. But if we want a taste of the city, it’s only a short flight from here to Brisbane or Sydney.

What is it like running a business as a family?

It’s actually really great. We all have our roles and our own strengths. Amy has a flair for design. She has done an amazing job creating our inviting office space, but she is also our HR guru. Dad is the brains behind the paperwork and accounting. He is a whiz with databases and systems! Alison retired from teaching to join us – she is the chief communicator and, as an experienced seamstress, overlooks the soft furnishings. Above all, we have a shared vision for the business. We support each other extremely well and communicate openly. Of course, as the business has grown, we have taken on more staff but always tried to keep that family feeling. Tun-Tun and Partha have been with us for a few years and do an amazing job with their housekeeping team. Kelsie is our duty manager and efficiently meets the needs of our guests. My best mate Shannon and his wife, Katie, have joined the team; Brittany, my cousin, has come on board and we even have three of Alison’s ex-students working for us – Grace, Charlotte and Georgia who are awesome. They are all well and truly part of the Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort family.

What tends to be your role within the family business?

I am the General Manager of Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort, so I oversee the day-to-day running of the business – bookings, communication with guests, cleaning, maintenance and problem-solving. I work closely with the apartment owners to ensure that the holiday units are of a high standard, maybe advising on and coordinating renovations. Of course, guest satisfaction is paramount – I very much enjoy engaging with our guests to provide them with a memorable and carefree stay. I have a passion for marketing and love to promote our wonderful resort and the stunning Coffs Coast as a destination rather than a stop-over. I coordinate all social media marketing and I’ve rapidly built up a strong following on Instagram and Facebook, promoting the hotel as well as the wider community on the Coffs Coast.

Where can people find you or how can they get in touch?

Charlesworth Bay Beach Resort reception is located at 2 Resort Drive, Coffs Harbour. We manage over 70 holiday units within the resort precinct, which is spread across 20 hectares of stunning, landscaped grounds, just north of the Big Banana. If you are an owner looking to holiday rent your accommodation, or looking to buy for investment, we would love the opportunity to speak to you about managing your property. Check us out at Instagram and Facebook @charlesworthbaybeachresort, or browse our website www.charlesworthbaybeachresort.com.au . If you are interested in property management email Bodie on bodie@charlesworthresorts.com.au or for booking enquiries email bookings@charlesworthbaybeachresort.com.au.  We look forward to seeing you.