About Us
Airlie Court Units is a little unique compared to many of the other accommodation options available in and around Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Coast. Formerly Airlie Court Holiday Units.
Built in 1973 by the late Alex Chengody (1985) and Judy Chengody (2021) - tourism pioneers – the business is run by the second generation son Peter Chengody who has been involved with the business since late 1982. Whilst proudly born and raised Australian Peter and wife Selena manage the business operations.
This is UNIQUE in that there are very few family businesses that have survived tourism in the main street of Airlie over such a long period of time since the 1970’s in a hands on capacity – in fact they may well be the only ones.
Whilst the passion to provide a value-for-money stay in central Airlie Beach by caring hosts over such a long period is commendable at the same time they have made a lifestyle out of and contributed to the Whitsunday community and tourism on a daily basis.
We genuinely care that your stay is comfortable within the parameters of the premises we operate from and the influences of being in a central part of a vibrant town. We do our very best to attract a market of clientele for “decent people” at a “decent price” in a “decent unit”.
Airlie Court Units is run by
Peter and Selena Chengody
Both moved to Airlie whilst at a single digit age and whilst attending the same local primary school at slightly different times and living along the same winding streets they first met up as teenagers. Through many of life’s twists and turns they married and share 5 children & 5 grandchildren.
Whilst a unique name to Australia the Chengody (Csengody in Hungarian) family over 40 years have contributed to the Whitsunday community in many ways through the arts, sports, music, tourism, schools, commerce, development, youth and the yachting fraternity.
In 2000 Peter was chosen in the Whitsunday Shire to carry the Olympic Torch and light the evening Olympic Cauldron at a reception at our local sporting grounds in recognition of his contribution as a sportsperson and in his lead role for developing public sporting facilities – only 1 of 100 people Australia wide to be honoured with lighting the evening Cauldron culminating in Cathy Freeman at the opening of the Olympic Games. He was also awarded an Australian Sports Medal created by the Howard Government and Governor General William Dean.
Peter also spent 9 years as honorary treasurer to the Whitsunday PCYC of which he was a founding committee member over 10 years prior and the Blue Light Youth Dance Committee prior to this.
Peter was Chairman of the Whitsunday Sportspark for 7 years during the initial construction phase converting it from the local rubbish dump to playing fields. Former Chairman of the Whitsunday Regional Open Space Recreation Advisory Committee as well as a committee member of the Whitsunday Chamber of Commerce and the founding President of Whitsunday Junior Rugby Union & founding President of the Whitsunday Tens Tournament.
Peter is a Life Member to the Whitsunday Rugby Union, Whitsunday Sportspark & Whitsunday PCYC. Whilst easily distracted by any sport Peter has a special passion for Rugby Union having represented Mackay, North Qld, Qld Country, Qld “B” and the Australian U21 training squad with a handful of Internationals matches and overseas tours – all whilst living in Airlie Beach playing for the local club – and still enjoys a run of touch football.
Selena whilst raising children, managing the family business and with a high work ethic found time to manage a dental practice where she worked for over 10 years establishing a strong connection with the local people and developing her multi-skills which she has efficiently applied to the operation of the holiday units including on-line reservations, accounting, social media and marketing with her cheerful and smiley manner.
Selena is a motivated and active person who enjoys time chilling out at the Gym and enjoying the boardwalk and immersing herself in grandchildren.
The family business since the 1970’s has always been a member of Tourism Whitsunday, with Judy a Treasurer during the reforming years in the 1970’s. Other state and national industry benchmarks have also been supported for most of the business’s history.
Since the beginning the Holiday Units business has had to deal with continual change due to consumer demand and in 2005/6 made significant refurbishment changes to the holiday units which over the years provides a delightfully surprising comfortable unit in an unbeatable position. “In the old days a black & white television with a double bed was all that was demanded whilst now it is at least a King bed and flatscreen in fresh surroundings – which is what we offer today”.
Despite weathering the height of the backpacker era, and others, the business remained a value for money middle-of-the-road holiday unit premise without failing to provide a central stay for deserving clientele and so remaining consistent in operation.
To top off their Holiday Units Peter and Selena continually seek green initiatives and take great interest in the continual development of Airlie Beach in respect of its natural and beautiful surrounding environment – “we have been blessed to have lived in Airlie over all the years and met so many wonderful people of this World.”
We look forward to your company!