Amol Kasaju, business owner of Quest Werribee in Victoria, shares his remarkable journey to ownership and how the support of mentors helped him achieve his dream.
Tell us about your experience of being part of the Quest Apartment Hotels network.
Quest is not just about running a business – the brand is invested in the community and genuinely cares about the people in the network. I came to Australia from Nepal at 21, barely speaking any English. Quest has supported me at every step of my journey, from corporate office through to the franchise relationship manager, to mentors like my business partner, Natalie Bui – all have helped me grow personally and professionally.
How did your career in hospitality start out?
I arrived in Australia in 2009 to study Business Management at university and began as a housekeeper for a Quest property in Sydney. I was working the graveyard shift. I was promoted to housekeeping supervisor but my obsession with wearing a tie meant I was fascinated by the front desk (in Nepal, wearing a tie to work means it’s a prestigious job). Eventually I got the job at the front desk reception. I moved to Melbourne in 2012 and became a front office manager for Quest Caroline Springs, where Natalie Bui was a business owner. After doing that for close to a year, I became a property manager.
What happened next?
When I moved to Caroline Springs, I was exposed to so many other components of the business and I realised that hospitality was not just checking people in and out. It’s about creating an experience, building relationships and running a business with a purpose. I shared with Natalie Bui that one day I wanted to run my own Quest hotel and she helped me make that dream a reality. In 2018, I had the opportunity to co-own a Quest in Werribee with Natalie, so we decided to go for it.
The hospitality industry can be challenging. What’s your take on the ups and downs?
There are moments of pure joy, like when a guest tells you that they feel at home and they come back again and again. Seeing a team member grow into a leadership role is wonderful, too. But there have been tough times. The pandemic was such a big challenge for all of us in the hospitality industry. But those difficult moments taught us resilience. I wouldn’t change any of it.
Tell us about winning the Young Business Person of the Year Award at Wyndham City Council’s Business Awards last year.
It’s an individual award, but it’s really a reflection of the fantastic team I have supporting me. I’m nothing without the team.
What makes Quest such a strong franchise opportunity?
Quest gives you the best of both worlds. You get the independence of running your own business and implementing your own ideas, but you are never really out on your own because the team from the corporate office are always there to provide guidance. If you have questions or concerns, there’s your franchise relationship manager, who you’re always able to talk to. That type of clarity instils confidence, so we don’t have to second guess decisions and the path to success is very well defined.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about giving business ownership at Quest a go?
If you are thinking it’s a passive investment, it’s not. This is a hands-on business and you have to be involved and truly care about the guest experience and your people. But if you are willing to put in the work, the rewards are incredible.
Tell us about your involvement in community and environmental initiatives.
We believe we have a responsibility to give back to this community that supports us, so we raise funds for local kids’ sports, we provide free accommodation to those teams who need it and we’re also a part of the Hotels for Trees initiative. It’s the little things that when taken together have a big impact.
Ready to start your journey as a Business Owner at Quest Apartment Hotels? Find out more here.