Quest conference puts focus on relationships

The importance of business relationships was a key focus of the recent Quest 2017 Annual Conference and Awards.

A record number of attendees from New Zealand and Fiji were hosted at the recent annual Quest Apartment Conference and Awards event, representing Quest’s continued growth in New Zealand’s accommodation sector.

Representatives from the entire NZ and Fiji network attended two days of technical workshops and guest speakers based on a theme of Business Relationships. 

Headlining the speakers was well-known psychologist Nigel Latta who spoke to the audience about the importance of connecting the relationships that are key to business success. 
Quest Apartment Hotels NZ & Fiji Group GM, Adrian Turner said they wanted to provide attendees with key relationship insights. 

“His address was a fascinating insight into our pre-human ancestors who worked together instead of looking out for themselves.
“If you understand what makes humans human, then all manner of things become a little easier to understand. Even in the middle of the complexity of the modern world, the answers to our most vexing problems, including how to survive and thrive as a franchisee and building relationships, are almost always very simple.” 

This year’s event also recognised the Franchisee of the Year Award along with the recognition of the properties’ team members who graduated with various Quest and NZQA qualifications.

The 2017 NZ Franchisee of the Year award was presented to the team at Quest Highbrook, with Brendan and Keld Kelly and the team extremely proud of their achievement. 
“Becoming the Quest Franchisee of the Year has boosted the team at Quest Highbrook enormously,” says Brendan Kelly.
“We see this driving us to improve Quest Highbrook while also adding value to the Quest Brand,” he says.

In addition to taking out this award, Quest Highbrook has also won the 2017 Westpac Awards South Employer of the Year. 
“This is great recognition for the team at Quest Highbrook for the journey they have been on,” says Turner. 
“They were finalists in both the Quest Franchisee of the Year and the Westpac Business Awards in 2016, so to learn from the processes last year and achieve what they have in 2017 is testament to work that Brendan and Keld have put into the business, along with their team.”

A record number of 35 graduates were presented with their NZQA Quest qualifications in Housekeeping, Front Office and Hotel Management, with seven graduating from the property in Suva alone. 
This acknowledgement of achievement throughout the network is a key component for entry-level employees in this area of the accommodation sector.