Quest Bundoora, Quest Epping and Uni Hill Conference Centre have been established to service business, hospital and leisure guests travelling to Melbourne’s north. The businesses have partnered together to provide premium accommodation and conferencing for the region.
Melbourne’s north is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions with an annual population increase of 2.8 per cent, sitting above the 1.6 per cent national average. The government has committed around $36 billion in infrastructure projects to accommodate the growth, but it’s not just residents who are benefitting. Industries are developing as businesses find real value in locating to this dynamic region.
In 2012, Quest Bundoora opened its doors within the University Hill precinct to accommodate people travelling to the area on business. The precinct was established in 2007 and only contained a few retail spaces such as Coles and DFO. With University Hill expanding and organisations moving to the area, Quest partnered with Uni Hill Conference Centre to offer a suitable venue for corporate events.
In 2015, Melbourne Market relocated to Epping, resulting in increased demand for accommodation from domestic and international business guests. Families of patients in the Northern Hospital were struggling to find suitable hotels while their loved ones were in care and Quest Bundoora was running out of space. Quest Epping opened mid last year to alleviate the pressure and provide guests with premium accommodation. Now the hotel is operating at near full capacity with a mixture of corporate, hospital and leisure guests.
“Melbourne Market moved to Epping two to three years ago, which brought a lot of businesses to the area. I remember going to a presentation at the Market and they highlighted how much Epping will grow; that it’s going to compete with Frankston and Dandenong in size. There was no way the north could only rely on Quest Bundoora,” explained Quest Bundoora and Epping Business Development Executive Mark Cortese.
The success of Quest Bundoora and Quest Epping has been assisted by their relationship with the City of Whittlesea. The council supports the hotels by including them in promotional activities for local tourism. Quest returns the favour by accommodating the rise in business and tourist guests to the region.
“Prior to us, there hadn’t been many hotels in the area and a lot of guests had to travel into the CBD for accommodation. Our establishment allowed people to stay within the area for work and the hospital,” said Quest Epping co-owner Daniel Wilson.
Both hotels have become essential within the business ecosystem of their respective areas. Quest Bundoora’s partnership with the Uni Hill Conference Centre complements its accommodation and business services. Bundoora and Epping hotels are located within busy shopping precincts. Hospitality, entertainment and retail businesses operating inside the precincts are thriving with help from their Quest partnerships. Both hotels have introduced facilities that allow guests to eat at over 25 cafes and restaurants then go to movies and have it charged back to their accommodation bill.
It’s not just the immediate surrounding businesses benefitting from the hotels’ operations. Quest Bundoora and Epping have been strongly supporting the food and beverage industry in Melbourne’s north. Besides partnering with the Melbourne’s North Food Group, the hotels have stocked their rooms with locally produced food and drinks, giving domestic and international guests a delicious insight into the region’s industry.
“Our mini bars and pantries are stocked with local products. The menu cards tell each brand’s story, which gives guests a background and taste of what’s being produced in the region,” said Mark.
In 2018, Quest Bundoora achieved the franchise’s highest achievement – National Franchise of the Year. The high achievement was complemented by their 2018 Regional Franchise of the Year for Victoria and Tasmania award. The awards are judged based on financial performance, customer service and hotel amenities. More than 150 Quest hotels compete for the awards each year, but it was Bundoora’s demonstration of the franchise’s core values that rewarded them.
Quest Executive Chairman Paul Constantinou expressed his pleasure with Bundoora’s performance.
“Quest Bundoora continues to deliver the premium home-away-from-home experience expected by our guests, a reputation that Quest has maintained since its inception 30 years ago. I congratulate the team at Quest Bundoora for their hard work and dedication and wish them another successful year,” he said.
Tried and true, a quality hotel can only be achieved with a team who welcome their guests like they would welcome family. The staff culture across Quest Bundoora, Quest Epping and Uni Hill Conference Centre is one that supports each other.
“Recently we had a group of international guests stay in our hotel travelling from Mexico. The following morning I came to work and our staff had English translations of Spanish phrases on the board in our staff room. They loved it,” highlighted Daniel.
At Uni Hill Conference Centre, Narrelle Grindlay and Maxine Cameron work together on corporate and other events. They agree the key to the conference centre’s success is their great relationship.
“Working closely allows us to learn and grow together. We have a wide range of qualities between us, which brings a lot to the service we provide; we work together like a well-oiled machine,” said Conference Manager Narelle Grindlay.
Quest and Uni Hill Conference Centre’s prosperous relationship with industry in Melbourne’s north is the reason they partnered with Melbourne’s North Food Group. They saw MNFG as an opportunity to become further involved with the local business community and to offer them quality accommodation and conferencing.
“We joined MNFG for the engagement they have with the local food and beverage industry. Because we’re proactive in our business community, we knew it would be worth partnering with them. The work MNFG is doing to grow the sector is something we’d like to support,” said Mark.
With Epping rapidly growing, Quest Epping will further develop into a premium accommodation and conferencing establishment. Quest Bundoora plans to continue the strong relationship with Uni Hill Conference Centre and to maintain the high standard that made them Quest Franchise of the Year in 2018.
