#030 - The Motel Rule Nobody Talks About

#030 - The Motel Rule Nobody Talks About

If you want to learn more about the accommodation sector, you can explore Quest Apartment Hotels: https://www.questapartments.com.au [https://www.questapartments.com.au/] Success in motels isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about urgency, fundamentals, and relationships that stand the test of time. In this new episode, Trudy sits with Damien and Judy Kennedy to unpack three decades of motel experience, from their first Emerald property to building and managing multiple ventures. Their journey shows why relationships, fundamentals, and urgency matter more than anything else. ◼️ How farming roots shaped their motel success ◼️ Why “relationships, relationships, relationships” is the real business model ◼️ Lessons from building, leasing, and managing across Queensland Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:23 - Introducing Damien and Judy Kennedy 00:04:39 - First Motel Purchase in Emerald 00:06:03 - Trust and Partnership in Business 00:07:04 - Importance of Customer Service 00:08:45 - Building Relationships with Guests 00:10:01 - Fundamentals of Running a Motel 00:13:16 - Financing and Building a New Motel 00:14:40 - Challenges of Managing a Motel Remotely 00:15:51 - Experience Gained Over a Decade 00:19:15 - Helping Others Enter the Motel Industry 00:20:34 - The Importance of Expertise in the Motel Business 00:22:05 - Hiring the Right Staff 00:24:12 - Decision to Buy Longreach Motor Inn 00:27:17 - Building Relationships in Longreach 00:28:29 - Improving Occupancy Rates 00:30:07 - Strategies for Managing Bus Groups 00:33:18 - Managing Housekeeping Challenges 00:35:15 - Long-Term Success at Longreach Motor Inn 00:37:08 - Selling the Longreach Motor Inn 00:38:23 - Importance of a Good Restaurant Follow Resort Brokers: https://www.instagram.com/resortbrokers/ https://www.facebook.com/ResortBrokersAustralia https://www.youtube.com/@resortbrokersau https://www.tiktok.com/@resortbrokersau

#029 - The OTA Pricing Mistake Costing Motels Bookings and Rate Control

If you want to learn more about the accommodation sector, you can explore Quest Apartment Hotels: https://www.questapartments.com.au [https://www.questapartments.com.au/] In this new episode, Trudy Crooks sits down with motelier and content creator Alex Mengual to explore the real decisions, pressures and opportunities inside regional accommodation, from rate strategy and OTAs to choosing the right property and running it with intention. ◼️ The pricing misconceptions that push guests to competitors ◼️ The OTA rate gaps that change booking behaviour ◼️ The operational difference between leisure guests and workers ◼️ The demand‑driven rate decisions operators hesitate to make ◼️ The value‑add approach Alex Mengual uses to lift a motel’s performance Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:30 - Alex's Journey into the Motel Industry 00:04:25 - Transitioning to Motel Management 00:06:10 - Initial Challenges and Expectations 00:08:09 - First Year Adjustments and Dynamic Pricing 00:09:21 - Outsourcing and Efficiency in Operations 00:10:21 - Maximizing Revenue During Peak Seasons 00:12:09 - Seeking a Long-Term Lease 00:13:04 - Evaluating Motel Opportunities 00:14:39 - Analyzing the Town and Market Demand 00:16:48 - Decision-Making Process for the New Motel 00:18:26 - Understanding Online Booking Dynamics 00:19:41 - The Importance of Rate Management 00:21:03 - Restaurant Challenges and Opportunities 00:22:13 - Social Media Engagement and Strategy 00:25:19 - Business Planning and Cash Flow Management 00:30:02 - Renovations and Compliance Issues 00:31:44 - Building Community Support for the Restaurant 00:32:17 - Current Business Performance and Pricing 00:34:24 - Advice for New Hoteliers Follow Resort Brokers: https://www.instagram.com/resortbrokers/ https://www.facebook.com/ResortBrokersAustralia https://www.youtube.com/@resortbrokersau https://www.tiktok.com/@resortbrokersau Follow Alex Mengual: https://www.instagram.com/mylittlemotel [https://www.instagram.com/mylittlemotel] https://www.threads.com/@mylittlemotel?xmt=AQG0WTBcRreu5-IQ6PDV9r02XAU9J5cmFy6llruMKanpzqI [https://www.threads.com/@mylittlemotel?xmt=AQG0WTBcRreu5-IQ6PDV9r02XAU9J5cmFy6llruMKanpzqI]

#28 - What It Really Takes to Run Multiple Quest Properties

If you want to learn more about the accommodation sector, you can explore Quest Apartment Hotels: https://www.questapartments.com.au [https://www.questapartments.com.au/] In this episode, Trudy sits down with Mark O’Shea to unpack the realities of running multiple properties through Covid, navigating greenfield openings, managing landlord relationships, and building TKC, a charity that sends every donated dollar directly to families in need. This episode covers: ◼️ How relationships with landlords, head office and staff carried them through Covid ◼️ What it takes to open and scale multiple Quest properties ◼️ Why TKC was built on a $100‑in, $100‑out promise ◼️ How their charity grew from backyard events to 1,000‑person galas ◼️ The emotional and operational load behind supporting families through cancer Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:00 - Early Days with Quest and Resort Brokers 00:03:40 - Transitioning to New Properties 00:05:10 - Family Involvement in the Business 00:06:00 - Challenges of Opening During COVID 00:07:30 - Geelong Central and Its Opportunities 00:09:10 - The Impact of the Commonwealth Games 00:10:30 - Starting Team Kill Cancer (TKC) 00:12:30 - The Birth of TKC and Initial Fundraising 00:14:00 - Growth of TKC Events 00:15:30 - Corporate Sponsorship and Support 00:17:00 - Local Charities and Community Impact 00:19:00 - Expanding TKC Beyond Melbourne 00:20:30 - Challenges of Running a Charity 00:23:00 - Emotional Toll of Charity Work 00:25:00 - The Process of Helping Families 00:27:00 - Managing Roles Within TKC 00:29:00 - Importance of Clear Roles in Teamwork Follow Resort Brokers: https://www.instagram.com/resortbrokers/ https://www.facebook.com/ResortBrokersAustralia https://www.youtube.com/@resortbrokersau https://www.tiktok.com/@resortbrokersau

#027 - He Listed a $2B Company. Now He's Building a Motel Empire

If you want to learn more about the accommodation sector, you can explore Quest Apartment Hotels: https://www.questapartments.com.au [https://www.questapartments.com.au/] In this episode, Trudy sits down with David Toomey to unpack why he believes the motel sector offers one of the strongest risk‑return profiles in Australia. From his private equity background and a $2.1B NASDAQ listing to building a national motel fund, David breaks down the economics, the scale advantages and the operational levers shaping the industry. This episode covers: ◼️ Why property‑backed motels can deliver a 25% IRR ◼️ How diversification across motels reduces overall risk ◼️ The macro forces lifting regional accommodation demand ◼️ Why four‑star corporate motels create steadier revenue ◼️ How operational changes drove a 10–15% uplift Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:35 - Guest Introduction: David Toomey 00:02:22 - David's Background and Career Path 00:04:06 - Transition to Australia and Tritium 00:05:33 - Identifying Opportunities in the Motel Industry 00:08:47 - Risk-Return Profile of Motels 00:09:34 - Market Trends and Population Growth 00:10:33 - Fund Structure and Acquisition Goals 00:11:56 - Investment Criteria for Motels 00:12:53 - Brand Strategy and Quality Focus 00:14:42 - Investor Participation and Fund Structure 00:16:10 - Comparison with Other Investment Models 00:17:01 - Fund Management and Governance 00:18:15 - Projected Returns and Investment Strategy 00:20:08 - Diversification Benefits of the Fund 00:21:44 - Operational Management and Team 00:23:07 - Revenue Optimization Strategies 00:25:08 - Expense Management Techniques 00:26:54 - Challenges in Property Acquisition Follow Resort Brokers: https://www.instagram.com/resortbrokers/ https://www.facebook.com/ResortBrokersAustralia https://www.youtube.com/@resortbrokersau https://www.tiktok.com/@resortbrokersau Follow Quest Apartment Hotels:https://www.questapartments.com.au

#026 -How Resort Brokers Reinvented Their Brand!

Looking to buy your next hotel, motel, caravan park, or management rights? Work with the brokers who meet with Australia’s leading operators every week. Explore exclusive listings and deals backed by decades of on-the-ground experience: https://www.resortbrokers.com.au/ In this Episode, Trudy sits down with Carla and Liam to unpack the 40-year brand journey of Resort Brokers and why they decided it was time for a full rebrand. Carla walks through the early days of beige business cards, lime green logos and horizontal magazines, and how the brand evolved as the business grew, the market changed, and social media and personal branding became impossible to ignore. Liam shares what “brand” really means beyond a logo: the feeling people have after every touchpoint, from events and IMs to office signage and how the team shows up in person. Together they break down the thinking behind the new look and why it finally feels aligned with who Resort Brokers really are as accommodation specialists, not just another real estate agency. Follow Resort Brokers: https://www.instagram.com/resortbrokers/ https://www.facebook.com/ResortBrokersAustralia https://www.youtube.com/@resortbrokersau https://www.tiktok.com/@resortbrokersau Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:24 - If service fails the brand fails 00:00:32 - Trudy introduces Carla and Liam 00:02:10 - How Carla accidentally became the family brand guardian 00:05:16 - The many lives of the Resort Brokers brand 00:08:17 - Moving from black and white to a fresh accommodation led identity 00:09:16 - What a brand really is in 2025 00:11:25 - Personal brands social media and experience driven branding 00:15:11 - The challenge of branding multiple asset classes 00:19:09 - Three brand pillars properties firm brand and personal brand 00:20:00 - Bespoke IMs that mirror the developers vision 00:22:33 - Why the new look finally feels like “us” 00:23:34 - Old school prospecting 20 visits a week 00:24:23 - Note cards stamps and why physical mail still cuts through 00:26:08 - Service as the real brand in a world of OTAs 00:28:36 - Why video is still the most underused growth lever for operators 00:30:03 - Turning one shoot into a library of content 00:31:30 - Keeping up with clients’ marketing and what’s next for the brand 00:32:06 - Reviews