Quest Bairnsdale may be brand new, having opened in spring 2025, but owner Somsuk Castle had been working towards ownership at Quest for more than a decade. Here, she shares how support from the Quest family has helped her achieve success.

Tell us how you first got into hospitality.

I started my first job in hospitality when I was 16, working as a waitress after school in a restaurant in Phuket, Thailand – my home town. Mostly I was serving tourists who came to enjoy the food and the sunshine, and at first it was simply a way to earn some extra money, but it quickly became so much more than that. I love connecting with people from all over the world, learning different languages and most of all being a part of people’s holiday memories. It was then that I realised hospitality wasn’t just a job for me, it was a passion. It taught me that true hospitality is about creating moments, not just serving meals.

So how did you become involved in the Quest network?

After living in the UK for a while, I moved to Australia with my young family and wanted to get back into the workforce. I had offers from a few hotels, but I wanted to work somewhere that cares about the team as well as the guests, and from the second I walked into Quest Mont Albert in Melbourne, I felt that. I took a job as the receptionist in 2014, and have been with Quest ever since.

How does one make the transition from reception to business owner?

Part luck, part hard work! I eventually became property manager, and then I got a job as the general manager at Quest Dandenong Central. Eventually, I was selected to take part in Quest’s Accelerator Program, which was a huge honour. The Quest Accelerator Program is a year-long professional development program to help get potential business owners ready for the challenge, and I was mentored through that time across all areas of the business. It’s quite competitive, and being selected felt like a real recognition of my commitment and hard work.  That was in 2022, and I knew I wanted to become a business owner, but I was looking for the right fit. Then, I met Mick Canny and Nick County, who were the co-owners of Quest Melbourne Airport and Quest Wangaratta, and we decided to go into partnership to open a new property: Quest Bairnsdale. It opened in September 2025. 

What has the process of opening Quest Bairnsdale been like?

It’s a lot of work, and a lot of moving parts. It’s so different to working as a manager, and there are so many more things to consider, but Nick, Mick and I really complement each other, and they bring a wealth of experience in business and legal matters. Opening a brand-new property is different again from taking on an existing one, but one of the biggest advantages was that Quest Corporate Office was there to support us at every step. That is key to the Business Format Franchise Model.

What does that support involve?
They provided us with a transition team with experience to help guide and train our new team members, and from the beginning I’ve had the approach that in a team, happiness comes from within, so my priority has been building a good culture that I think flows through to the guests as well. So far, it’s been amazing. We’ve had high occupancy and some incredible reviews. There have been a few teething issues here and there which is to be expected with a new business, but it’s all part of the process and we’ve been able to share a lot of fun and laughs as a team, and with our guests. 

Ready to start your journey as a Business Owner at Quest Apartment Hotels? Find out more here.