Quest for Success – Meet New Zealand’s youngest hotel owner, Matthew Davidson

In 2015, he sold his apartment in Auckland to buy into the Quest Serviced Apartments franchise business and in September 2015, he accomplished one of the goals he set for himself when he was studying – to open his own hotel.

 

“Steve Jobs was 21 years old and Mark Zuckerberg was 19 years old when they both founded their multimillion dollar technology companies. I think it’s when you’re younger that you have a bigger appetite for risks, and you never know the inspiring things you could be building.”

 

First of all, congratulations on the opening of Quest Whangarei! How has your life changed since the hotel opened?
It’s been such a surreal experience! Firstly, I’m glad that I no longer have to live on my friend’s couch in Auckland, where I was initially based to process the legal documents before the hotel opened. It’s also been good to be back in my hometown, Whangarei where I have many family and friends.

Now that the hotel is open, I’ve become ‘Mr. Everything’. I have a small but amazing team comprised of four staff, managing the 34-room property. Other than that, I handle every aspect of the hotel operation, from pulling long shifts at front desk to managing the hotel finances. The phones have not stopped ringing and my brain is constantly in over drive mode!

 

“As hectic as it has been, I will not trade this for the world. I love the adrenaline rush and I’m constantly motivated to wake up everyday to do something I love.”

 

How did you chance upon this opportunity to begin with?
I was working at the Quest corporate office providing system support in the franchise operations department for over two years. The CEO who knew I was from Whangarei, approached me to tell me that they were looking into opening a hotel there and was curious to know if I would be keen to take on the franchise.

I was initially surprised by the offer, given my age and experience. I also knew there were many others who were interested in this property. I guess having worked with me and knowing what I stood for, he felt confident that I was the right person for this role.

What made you decide to study hospitality and why in Switzerland?
I think from young I had an embedded passion for the hospitality world. Growing up, I often travelled with my family in Australia and Fiji, and we stayed at many fantastic hotels. I was drawn to the people who provided great service at these hotels and how it transformed guests’ experiences.

After college, I was unsure about what I wanted to do. Many of my friends decided to pursue degrees related to commerce and I actually didn’t know a lot of people studying hospitality. It was after I sat through a presentation about hospitality management that sparked something in me. Needless to say, the stunning visuals of the SHMS campus and the beautiful Caux Palace really appealed to me. In a strange way, I felt a sense of belonging and the curiosity in guest service I had as a kid travelling with my family, all came flooding back.

What’s the one thing you learnt in Switzerland that has helped you in your career so far?

 

“I think the best part about studying in SHMS was the emphasis the school placed on the balance between theory and practice.”

 

The internships and practical classes such as F&B service practice, housekeeping and learning to organize banquets and events, were the best components of the training I received.

Any memorable experiences from your time in SHMS and Switzerland?
There were so many! One of the highlights for me was when I served as the SAF President at SHMS Leysin. My friends encouraged me to apply for the role as they felt I was a good speaker and could engage effectively with the student population. In many ways, it prepared me for the working world. I learnt to work with different departments, school management, and the general student populations to ensure that student feedback on issues was addressed. Together with my team, we also organised many events, social gatherings and thus it was really important to find a balance between my study and my duties as the SAF President.

I also worked with Swiss Education Group during my time in Switzerland. The first time was before completing my Degree, I worked as an IT Assistant with Mr. Stephane Mugnier. After graduation, I decided to stay on in Montreux for a while longer and was offered the opportunity to work with Swiss Education Group’s Chief Branding Officer, Mr.Benoit Samson, to put together the International Recruitment Forum. I had a lot of fun working with Swiss Education Group and it helped me with my transition from being a student to entering the working world.