Patricia and Val Hearns at the Quest Werribee serviced apartment building . 77926 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By ALESHA CAPONE
A HUSBAND and wife team from Hoppers Crossing have realised their business dream by establishing the $13 million Quest Werribee serviced apartments.
Franchisees Patricia and Val Hearns said they were excited to open their Synnot St building, which has 50 apartments plus conference facilities, last week.
The pair said they were “inundated” with applications from residents hoping to work at Quest, and now have 11 residents employed as part of their team.
“This area is in a growth corridor and it’s great to be able to operate and move into a business here, and to help the area develop and address the shortage of work available in the West – we’re aware of how many local people commute to the other side of the city for work,” Mr Hearns said.
“I think over the past four years, Quest has recognised the West as a growth location,” Ms Hearns said.
“We anticipate so much growth out here and there’s also a big leisure component, we’ve had a few bookings from the equestrian centre and Legends on the Lawn already.
“We’ve been amazed at how the locals have been really supportive and how the local business people, we have met at networking functions, have been very welcoming.”
Mr and Ms Hearns said they have outsourced their catering to Wyndham businesses and also arranged a ‘chargeback’ scheme with six Werribee restaurants, for patrons to take advantage of.
Ms Hearns said she first spoke to the Quest CEO about becoming a franchisee around four years ago, and was prepared to move interstate for the opportunity, but was delighted when Werribee was selected as Quest’s next place of development.
The couple said Werribee’s businesses and the Wyndham City Council, including its director of sustainable development Greg Aplin, have been supportive of Quest’s development within the municipality.
See www.questwerribee.com.au for more information.
