Hotel ownership wasn’t initially a career goal for Clover Li. It wasn’t even on her radar. When she got her first job in hotels, her focus was on finding stability.
Fast forward to 2023, and after more than six years with Quest Apartment Hotels, Li has recently graduated from the Quest Franchise Accelerator Program – a step-by-step educational program that guides aspiring team members to become a Quest Franchise Business Owner.
Li’s career in hotels began during her university years when she undertook an internship as a room attendant at Shangri-La hotels, and soon after, she became a supervisor. She later transitioned to Sofitel and Radisson Blu to further her growth before taking up a position as a housekeeping supervisor at Quest St Leonards after graduating.
“I progressed to roles such as Guest Service Agent and Rooms Division Manager at Quest St Leonards and Quest North Sydney, and later became a Property Manager at Quest Goulburn,” Li explained.
“The business owners recognised my potential and provided avenues for skill expansion.
“Transitioning from housekeeping to front desk was challenging, but through dedication, I earned trust, took on leadership roles, and thrived.”
Working in various Quest properties exposed Li to different aspects of hotel management. And as she progressed within the business, the idea of hotel ownership started to intrigue her.
“The organic pathway provided by Quest made hotel ownership a realistic and attractive career goal for me,” she said.
“The emphasis on guest satisfaction and the opportunity to interact with people resonated deeply with me.”
Throughout her career, Li had always embraced learning opportunities and so participating in the Quest Franchisee Accelerator Program was “a natural choice” to take her career to the next level.
Based on the Quest franchise model, the program provides a structured training and assessment curriculum covering all aspects of franchise management.
The journey begins with establishing a personal growth plan to identify short- and long-term goals, areas of focus, and form a 12-month action plan.
“The content is engaging and relevant, covering all aspects of running a successful franchise,” Li said.
“It covers a comprehensive range of topics, equips individuals with the necessary knowledge and mindset to transition from an employee to a business owner.”
She describes her experience with the program as “exceptional”.
“It broadened my understanding and provided practical tools and strategies that I could implement in daily operations,” she said.
“The networking opportunities and connections I made during the program have been invaluable.”
Li said one of the most valuable lessons she learned from the program was the importance of setting and maintaining high standards in business.
“It emphasised the significance of exceeding guest expectations and the positive impact it can have on the business,” she said.
The next step for Li is to find the right opportunity to embark on her journey as a Quest franchisee.
“I am eager to put into practice all the knowledge and skills I have gained through the years of experience with Quest,” she said.
“Quest has provided me with the perfect platform to pursue that dream of becoming a business owner.”
Li said she has received “unwavering support and guidance” from her “Quest family” throughout her career journey that has fuelled her ambition to take on this challenge.
“I am excited about the future and opportunities that lie ahead, confident that with the support of the Quest network, I will be able to build a successful and fulfilling career as a franchisee,” she said.