Quest Apartment Hotels, Australasia’s largest and fastest growing apartment hotel operator, has appointed Paris D’Allessandro as its first UK General Manager and Kerry Smith as its Business Development Manager.
The hires have been announced as the company gears up for the landmark opening of the 100-key Quest Liverpool City Centre this September.
An experienced General Manager, D’Allessandro has worked in the hospitality business for 18 years, 15 of them in Liverpool. His experience spans handling property openings for leading brands including Premier Inn, Jurys Inn, Days Inn, and latterly, Epic Apart Hotels where he spent four years as Group GM.
Smith brings 16 years of international sales and entrepreneurial expertise to her new Business Development Manager role. With considerable local experience of introducing new brands to the city, Smith has previously worked with Cycas Hospitality, the management company for Quest Liverpool City Centre, and was responsible for bringing the first Staybridge Suites, Hotel Indigo, Days Inn and Pullman Hotel to Liverpool.
In addition to the 200 jobs created during the construction of its first aparthotel property in the UK, the £10m Quest investment will create 25 part-time and full-time positions in the Liverpool area once the six-storey site opens its doors to the public. These positions will include guest services, housekeeping and maintenance.
Craig Ryan, Chief Brand Officer, Quest Apartment Hotels, said, “As an employer, Quest seeks to partner with ambitious, career-focused people who’ll make our guests feel at home – whether they are staying with us for a couple of days or many months.
'Paris and Kerry are passionate about achieving the standards that will inspire loyalty from both staff and guests, and we are confident that together they will help us put Quest well and truly on the UK business travellers’ map.
“The work we are doing to build a great team in Liverpool demonstrates our commitment to the UK market and to a remarkable city with a rich trading, cultural and sporting heritage.”
Established by entrepreneur Paul Constantinou in Melbourne over 30 years ago, the 170-strong Quest Apartment Hotels portfolio has made its name by offering a ‘home away from home’ to extended stay business travellers in key cities, regional towns and suburban locations across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Liverpool is just the start of its European expansion and the company hopes to open an additional 8 to 12 properties in the next five years.
Quest is part of Singapore-based The Ascott Limited.
