Quest Serviced Apartments recently turned up trumps at the Victorian chapter of the Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association Awards for Excellence 2008.

The HMAA Awards recognise achievements in such areas as business innovation and design, best product and best value, marketing excellence, community contribution and environmental and social responsibility.

Quest Chairman, Paul Constantinou was delighted at the outcome of the awards.

“Quest franchisees and employees have participated in these awards since its inception, with consistently good results. The winners of these awards should be extremely proud and honoured. It’s terrific to see properties and individuals within the network being recognised by industry peers.”

The newly-built Quest Docklands fielded five finalists in the awards. Franchisee Michael Hibberd credited the property’s success to the support from the Quest Group.

Twelve years after stepping into franchising, Michael and Anne Hibberd are also celebrating their win in Quest’s annual awards, scooping the National Franchise of the Year 2008 for Quest Royal Gardens. This Victorian property was where Quest founder, Paul Constantinou, started his business 21 years ago, a business that today has 115 properties in a portfolio that also includes New Zealand and Fiji.

“It has taken us five hard years to build up Quest Royal Gardens – but this award makes up for all the hard work you have to undergo when you are in business,” said Anne.

“It is terrific to see the team’s hard work during the past five years pay off.”

Michael said one of Quest’s greatest strengths is the passionate and enthusiastic team at corporate office that genuinely cares and is a part of every franchisee’s team.

“The level of support is not just on a systems level, but in the everyday management of the business and offering an outsider’s perspective to identify what you can’t see because you are too involved in the business.”

Other Quest Awards franchise winners are: NSW/ACT, Quest Wagga Wagga; QLD, Quest Townsville; WA, Quest Harbour Village; SA/NT, Quest on King William; 2008 Quest Franchise of the Year – New Zealand, Quest Parnell.