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QUEST Apartment Hotels has announced it will develop its first property outside of the Australasian market in the UK city of Liverpool as part of its global expansion.
The $17 million development of Quest Liverpool City Centre will see an existing commercial office building transformed into a 100-room apartment hotel building when it opens for business in early 2019.
"For decades, we have honed the brand and the franchise business model to appeal to Australasian business travellers. Today marks the beginning of an expansion of the business across international markets outside Australasia," Quest founder and chairman Paul Constantinou says.
The company expanded its global reach in July by joining one of the world's leading serviced residence networks, Singapore-based The Ascott Limited (Ascott).
Constantinou says Quest now plans to replicate the successful Australasian roll-out of the brand across the UK.
"This first property development in Liverpool sets a benchmark for Quest and for the apartment hotel industry in the UK," he says.
"There are very few Australian hospitality companies that have successfully established their brand overseas.
"We spent many years in the UK before undertaking this development, to ensure we understood the market and could confidently and aggressively roll-out the brand," Constantinou says.
Quest Liverpool City Centre will be located at 72 Church Street, Liverpool, along one of the city's biggest retail strips.
The building is currently a 1980s commercial office building with retail on the ground and first floors. The new property will also feature a conference room and gym.
Site establishment and strip out of existing offices will commence in December 2017, with full construction commencing in early 2018.
Quest is one of the largest and fastest growing apartment hotel operator in Australasia with over 150 properties located across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Established in Melbourne in 1988, Quest properties are managed by franchisees.
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Business News Australia
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