Building a Legacy: Peter and Veronica's Journey to Motel Success

Owning a motel is more than a business venture; it’s a chance to build a lifestyle, connect with your community and create a long‑term, sustainable asset. For many, motel management offers the ideal mix of independence, financial security and personal fulfilment.

This blog series answers real questions about motel life. We interview owners and managers to share practical insights, advice and lived experiences so you can understand what motel ownership truly looks like day to day.

Owner Spotlight: From Tropical Beaches to Tasmanian Treasure

Peter and Veronica spent years searching for the perfect accommodation business and then somehow fell in love with one that looked like it had survived several natural disasters, a decade of neglect and possibly a zombie apocalypse.

Having owned and operated a range of businesses over the past 15 years, from restaurants and bars in Bali to hospitality venues on the Sunshine Coast, Peter and Veronica were no strangers to hard work. They knew they wanted to stay in hospitality, but finding the right accommodation business was far from a quick decision.

For years they reviewed opportunities across management rights, pubs, hotels and motels, analysing numbers and exploring possibilities before finally narrowing their search. Their dream property was simple: something well-maintained, operational and ready to walk into.

Then a broker suggested a property in Tasmania.

Their response?

Absolutely not.

After years in tropical climates, neither could imagine voluntarily signing up for a Tasmanian winter.

Fortunately, the agent was persistent enough to convince them to jump on a plane and take a look.

Love at First Sight. Sort Of.

To Peter's surprise, Veronica fell in love immediately.

Not because the motel was beautiful.

Quite the opposite.

The property was so overgrown it was barely visible from the road. If you combined every motel horror story you've ever heard into a single building, you'd be getting close.

Yet beneath the weeds, neglect and years of deferred maintenance, Veronica could see something special.

While others saw problems, she saw potential.

While others saw work, she saw opportunity.

And after a little convincing, Peter agreed.

The Christmas Eve Handover

The purchase settled on Christmas Eve 2023.

While most people were preparing for Christmas lunch, Peter and Veronica were preparing for what Peter now describes as: "The most soul-destroying three months of my life."

A glowing endorsement of motel ownership? Perhaps not.

An honest one? Absolutely.

Adding to the challenge was the absence of a meaningful handover. Years of neglected maintenance, questionable record-keeping and operational gaps meant they were effectively starting from scratch. Every day uncovered a new issue that needed attention.

Fortunately, they had something equally important.

A plan.

Fixing the Guest Journey One Step at a Time

Rather than trying to solve everything at once, Peter and Veronica focused on the guest experience.

They mapped the entire customer journey and worked backwards.

After all, as Peter puts it:

"You can't make money from beautiful rooms if guests can't find the motel from the road."

So that became priority number one.

The first projects included:

· Clearing overgrown gardens

· Improving street visibility

· Installing new signage

· Cleaning and upgrading the car park

· Refreshing reception areas

· Then finally, renovating guest rooms

One project led to another. Then another. And another.

Anyone who has ever renovated a motel knows the list somehow gets longer every time you complete something.

From Hidden Gem to Award Winner

Fast forward a little over two years and the transformation has been remarkable.

With Veronica's eye for design and Peter's relentless determination, they have renovated the public areas and more than half of the accommodation which has lead to significantly increased performance.

Even more impressively, they've collected six industry awards along the way, including the highly coveted TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award, recognising businesses that consistently rank among the top 10% of accommodation providers worldwide.

The awards are impressive.

But perhaps the greatest achievement is something less visible.

They've doubled the income of the business.

Building a Business That Doesn't Depend on Them

As many motel owners discover, success eventually creates a new challenge.

How do you step back?

After building the business, improving the property and strengthening operations, Peter and Veronica are now focused on creating a sustainable structure that allows the motel to thrive without requiring them to be involved in every daily decision.

Key managers have been recruited and trained.

Specialist consultants support ongoing growth.

Systems are becoming stronger.

And for the first time since taking over, there is an opportunity to enjoy some balance.

The long-term vision is to complete the renovation program by 2027 and create a business that could one day become a legacy for their son. In the meantime, they plan to split their time between Tasmania and the warmer climate of Queensland.

A goal many of us can certainly support.

Advice for Future Owners

When asked what advice they would offer prospective buyers, Peter doesn't hesitate.

Do your homework.

Then do some more.

Take your time during the purchasing phase and fully understand:

· What you're buying

· How the numbers work

· What needs fixing

· How much investment will be required after settlement

And perhaps most importantly: double the budget and double the timeline.

Then prepare for a few surprises anyway.

His other piece of advice?

Maybe leave the heavily neglected property for your second purchase.

Your future self will thank you.

Security Cameras and Midnight Hot Chocolates

Like many motel owners, Peter has also become a strong believer in quality security systems. Not only do they protect your business, but they provide some unexpected entertainment.

One memorable camera recording involved their son conducting what he believed was a covert midnight mission to the bar in search of hot chocolate and snacks.

The footage suggested stealth may not be his strongest skill.

Then there are the occasional young guests who decide motel corridors make excellent skate parks.

Over time, Peter has developed a diplomatic approach to these situations.

His preferred strategy is less about enforcing rules and more about helping families find a better outlet for their energy, proving that hospitality is often about communication as much as operations.

Final Thoughts

What stands out most about Peter and Veronica's journey isn't the awards, renovations or financial growth.

It's their willingness to tackle a challenge that many people would have walked away from.

They recognised potential where others saw problems.

They asked for help when they needed it.

They trusted experts.

And they kept moving forward one project at a time.

Their advice for anyone considering motel ownership is refreshingly simple:

Surround yourself with good people, never be afraid to ask for help, accept that you won't know everything... and do it anyway.

Because while the motel industry can certainly test your patience, your budget and occasionally your sanity, it can also deliver an incredibly rewarding lifestyle and pathway to financial freedom.

Just be prepared for a little hard work along the way.

For more guidance, tools and support, visit the RevenYou website where you’ll find practical resources designed to help motel owners and operators build confidence and long‑term success.