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There is rarely a perfect moment to start a business.
For Luke Frederick, part owner of Quest Springfield Central, the journey into business ownership was not defined by one bold decision. It was shaped by years of experience, unexpected opportunities, supportive relationships and a willingness to keep moving forward.
Speaking with Antoine Vidal on Your Number 1 Business Podcast, Luke shared how his career took him from working on a tree farm in Queensland to living and working at a ski resort in Canada, building a career in hospitality and eventually becoming a business owner in Greater Springfield.
At 21, Luke was working on a tree farm and saving toward a house deposit.
Although he had around $20,000 in the bank and was following what seemed like a sensible path, he began questioning whether it was the future he really wanted.
That uncertainty led him overseas.
Luke accepted a hotel role at Sunshine Village, a ski resort in Banff, Canada. The position appealed to him largely because staff accommodation was included, making the move easier and more affordable.
He began working as a concierge, but within two months an opportunity arose to become concierge supervisor.
Although Luke had travelled to Canada looking for adventure rather than career progression, the experience introduced him to the hospitality industry and gave him what he describes as the “hotel bug.”
Living overseas also gave him independence, confidence and valuable life experience.
He spent months living in the snow, worked in resort security after the ski season ended and even found himself being evacuated by helicopter after flooding cut access to the resort.
It was an experience that helped shape both his career and his outlook on life.
When Luke returned to Australia, he expected his international experience to help him find another hotel position.
Instead, he struggled to get an interview.
He applied for roles across housekeeping, front office and hotel operations but received little interest.
Luke returned to working with trees while beginning an online Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management. Once he added the degree to his résumé, employers began calling.
The experience taught him an important lesson about the role qualifications can play in opening doors, even when practical experience may ultimately prove more valuable on the job.
Luke later moved to country Victoria with his future wife, Alana, where he secured his first Australian hotel role.
After two years, the couple returned to Brisbane to buy a home and start a family. Not long afterwards, Luke joined Quest Ipswich.
That decision would shape the next stage of his career.
Luke spent approximately seven years at Quest Ipswich, progressing through leadership and operational roles.
During that time, he worked with different franchise owners and experienced contrasting leadership styles.
One of the most influential periods came after Adam and Alice French purchased the business in 2018.
Their leadership focused not only on daily operations, but also on professional development, business growth and the future direction of the property.
Luke was given opportunities to lead staff, manage difficult conversations and take greater responsibility for the performance of the business.
Those experiences helped him build the confidence and skills he would later rely on as an owner.
He also learned that leadership is not only about the enjoyable moments.
Some of the most valuable lessons came from difficult staff conversations, operational pressure and situations that required clear expectations and accountability.
One particularly memorable moment came during the 2022 floods.
With roads closing, guests extending stays, cancellations coming through and rooms being resold, the front office faced relentless demand.
Luke described it as the “grand final of front office.”
The team handled it successfully, reinforcing his belief in the importance of preparation, teamwork and remaining calm under pressure.
Luke had considered business ownership for several years.
At one stage, he and Alana discussed selling their home, moving into Quest Ipswich and saving aggressively to buy into a franchise.
Luke completed Quest’s franchise accelerator program, which prepared potential owners for the expectations and responsibilities of operating a property.
However, when the couple discovered they were expecting their first child, the timing no longer felt right.
Looking back, Luke believes stepping away from the opportunity was fortunate.
Their daughter was born just two weeks before Brisbane’s first COVID-19 lockdown. Had they followed the original plan, they may have been living inside the hotel with a newborn while the accommodation industry faced one of its most difficult periods.
The desire to own a business did not disappear.
After attending a Quest conference and meeting franchisees from across the network, Luke’s motivation returned.
Soon afterwards, an opportunity emerged to purchase Quest Springfield Central.
The location made sense. It was close to home, the family did not need to relocate, Alana could continue operating her own business and their children could remain within their existing routines and support networks.
After approximately 12 months of discussions and planning, Luke and his business partners were handed the keys.
Becoming an owner changed Luke’s relationship with the business almost immediately.
He became far more aware of costs, revenue, risk and the consequences of every decision.
As an employee, he had always believed he was giving everything he had. Ownership showed him there was another level.
“You find another gear,” Luke explained.
That extra gear was needed during the first six months.
Luke had to learn how to manage a larger workload, build trust with a new team and establish clear expectations around how the business would operate.
He also had to recognise that he could not do everything himself.
With 82 rooms to manage, business success depends on the people checking in guests, cleaning rooms, solving problems and representing the property every day.
For Luke, this has reinforced the importance of hiring good people and building relationships based on trust and mutual respect.
He believes the strongest teams are built on reciprocity. Employees need to feel supported and valued, while owners must be able to trust their people to care for the business and its guests.
Hospitality is heavily influenced by factors outside an owner’s control.
Pandemics, floods, travel disruptions, fuel prices and economic uncertainty can all affect bookings and business confidence.
Luke admits these are the challenges that can keep him awake at night.
His approach is to focus on what can be controlled.
Quest Springfield Central operates with a close eye on costs while continuing to pursue revenue, strengthen relationships and deliver a consistently high level of service.
The objective is to build a stable business that can absorb unexpected changes when they occur.
Luke also tries not to dwell on mistakes.
Instead, he views them as part of the cost of learning.
Every difficult situation provides information that can improve the way the business operates in the future.
Luke describes trustworthiness, integrity and accountability as the values that guide his leadership.
He does not necessarily announce those values to his team every day. Instead, he tries to demonstrate them through his behaviour, expectations and decision-making.
His success has also been recognised by the wider business community.
In 2023, Luke received the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce Young Business Person of the Year Award. He was also recognised as Quest Salesperson of the Year.
Luke refers to it as the “premiership year” of his career.
However, he is quick to acknowledge that no success happens alone.
He credits his wife, business partners, colleagues and team members with helping him reach each milestone.
For Luke, awards and achievements carry the fingerprints of the many people who provided support, trust and encouragement along the way.
Moving from the Ipswich business community into Greater Springfield was a natural transition for Luke.
He already knew several local business leaders and quickly discovered a highly engaged and supportive network.
He describes the Springfield business community as welcoming, generous and willing to make connections.
People regularly introduce one another, recommend local businesses and create opportunities for collaboration.
That support has helped Luke and the Quest Springfield Central team establish themselves as part of the local business and visitor community.
Luke’s advice for people considering business ownership is simple: there may never be a perfect time.
Starting or buying a business always involves risk, uncertainty and unanswered questions.
The key is to assess the opportunity, understand the potential consequences and make the best decision possible with the information available.
Luke believes it can also be helpful to think about how you may view the decision later in life.
Will you regret trying, or will you regret never giving it a chance?
His journey shows that opportunities do not always arrive according to a carefully prepared plan.
Sometimes they appear through relationships, timing and circumstances that could not have been predicted.
The challenge is recognising when the right opportunity has arrived and having the courage to step through the door.
In this episode of Your Number 1 Business Podcast, Luke Frederick shares more about:
Listen to the full episode of Your Number 1 Business Podcast and hear Luke’s honest reflections on leadership, opportunity, resilience and business ownership.
Your # 1 Business Podcast shares real conversations with business owners, professionals and community leaders about the experiences, challenges and lessons that have shaped their journeys.