Santana Holiday Resort
With just one year and one month experience under their belt, husband and wife team, Racquel and Anthony Wattorson might be one of the newest management rights owners/managers in the industry but already they are making changes, improving systems and reestablishing their new property, Santana Holiday Resort, as one of Surfers Paradise’s luxury complexes.
Already, Racquel and Anthony have put in a new barbeque area, conducted soft refurbishments on 95% of the 39 apartments replacing all linen, cutlery and glassware and upgraded the old televisions with brand new plasmas to give the rooms a contemporary style that is reflective of a guest’s own home. They are also in the process of up-dating the pool furniture and have many more future developments planned.
Racquel said, “What attracted us to the building was the potential, we could see where we could improve the building inside and out and rather than spending money on new bathrooms or kitchens, we have found by just updating the soft refurbishments we have created a modern edge in each apartment. These refurbs have been very rewarding particularly because we managed to turn around a majority of the owners from not wanting to spend money into transforming their apartments and upgrading.”
With such a successful list of achievements obtained in such a short period of time, you would think Racquel and Anthony have spent many years in the management rights industry.
However, that is what makes this couple so inspirational, because before managing Santana Holiday Resort, Racquel and Anthony both came from two totally separate careers that had nothing to do with the holiday accommodation industry.
For many years, Racquel was a business development manager for a skin care company and spent much of her time travelling around the three states she managed, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Anthony on the other hand owned and managed nightclubs in Melbourne. He also spent time working within the hotel industry through various roles.
Racquel said what encouraged them to seek a new challenge was that they needed a change to better their lifestyle.
“Before coming to Santana, Anthony and I were working different shifts, he on nights and me during the day and we really wanted something where we could work together. Anthony’s brother Glenn has Atrium Resort and when he came up 12 months before us he said it was a great lifestyle and there was money to be made so we came up the coast too.
“When we were first looking at properties, we didn’t want anything that was too big to see if we liked the industry. We also wanted to buy smaller so we could do it well. We liked the way Santana felt, it had nice appeal and a relaxed atmosphere. Purchasing management rights really has been the right move.
“We are working together like we wanted and we make a great team, what I am good at Anthony isn’t and vice versa. Even our kids help out and get involved in the business. Mitchell who is 13 will often deliver towels or greet guests at reception and being here certainly has brought him and his sister Brigitte, 10 out of their shells. Already, we have realised the key to this role is to make sure we deliver the very best customer service. Every time I pick up the phone I smile and a lot of people can hear that on the other end. It makes a huge difference.
“Sparkling clean rooms and fantastic customer service and analysing your business constantly to keep up to date with the changes in the industry and being able to react immediately, we believe these are the keys to a successful management rights business and our success in our first year here has proven that we’re on the right track.”
Located on Monte Carlo Ave, Santana Holiday Resort is just minutes from the heart of Surfers Paradise and only meters south of the cosmopolitan hub that is Broadbeach.
Featuring 39 apartments in three styles: standard, one-bedroom and premium. The standard and one-bedroom apartments are fully self contained and feature lounge room with television, full size kitchen with fridge, dishwasher, cook top, oven and microwave, fully equipped bathroom with full size bath tub with shower, laundry with washing machine and clothes dryer, pay television, wireless broadband access and either a balcony or courtyard.
The premium apartments are also fully self contained and newly refurbished. With an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area, each apartment features a kitchen with a fridge, dishwasher, cook top, oven and microwave, fully equipped bathroom with full size bath tub with shower, laundry with washing machine and clothes dryer, either a balcony or courtyard, pay television and wireless broadband access, plasma television and air-conditioning.
Within the complex is a plethora of leisure facilities including heated spa and pool, undercover barbeque area, outdoor dining area, Internet kiosk with printer, tour desk, games room including a pool table and DVD/Playstation 2 to hire.
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