The Miro
Corporate passion
Gayle O’Sullivan is a veteran in the accommodation industry. Over the years we here at Resort News have tracked her stellar career. First as silent partner and then on-site manager with no experience (after her managing partners resigned on Christmas Day) of Broadbeach Pacific Resort, then as marketing manager for hotel and resort chain, Q Resorts, to now, as managing director of Fortitude Valley’s corporate accommodation complex, The Miro.
Gayle said, “Once I had Broadbeach Pacific Resort up and running, I wanted to gain more experience. So from there I went to Astor Apartments, working as the relief front office manager but I wasn’t there long as the directors ended up selling it.
“I learnt a lot from that business and I really enjoyed the corporate market. I then got the opportunity to do some part time work at The Abbey for Q Resorts and a little while later moved onto a position as assistant manager in a permanent building (Kelvin Grove Urban Village) but it was very boring and that’s when I realised my passion was in the corporate market.
“Rob McLean from Q Resorts asked me to come back and help get his newest property Skyline up and running. In six months we had 79 of the apartments converted from permanent to short-term letting. That was a huge success as there were only 10 in the letting pool to begin with. At the same time I was also doing the marketing for Q Resorts and that’s when I had the urge to branch out on my own into managing corporate accommodation and the Miro came up. Luckily, I was in the right place at the right time to get this brand new property in the city.”
After an unusual three-month trial period that Gayle said was attributed to the fact they couldn’t agree on the terms and conditions, she had the opportunity to choose to stay or walk away. Without a second thought, Gayle stayed and took over the ownership of the management rights at the end of January, earlier this year.
Since managing The Miro, Gayle said she has enjoyed all the marketing, networking and selling of the property.
“This is my passion and I have got so much joy from marketing the property, to networking and getting the name up and out there. Being a short term corporate let building, there isn’t a lot offering what The Miro offers for the price in Brisbane and with people moving out of the city because the rents are so high, Fortitude Valley is becoming an extended business centre in which The Miro fits perfectly. The corporate market is really picking up now and The Miro is doing really well because people like it’s location and it’s funky appearance.”
Gayle runs The Miro with the assistance of her on-site manager, Doug.
“Doug is a big asset to me. He is great not only with the maintenance side of things, which is a plus but he is really helping to push it all along. I have my full agent’s license so we have actually been selling a few of the apartments in the building, which is great because I can then keep the apartment in the letting pool.”
Contemporary Corporate
Built in August 2008, The Miro is a contemporary 60 corporate apartment building in the cultural heart of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. With a bright and bold mural printed on the building’s exterior moveable balcony screens, The Miro is certainly a work of art and not just on the outside. Internally, The Miro features one and two fully self-contained apartments with flexible living spaces and innovative kitchen designs.
The Miro is an upmarket corporate short-term accommodation property for the business executive or leisure traveller at an affordable price.
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