Salt, sunshine and steady hands: Brett Togni’s second act at Neptune Resort Broadbeach
Real stories we love to share. Brett Togni reflects on a management rights journey that began in 2004 and led him to Neptune Resort on the Gold Coast..
Brett Togni’s management rights journey has never followed a straight line. It has taken him from permanent complexes to student accommodation, through silent partnerships and large scale general management, and finally back to a building he had known for years before stepping into the lead role.
Today, that journey finds its natural rhythm at Neptune Resort in Broadbeach, where Brett has been the active onsite manager since 2023. It is a role shaped by experience, patience and a deep understanding that success in this industry is built over time, one relationship and one decision at a time.
Neptune Resort Broadbeach offers a relaxed coastal stay defined by generous apartment layouts, an easy-going atmosphere and a location that places the very best of Broadbeach within effortless reach. With Pacific Fair, the Convention Centre, The Star and the beach all close by, the resort has long been a favourite for guests who value space, comfort and true walk everywhere convenience.
Spacious one and two-bedroom apartments, many with sweeping coastal or hinterland views, are supported by a heated outdoor pool and spa, steam room, gym, tennis court, BBQ area and onsite cafe. It is a property that appeals equally to holidaymakers and longer stay guests.
This article was first published in the January edition of Resort News HERE
From first purchase to full circle
Brett’s management rights story began in 2004, when he and his wife purchased their first rights off the plan in Robina. It was a permanent complex with 64 units and no holiday letting, perfectly suited to life with two very young daughters aged four and two. Brett continued working full time in another business while sharing the caretaking duties, learning the foundations of body corporate life from the ground up.
Just twelve months later they sold and stepped straight into a vastly different challenge. Their next property in Varsity comprised 122 townhouses and was largely dedicated to student housing for Bond University.
“That was a big learning curve,” Brett says. “We went from no rentals to nearly 200 individual leases with a full student changeover every 17 weeks. It was fast paced and demanding, but it taught me the realities of high-volume operations.”
They held that business for a decade before selling in 2015. From there, they transitioned into silent partnerships across four buildings on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, one of which was Neptune Resort. After taking some well-earned time away, he was offered a general manager role overseeing six permanent buildings with a combined total of 680 units and 11 body corporate committees.
Five years later, when the equity manager at Neptune decided to step away and the remaining partners bought him out, Brett’s long-standing connection with the building came full circle. “I already knew some of the operation and how it worked,” he says. “Stepping into the active manager role in 2023 felt like the right move at the right time.”
The rhythm of onsite life
Brett’s days begin where most onsite manager days do, with rooms. “Departures, checking arrivals, making sure everything is ready for guests,” he says. “Then it is body corporate matters, maintenance, reception, cleaning and reacting when plans inevitably change.”
Neptune is a true mixed-use building, balancing holiday guests, long-term tenants, owner-occupiers and investors under one roof. “Each group has different needs and expectations,” Brett explains. “Being able to communicate clearly at every level is the real challenge.”
Strong relationships with the body corporate committee form the backbone of his operation. “If you do not have that trust, everything becomes harder,” he says. “Management rights is a people’s industry. If you struggle to communicate, it is very difficult to build that trust in the first place.”
Read more about Australia’s managment rights industry in AccomNews HERE
Investing in the building’s future
Since taking on the active manager role, Brett has overseen a comprehensive program of upgrades with the support of owners and the body corporate. Hallways and the main foyer have been repainted, new carpet installed throughout all levels, the barbecue area fully rebuilt with new furniture, the gym refreshed with new equipment, all pool furniture replaced and the original sauna converted into a modern steam room.
Behind the scenes, the building has also seen major infrastructure investment, including a new backup power generator, a new basement roller door and motor, and there is a main electrical switchboard upgrade scheduled for 2026.
Within individual apartments, Brett continues to coordinate furniture packages, repainting and new window furnishings for owners wanting to lift presentation and performance. “With the cost of living where it is, guests are looking harder than ever for genuine value for money,” he says. “You simply cannot afford to stand still.”
The strength of a trusted professional team
Brett is quick to acknowledge that a strong operation is never built alone. Coardinating his finance is Management Rights & Motel Finance PL, Mark Ryall’s specialist understanding of management rights finance has helped structure all Brett’s funding requirments with clarity and confidence.
“Having someone who truly understands the space makes a huge difference,” Brett says. “Mark is organised, thorough and always available when things needed to be worked through.”
Legal guidance is provided by Julie Schutt at Small Myers Hughes, who ensures contractual and compliance matters are handled with care and precision. “That level of certainty on the legal side allows you to focus properly on running the business,” Brett says.
On the accounting front, Aiden Hanna from Count Gold Coast works closely with Brett to keep the business financially sharp and strategically aligned. “It is not just about the numbers,” Brett says. “It is about understanding where the business is headed and making informed decisions.”
For sales and transactions Brett was initially guided by David Rotherham of Premier Management Right Sales before his retirement and now is guided by Craig Johnson of Hotel Resort Sales, whose understanding of both the market and the people involved helps bring the right parties together.
“It is not just about selling a business,” Brett says. “It is about matching the right people to the right opportunity.”
Calm leadership, strong culture
By his own admission, Brett’s leadership style is relaxed. “I want people to enjoy coming to work,” he says. “A positive workplace makes a big difference.”
His team reflects that approach. “They always put the guest first,” he says. “They act professionally, they are helpful, and they genuinely care about the experience people have here. That shows in the reviews and in the repeat bookings.”
Broadbeach through local eyes
When guests ask what to see and do, Brett keeps it simple. “The beaches, the restaurants and Pacific Fair,” he says. “That is the heartbeat of Broadbeach. Everything people want from a coastal holiday is right here.”
Still driven by purpose and performance
After more than two decades in the industry, Brett remains clear on what keeps him motivated. “The financial rewards are a crucial part of it,” he says honestly. “But it is also the satisfaction that comes from running a stable operation and seeing people enjoy the building.”
From student housing turnover cycles to multi-building general management and now leading Neptune Resort through its next chapter, Brett Togni brings a steady hand shaped by experience, resilience and people-first leadership. In one of the Gold Coast’s most established resort precincts, Neptune continues to thrive under his calm and considered approach.
