The Gold Coast’s best-known address for sun, surf and skylines has a new place to stay – and it’s not your typical beach hotel.
Quest Southport opens today on the Gold Coast – with 90 spacious, self-contained apartments topped by a rooftop pool with sweeping city views, which is sure to become one of the property’s major drawcards – a place for guests to unwind after work, cool off after a day exploring the Gold Coast.
Located at 29-31 Lather Street, the new purpose-built apartment hotel offers studios through to three-bedroom configurations, all with accessible options, alongside a fitness centre, guest laundry and secure on-site parking. Every apartment includes either a kitchenette or fully equipped kitchen: the kind of practical setup that lets guests shop locally, cook when they want to, and stay longer without living out of a suitcase.
Southport is no longer just a passthrough for the beaches further south. It has grown into a genuine hub – home to the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, Griffith University, major legal and government offices, and a retail and dining scene that keeps maturing. The Gold Coast light rail runs directly from the doorstep, linking guests to Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and beyond in minutes.
David Mansfield, Managing Director of The Ascott Limited Australasia, which includes the Quest Apartment Hotels brand, said the opening reflects both the strength of the Gold Coast market and a broader shift in how Australians are choosing to travel.
“Travellers are increasingly looking for accommodation that gives them more – more space, more flexibility, more of a home base. Apartment-style stays have always made practical sense for business travellers and project teams, but we’re seeing strong demand from leisure travellers and families too. Quest Southport offers all of that, in a location that genuinely has it all.”
The property is owned and developed by the Vecchio Group – it’s their second Quest property and the story behind it reflects what Quest, at its best, is built on.
John Vecchio arrived in Australia in 1960 with five pounds sterling and built a business from the ground up. His son Sam, a structural engineer, grew it into a development business spanning residential, retail and hotel. Their first Quest was at Breakfast Creek, born of a decision during the GFC to pivot unsold apartments into a hotel.
Sam Vecchio, Managing Director at Vecchio Property Group said: “We invest in places we believe in, and we’re in Southport for the long term – not building to sell. We wanted an asset that would hold its quality for decades, and Quest’s corporate model gives us that. The property looks after itself when the people running it have genuine skin in the game.”
Quest Southport is locally owned and operated, consistent with Quest’s model of putting community-minded operators at the heart of every property – focused on local employment, local sourcing and being genuinely part of the neighbourhoods they serve.
Fleur Nadzielski, franchisee operator of Quest Southport, said: “Opening Quest Southport is an incredibly proud milestone for me. As my third Quest property, it reflects both my passion for the brand and my commitment to delivering exceptional accommodation experiences. As a Gold Coast local, I’m especially excited to bring this new property to market in the community I proudly call home. I look forward to welcoming guests, creating local opportunities and contributing to the continued growth of Southport and the wider Gold Coast region.”
It is the latest addition to the network of Australia’s largest apartment hotel operator. With Australian origins and more than 120 properties across the country, Quest is growing with confidence – three properties opening in 2026 alone, as part of an ambition to reach more than 200 Quest properties and 30 managed hotels nationally by 2030.
The brand’s momentum has been backed by recognition this year. Six of Australia’s top ten hotels in the Tripadvisor 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards are Quest properties, while Quest was also named Franchisor of the Year and Franchisor of the Year for networks of 51 or more units at the Franchise Council of Australia’s 2026 Industry Awards.
Quest Southport is now open. Bookings at www.questsouthport.com
