From left: Cayne Dew and Paddy Low are the new owners of the Pacific Motor Inn in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
From left: Cayne Dew and Paddy Low are the new owners of the Pacific Motor Inn in Mount Maunganui. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Two young Kiwis have returned from pursuing careers overseas to take the plunge into motel ownership in their hometown, Mount Maunganui.
And childhood friends Paddy Low and Cayne Dew, both aged 27, are not letting a lack of motel industry experience dampen their entrepreneurial spirit.
The pair took overthe 17-unit Pacific Motor Inn, in the heart of Mount Maunganui, on October 1.
After two weeks of renovations, it reopened on October 15.
“Over the years, growing up, we probably have driven past this motel hundreds of times, so to be full circle running the motel, it’s something I never thought would pop up in my career,” Low said.
“Running a business is something we’ve always talked about, and I think the timing was right for both of us,” Low said.
Asked what experience they had in the motel industry, Low said “next to none”.
“Between the two of us, it’s construction, commercial property and a few drops of real estate, but I think the backgrounds we have will allow us to run a successful business.”
He hoped bringing youth to the industry would help “change the game”.
“I think it’s fair to say, we’re probably some of the youngest moteliers in the country.”
The pair met in primary school and attended Aquinas College, bonding over a shared love of sport.
They played water polo together fromages 11 to 18, including at national representative level.
“We were pretty joined at the hip throughout high school,” Dew said.
From left: Cayne Dew and Paddy Low became motel owners on October 1, and after two weeks of renovations, they were open for trade on October 15. Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
Dew said their close relationship had helped them through some stressful situations.
“Paddy’s always been good at keeping me level-headed, and I’ve always been good at helping him keep his chin up.
“We’re both pretty happy telling each other what’s good.”
Dew said running a motel wasn’t what he had in mind for his career initially, but he was looking for a challenge.
“We’ve always wanted to be our own bosses, and this is an opportunity for us to get in, run a business, and hopefully, step one along what will be a long entrepreneurial career.”
He said young people had a lot to offer.
“Us getting out there and making a change is only going to be good; there are opportunities like this out here if you look for them.”
They aimed to make the Pacific Motor Inn “the place to stay” for people visiting Mount Maunganui.
“We’re both pretty proud Mounties, and seeing the area be successful is what we’re after,” Dew said.
Hospitality New Zealand interim chief executive Nick Keene said the pair “wouldn’t be far off” being the country’s youngest motel owners.
He said a “generational shift” was happening across hospitality - food, beverage, accommodation - with younger owners coming in and many in the “older cohort” calling time.
There was a “growing opportunity” in the motel sector, with data showing revenue per unit rising despite significant operating costs.
“This is especially true in popular holiday destinations like Mount Maunganui, and we’d hope to see more younger owners step into the industry going forward,” Keene said.
Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.
