What do electrical engineering, pharmacy management and motel operations have in common?
According to Graham and Shar, absolutely nothing until they discovered motel management.
Like many people approaching retirement, the New Zealand couple found themselves asking a familiar question: What's next?
Graham had spent 35 years as an electrical engineer, while Shar had built a successful career managing pharmacies.
They weren't looking for another corporate role. They wanted something different. More freedom. More flexibility. More time together. And, importantly, more opportunities to hit the road in their beloved motorhome.
What they found was an industry they had never previously considered.
Rather than diving straight into ownership, Graham and Shar took the sensible route of relief management. The approach allowed them to test different accommodation businesses, learn the ropes and see whether the lifestyle suited them before making a bigger commitment. It did not take long for them to realise they had stumbled across something special.
"As strange as it sounds, we found ourselves enjoying the variety," Graham recalled.
Every day was different. One minute you're helping a family start their holiday, the next you're solving a problem you never saw coming. It certainly beats sitting in traffic."
That variety became one of the defining features of their motel career.
After two years in relief management, Graham and Shar secured a role that delivered their ideal balance: four weeks working and four weeks exploring New Zealand in their motorhome. For a couple seeking semi-retirement and adventure, it was the perfect arrangement.
Located near an international airport, their motel welcomed an eclectic mix of guests. Holidaymakers arrived excitedly, beginning their travels, while corporate travellers valued efficiency, familiarity and consistency.
Over time, Graham and Shar discovered that regardless of where guests came from, people appreciated the same thing: feeling genuinely welcome.
"People remember how you make them feel," said Shar.
"If guests feel comfortable and cared for, they'll come back year after year. That's one of the things we loved most about the industry."
Of course, adapting to accommodation operations was not without its challenges.
Continue reading more from Tamie Matthews, founder of RevenYou here
