Our Story
The Sojourn Origin Story: From Struggle to Sanctuary
It was Guy Fawkes Night, 2004. The skies were ablaze with fireworks, but inside Wellington Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a very different kind of battle was unfolding. My daughter, Ella, had arrived prematurely at just 30 weeks old. She fought for her life with a strength far beyond her fragile form, while we stood helplessly by, willing her to survive.
At that time, I had just been made redundant. Self-employment became my new reality, and every dollar mattered. We couldn’t even afford a motel room across the road from the hospital. I slept on a pullout mattress beside Michelle’s hospital bed, feeling exhausted, anxious, and overwhelmed.
But it was in that raw, uncertain moment that something shifted. But amidst the fear, I also discovered something profound: the small gestures of kindness from the hospital staff – a warm smile, a reassuring word, a cup of tea left on the bedside table – made all the difference. It was in those moments that I realized just how important hospitality can be in someone’s life. It’s not just about a place to sleep; it’s about feeling cared for when life feels uncertain.
Fast forward 18 years. The Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre – right across from Wellington Hospital – went up for sale. That seed of empathy, planted all those years ago, sparked a vision I imagined an apartment hotel – a welcoming, affordable place for hospital visitors like us, who simply needed a space that offered comfort, calm and care when life felt chaotic?
And so the idea for Sojourn Apartment Hotel was born.
Why This Business? Why Hospitality?
After more than 20 years of travelling for both work and family, I developed a sharp eye for what hotels do well—and where they fall short. I’ve worked from noisy, desk-less budget rooms in Melbourne. In Sydney, Michelle and I survived on one cheap pasta spot to stay within budget. We endured a sleepless night in Brisbane with 18-month-old Ella, kept awake by a belligerent guest and a hotel located on a roundabout—eventually checking out at 5am, exhausted and jet-lagged.
In Johannesburg, we arrived a day early to a hostile “for Fx@! sake” greeting at a major International Hotel brand. Our room had broken air conditioning and a makeshift hose that vented hot air behind the curtains in the middle of a sweltering December. The pool was green with algae and when we requested lunch, the chef had to be woken up at 2pm—only to serve undercooked chicken and blame us for the inconvenience.
These experiences made one thing clear: I wanted to create something better. A place where guests don’t have to compromise. Where comfort, cleanliness and thoughtful design come standard—not as a luxury, but as the default.
The Hard Road to Get Here
I nearly went down the franchise path and looked seriously at other hotel chains. I liked the serviced apartment model, but I just couldn’t do it. They felt soulless, the rules too rigid. I knew in my gut that to build what I had in mind, I’d have to do it independently – no safety net, no roadmap.
It was hard. Every decision felt high-stakes. But we persevered – with intention, care and the belief that if we got it right, people would feel it the moment they walked in.
And they do.
The Moment of Transformation
Opening day approached. We needed 140 pieces of art to bring Sojourn to life; I didn’t want some drab cookie cutter art and engaged Inverlochy Art School to paint the canvases as a fund raiser for the school. They could only paint 40 in the timeframe. That’s when Ella stepped in; she painted 100 pieces in a month. She poured her heart into it and it nearly broke her! Her creativity now lives on the walls in hotel Riddiford.
She also gave us our name. “Sojourn,” she said – a French word meaning a temporary stay. It was perfect. Because this place is about more than rest. It’s about resilience, empathy and creating a haven when you need one most.
What Sojourn Stands For
And so, Sojourn Apartment Hotel was born. A testament to family, perseverance, and the power of genuine hospitality. We’ve seen firsthand how kindness, comfort and a safe space can make a world of difference – and we’re committed to offering that same experience to every guest who walks through our doors.
Sojourn is not a hotel built from spreadsheets and boardrooms. It’s built from lived experience – from sleepless nights, tight budgets and the power of small kindnesses.
We designed every inch of it to feel like a sanctuary. Clean, modern apartments. Functional design. Thoughtful touches. Our Sojourn StaySure™ Guarantee is simple: we’re here to take the stress out of travel and replace it with certainty.
Sojourn is my family’s story. But it’s also yours – if you’ve ever needed a place that felt safe, warm and exactly what you needed in a moment of chaos or celebration.
Welcome to Sojourn. We’re ready when you need us.
Mike Price – Founder