About AHA Consulting

AHA Consulting is a full-service hospitality consulting firm specializing in hotel, project and asset management. Our leadership team consists of hospitality veterans who possess a remarkable combined one hundred and fifty years of experience in the industry. AHA is a trusted partner to hotel owners, developers and financial investors in the competent evaluation and management of projects and assets

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

At AHA Consulting, we are dedicated to assisting hotel owners in the
maximization of the value of their assets. We believe that through market and operational
analysis, capital expenditure planning and strategic asset positioning, we can optimize
market penetration and control costs to maximize ROI. Together we work to create value.

Our Approach

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

We honor a commitment to operating all our hotel businesses responsibly. Our associates serve in the communities in which the hotels operate while maintaining an appropriate strategy. Doing the right things in the right way engenders pride amongst our associates and property owners which builds trust with local communities, stake holders and our guests.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Businesses that give back to the communities in which they reside benefit from an increased reputation locally and nationally while contributing to the build-up of that community. We incorporate a charity focus and foster mutually beneficial partnerships in every way we can. Our hotels actively participate in and with Aids Walk, Cancer Walk, the Partnership with Bowery Mission, Women in Need and The Children Aid Society.

Tom Baker AHA Hotel Consulting

Hotel Consulting Leadership

Tom Baker is the managing principal of AHA Hotel Consulting and CEO of Access Hotels and Resorts. Previously, Mr. Baker was part of The Melrose Hotel Company and served in varies leadership roles including Vice President of Marketing, General Manager for both the Westin Great Southern Hotel and the Melrose Hotel in Dallas. During his tenure at the Westin, he successfully raised revenues and quality standards through his active hands-on leadership of the operation. The guest satisfaction index of the hotel increased considerably (Top 10% of Westin Brand Standard) contributing to enhanced profitability and employee morale. During his tenure at the Melrose Dallas, both the hotel and Landmark Restaurant were awarded the AAA Four Diamond award. Tom also served as the Vice President of Marketing for the Melrose Hotel company and utilized his expertise to build corporate brand awareness, drive revenues through pro-active revenue management, ecommerce, direct mail, social media and print media strategies.

Tom’s 25 year career focus has been in sales and marketing and hotel operations. Tom has held various positions throughout the industry including Resident Manager for the Four Star/Four Diamond Enchantment Resort and Spa in Sedona, AZ, Director of Sales for the world-renowned 680-room historic Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, CA and Director of Sales and Marketing for the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Mr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Chapman University.

Mark Hindle is a principal at AHA Hotel Consulting. Prior to joining AHA, Mark was the CFO/COO for Harbaugh Hotel Management Corporation for 29 years, overseeing a portfolio that included both independent and branded properties. In this role, he implemented cost saving measures in the areas of labor, benefits, contracts, taxes, and insurance that saved the properties millions of dollars. Mark wrote the Controller’s Manual and introduced a self-audit program to establish internal control monitoring. In addition, he has extensive union labor management experience, helping to negotiate collective bargaining agreements in D.C, Dallas, Houston, San Bernardino, and Las Vegas. Lastly, he was a Trustee for the 401k/Profit Sharing Plan, Benefit Administrator for all insurance plans, Risk Manager, and Liaison to the Asset Managers.

Mark has a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University in Hospitality Management. He began his career with Sheraton, where he held various positions in operations and accounting. Mark successfully completed the Controller’s Training Program in Stamford, CT, then moved to the 1500 room Sheraton Washington Hotel. As Capital Project Manager for this property, he was responsible for the disbursement and tracking of multi-million-dollar projects. Mark was promoted to Assistant Controller in less than a year, overseeing a staff of thirty. After 3 years, he accepted a Controller’s position at the Washington Court Hotel with Harbaugh Hotel Management Corporation.

Mark has been a member of the professional organization HFTP since 1990. He was the DC Chapter President in 1996 and Chairman of the Board in 1996. He earned the Certified Hospitality Accounting Executive (CHAE) designation in 2002.

Mr. McAfee held the general manager positions in the Tides Inn, Irvington, VA where he executed a $17 million dollar renovation of the resort, club house and golf course. He successfully repositioned the market demographics and achieved a $2 million dollar turnaround in year one also achieving 4 diamond status and being recognized by Conde Nast as the top resort in Virginia.

Mr. McAfee was the general manager for the historic Warwick Melrose Hotel, Dallas where he executed and oversaw a complete property renovation, maintained a 4-diamond ranking for the hotel and the Landmark Restaurant. The Library Bar is recognized as being the best bar in a hotel by Dallas Magazine. He maintained a ranking of 14 or better during his tenure in TripAdvisor out of 220 hotels ranked. He held the position of general Manager at the Lodge of 4 Seasons in Lake Ozark MO. He oversaw a $16 million renovation. He successfully repositioned the resort in the group, and transient markets. Mr. McAfee held the position of general manager at the Iconic Warwick New York Hotel, A 426 luxury hotel in mid-town. He was successful in repairing the working relationship with Union Local 6 where through leadership he established worker “buy-in” and overall morale and culture. He rebuilt and refocused the sales department resulting in growing top line revenue by 12% and improving service standards achieving a 4 diamond ranking in his first year. He steered the property through the recent pandemic by closing and successfully reopening with a Covid -19 service protocol achieving a 150% RGI Index in STR within 4 weeks of reopening.

Prior to hotel management Mr. McAfee spent 20 years as an executive chef and food & beverage director in 4 and 5 star hotel properties. As food & beverage director at the Diplomat Resort project he was involved in the planning and building of the 1064 room resort-an $850 million dollar project. Here he planned and designed 8 restaurants and 225,000 square feet of convention, exhibit and conference space. He has held several hotel association board positions in Virginia and Dallas, Texas. In addition he has served on the board of the Oak Lawn Committee in Dallas Texas Reviewing all proposed construction for the city of Dallas. He served on several non-profit and profit boards and was appointed by the president to the board of the Selective Service Mid Atlantic Region,

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