US hospitality consultants typically charge $100 to $500 per hour By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting US hospitality consultants typically charge $100 to $500 per hour, with entry to mid-level talent at $60 to $150, and premium executives at $300 to $500+. Fixed-fee projects often run from $10,000 to over [...]
The most reliable rules and pillars in hospitality consulting are simple to teach and easy to measure. By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting Core frameworks include the 5 C’s of hospitality, a service behavior rule known as the 10-5 rule, and pillar models that organize guest experience standards. Together they [...]
The best hotel consulting firm for you depends on.... By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting The best hotel consulting firm for you depends on property size, your primary challenge, and whether you need an implementation partner or a project-based advisor. Independent U.S. operators are contending with significant margin pressure from [...]
This article answers bottom-of-funnel questions with clear math By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting Owners evaluating hotel asset management in the US should expect advisory fees that are a fraction of operating revenue, typically 0.5% to 0.75%, or hourly rates near $100 to $400 for senior expertise. ROI (Return on [...]
Practical FAQs and Strategies from Experience By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting After years in hotel management, I've seen firsthand how a small number of markets, room types, and service issues consistently drive the majority of results. The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) isn’t just a theory—it's a pattern that shows [...]
How to make direct bookings grow By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting Direct bookings grow when independent hotels concentrate budget on 5-7 owned channels, integrate their tech stack, and use first-party data to drive repeat stays. OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) still move volume, but their 15-25% commissions make every incremental [...]
Here's What Every Hotel Owner Should Know. By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting During my thirty years in the hotel industry, I've watched travelers move from travel agents to online travel agencies, hotel websites, mobile booking, and eventually Google's dominance in search. Each shift changed how hotels attracted guests, but [...]
It's important to fully understand the problem before committing significant capital By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting Over the years, I've found that one of the most common assumptions hotel owners make is that declining performance automatically means the hotel needs a renovation. In some cases that's true, but a [...]
ROI and Strategy By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting Let’s face it: running a hotel in 2026 is a bit like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. Margins are tight, guests expect more, and finding (and keeping) great staff feels like searching for a unicorn. That’s where operational efficiency [...]
2026 Edition By Tom Baker, AHA Hotel Consulting The US hotel and hospitality sector in 2026 is defined by rapid tech adoption, a focus on sustainability, and the need for expert guidance to maximize asset value. This listicle compares the 15 top-performing hotel consulting firms in the US, using rigorous [...]
