FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
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General Questions
General Business Questions
Who are your typical clients?
Our hospitality consulting services cater to a diverse range of clients across the hotel, resort, restaurant, and tourism industries. Whether you're an owner, investor, or operator, our expert consultants provide tailored solutions to meet your needs.
Our Clients Include:
🏨 Hotel & Resort Owners – From boutique properties to global brands, we help maximize asset value and profitability.
📊 Investors & Developers – Offering due diligence, valuation, feasibility studies, and market analysis for sound investment decisions.
🔑 Hospitality Management Companies – Assisting with branding, contract negotiations, and operational efficiencies.
🍽 Restaurant & F&B Operators – Enhancing profitability through menu engineering, cost control, and service optimization.
🏝 Resort & Club Operators – Supporting operational excellence, guest experience enhancement, and CapEx planning.
🏦 Lenders & Financial Institutions – Providing hotel asset evaluations, debt restructuring, and financial planning support.
⚖ Legal & Insurance Firms – Expert witness testimony, risk management, and policy assessment.
Why Partner With Us?
✔ Decades of industry experience
✔ Proven strategies for revenue growth & efficiency
✔ Customized solutions tailored to your unique needs
Let’s transform challenges into opportunities and drive success for your hospitality business!
Our Clients Include:
🏨 Hotel & Resort Owners – From boutique properties to global brands, we help maximize asset value and profitability.
📊 Investors & Developers – Offering due diligence, valuation, feasibility studies, and market analysis for sound investment decisions.
🔑 Hospitality Management Companies – Assisting with branding, contract negotiations, and operational efficiencies.
🍽 Restaurant & F&B Operators – Enhancing profitability through menu engineering, cost control, and service optimization.
🏝 Resort & Club Operators – Supporting operational excellence, guest experience enhancement, and CapEx planning.
🏦 Lenders & Financial Institutions – Providing hotel asset evaluations, debt restructuring, and financial planning support.
⚖ Legal & Insurance Firms – Expert witness testimony, risk management, and policy assessment.
Why Partner With Us?
✔ Decades of industry experience
✔ Proven strategies for revenue growth & efficiency
✔ Customized solutions tailored to your unique needs
Let’s transform challenges into opportunities and drive success for your hospitality business!
What is the process for beginning a project?
HDE follows a structured and strategic approach to help you navigate the complexities of new projects, from initial concept through successful execution. Our goal is to ensure that every step aligns with your business objectives and maximizes long-term success.
Our Process for New Projects:
Initial Consultation & Needs Assessment
- Understanding your goals, vision, and challenges.
- Analyzing the market and competitive landscape to identify key opportunities.
Feasibility & Market Research
- Conducting comprehensive research on the location, target market, and customer demographics.
- Analyzing potential financial performance, including cost projections, revenue potential, and ROI.
Project Planning & Design
- Developing a strategic plan outlining the scope, timeline, budget, and resources.
- Collaborating with architects, designers, and other experts to refine property layout, design, and branding.
Brand Selection & Contract Negotiation
- Helping you select the right brand (or independent strategy) that aligns with your objectives.
- Assisting with management contract negotiations to ensure favorable terms and performance standards.
Construction & Development Oversight
- Managing the project timeline, coordinating with contractors, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Overseeing construction to ensure quality and cost control.
Operations Setup & Staff Training
- Preparing the operations manual and defining standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Providing staff training for operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and efficiency.
Grand Opening & Marketing Strategy
- Planning and executing a grand opening event.
- Implementing a marketing and branding strategy to attract customers and establish your property’s presence.
Ongoing Performance Monitoring & Optimization
- Analyzing financial performance, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
- Providing continuous support for optimizing revenue, reducing costs, and improving guest experiences.
- By following this comprehensive project process, we ensure that every aspect of your new project is thoughtfully planned, executed efficiently, and poised for long-term success.
Our Process for New Projects:
Initial Consultation & Needs Assessment
- Understanding your goals, vision, and challenges.
- Analyzing the market and competitive landscape to identify key opportunities.
Feasibility & Market Research
- Conducting comprehensive research on the location, target market, and customer demographics.
- Analyzing potential financial performance, including cost projections, revenue potential, and ROI.
Project Planning & Design
- Developing a strategic plan outlining the scope, timeline, budget, and resources.
- Collaborating with architects, designers, and other experts to refine property layout, design, and branding.
Brand Selection & Contract Negotiation
- Helping you select the right brand (or independent strategy) that aligns with your objectives.
- Assisting with management contract negotiations to ensure favorable terms and performance standards.
Construction & Development Oversight
- Managing the project timeline, coordinating with contractors, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
- Overseeing construction to ensure quality and cost control.
Operations Setup & Staff Training
- Preparing the operations manual and defining standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Providing staff training for operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and efficiency.
Grand Opening & Marketing Strategy
- Planning and executing a grand opening event.
- Implementing a marketing and branding strategy to attract customers and establish your property’s presence.
Ongoing Performance Monitoring & Optimization
- Analyzing financial performance, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
- Providing continuous support for optimizing revenue, reducing costs, and improving guest experiences.
- By following this comprehensive project process, we ensure that every aspect of your new project is thoughtfully planned, executed efficiently, and poised for long-term success.
What if my project lies outside your team’s skillset?
If your project lies outside our team's core skillset, we take a collaborative approach to ensure that you receive the right expertise for your needs. Here’s how we handle it:
1. Referral to Trusted Partners
We maintain a network of trusted industry partners with specialized expertise across various areas of hospitality, real estate, construction, and finance. If your project requires a skillset outside our core services, we’ll refer you to a reliable professional or firm that we trust.
2. Collaborative Team Approach
For projects with cross-disciplinary needs, we can work alongside external experts, integrating their expertise into the project while maintaining overall coordination and leadership from our team. This ensures that every aspect of the project remains aligned with your broader goals.
3. Scalable Solutions
We are adaptable and can expand our team temporarily by bringing in subject matter experts or forming an alliance with consultants who specialize in the areas needed (e.g., advanced technology, niche construction, international regulations).
4. Full Transparency & Communication
If a project involves expertise we don’t specialize in, we will discuss these areas with you upfront. We ensure clear communication on the scope of work, timeline, and team members involved so you feel confident in the project’s direction.
5. Project Continuity & Quality Assurance
Whether it's through an internal expansion or trusted partners, we ensure seamless integration and ongoing quality assurance throughout the project, so you receive consistent results.
6. Tailored Solutions & Flexibility
Even if your project has a niche requirement, we aim to remain flexible and ensure that the expertise we bring, either from our team or external partners, is fully tailored to meet the needs of your specific project.
Your success is our priority, and we’ll make sure you have the right resources and expertise to accomplish your goals!
1. Referral to Trusted Partners
We maintain a network of trusted industry partners with specialized expertise across various areas of hospitality, real estate, construction, and finance. If your project requires a skillset outside our core services, we’ll refer you to a reliable professional or firm that we trust.
2. Collaborative Team Approach
For projects with cross-disciplinary needs, we can work alongside external experts, integrating their expertise into the project while maintaining overall coordination and leadership from our team. This ensures that every aspect of the project remains aligned with your broader goals.
3. Scalable Solutions
We are adaptable and can expand our team temporarily by bringing in subject matter experts or forming an alliance with consultants who specialize in the areas needed (e.g., advanced technology, niche construction, international regulations).
4. Full Transparency & Communication
If a project involves expertise we don’t specialize in, we will discuss these areas with you upfront. We ensure clear communication on the scope of work, timeline, and team members involved so you feel confident in the project’s direction.
5. Project Continuity & Quality Assurance
Whether it's through an internal expansion or trusted partners, we ensure seamless integration and ongoing quality assurance throughout the project, so you receive consistent results.
6. Tailored Solutions & Flexibility
Even if your project has a niche requirement, we aim to remain flexible and ensure that the expertise we bring, either from our team or external partners, is fully tailored to meet the needs of your specific project.
Your success is our priority, and we’ll make sure you have the right resources and expertise to accomplish your goals!
Will you tell me how to run my business?
While we won't tell you exactly how to run your business, we are here to provide you with guidance, expert advice, and actionable insights that can empower you to make informed decisions and improve your operations.
Here’s what we do to support your business:
1. Expert Guidance
We offer our deep industry knowledge and specialized expertise to help you navigate challenges, optimize operations, and identify growth opportunities. This guidance is intended to help you make better decisions based on your unique business needs.
2. Tailored Solutions
We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we customize our recommendations to fit the specific context of your property, market, and goals. We work with you to understand your vision and challenges, and then we create strategies that align with those objectives.
3. Best Practices & Industry Standards
We share best practices, industry standards, and benchmarking insights that you can use to enhance your operations, customer service, and profitability. This might include everything from operational efficiencies to brand alignment or financial planning.
4. Continuous Support
We don’t just provide advice once and walk away. We offer ongoing support to help you implement strategies, track performance, and adjust as necessary. We help you stay focused on achieving long-term success.
5. Data-Driven Decision Making
We help you analyze data and performance metrics to guide decisions about pricing, marketing, operations, and other key aspects of your business. Our aim is to provide you with the tools to drive sustainable growth.
Ultimately, we are here to help you optimize your business, not dictate how to run it. We empower you with knowledge and strategic options to make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of your industry with confidence.
Here’s what we do to support your business:
1. Expert Guidance
We offer our deep industry knowledge and specialized expertise to help you navigate challenges, optimize operations, and identify growth opportunities. This guidance is intended to help you make better decisions based on your unique business needs.
2. Tailored Solutions
We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we customize our recommendations to fit the specific context of your property, market, and goals. We work with you to understand your vision and challenges, and then we create strategies that align with those objectives.
3. Best Practices & Industry Standards
We share best practices, industry standards, and benchmarking insights that you can use to enhance your operations, customer service, and profitability. This might include everything from operational efficiencies to brand alignment or financial planning.
4. Continuous Support
We don’t just provide advice once and walk away. We offer ongoing support to help you implement strategies, track performance, and adjust as necessary. We help you stay focused on achieving long-term success.
5. Data-Driven Decision Making
We help you analyze data and performance metrics to guide decisions about pricing, marketing, operations, and other key aspects of your business. Our aim is to provide you with the tools to drive sustainable growth.
Ultimately, we are here to help you optimize your business, not dictate how to run it. We empower you with knowledge and strategic options to make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of your industry with confidence.
Are you a data controller or processor?
We work with a variety of clients. We work with the heads of municipalities’ transportation planning, traffic engineering or economic development departments, and with mayors’ offices.
Services Questions
Questions related to HDE’s services
What Services do you offer?
We specialize in all aspects of lodging, food & beverage, and hospitality. Visit our Services page for a full list of areas we cover.
Do you provide market feasibility studies for lodging & F&B?
We deliver customized, bank-ready market feasibility studies designed to help secure loans and equity financing.
Can you help a client get funding?
Yes, we can assist clients in preparing for funding by providing comprehensive support.
Our services include market research to strengthen your business case, financial preparation to ensure your projections and financials align with investor expectations, and legal preparation to help you navigate the necessary documentation and compliance requirements.
With our expertise, we position you for a successful funding outreach, whether you're seeking loans, equity financing, or investor support.
Our services include market research to strengthen your business case, financial preparation to ensure your projections and financials align with investor expectations, and legal preparation to help you navigate the necessary documentation and compliance requirements.
With our expertise, we position you for a successful funding outreach, whether you're seeking loans, equity financing, or investor support.
What type of F&B expertise does HDE offer?
HDE’s expertise spans all levels of food and beverage, from fine dining and beverage service to staff cafeterias, events, and catering.
We provide comprehensive support in concept development, operations, human resources, financial planning, site evaluations, branding, and more.
We provide comprehensive support in concept development, operations, human resources, financial planning, site evaluations, branding, and more.
Does HDE provide litigation support?
Our team includes experienced expert witnesses across all areas of lodging, food & beverage, and hospitality, along with certified Mediators, Arbitrators, and contract negotiation specialists.
Can you assist a new organization in developing employee policies and procedures?
Through our Human Resources Consulting services, HDE offers comprehensive support tailored to your organization’s needs. We provide customized job descriptions, develop clear and effective standard operating procedures, design and implement staff training programs, and offer interim leadership solutions to ensure smooth operations and workforce development.
Our expertise helps build a strong, well-structured team for long-term success.
Our expertise helps build a strong, well-structured team for long-term success.
Can you help us identify and resolve the challenges our organization is facing?
Through our discovery analysis, HDE’s team thoroughly examines your day-to-day operations, observing workflows, staff interactions, and service standards to uncover potential issues. We then provide a detailed report highlighting your business’s strengths, identifying operational gaps, and offering tailored, actionable solutions—whether it's optimizing guest services, enhancing staff training, or improving inventory management.
Once the report is presented, we collaborate with your team to implement these targeted improvements, leveraging your strengths while addressing challenges. This approach helps establish a solid operational foundation, driving long-term success and growth for your hospitality business.
Once the report is presented, we collaborate with your team to implement these targeted improvements, leveraging your strengths while addressing challenges. This approach helps establish a solid operational foundation, driving long-term success and growth for your hospitality business.
Does HDE offer direct sales assistance?
While our sales and marketing consulting focuses on identifying challenges and opportunities within your team, through an exclusive partnership, we provide remote sales assistance to further support your business needs.
Are you looking for experts to assist with a branding update?
Yes, we can help with both identifying or refreshing your unique brand, as well as selecting a regional or national flag to affiliate with.
Please visit our Services for more detailed information.
Please visit our Services for more detailed information.
Our business has lost market share and we need help to recover.
HDE’s and its marketing partners expertise covers research, positioning, revenue management, and digital marketing to help optimize your business performance, enhance your reputation, improve profitability, and regain lost market share.
We are evaluating a property or site for development or acquisition—how can you assist?
We offer comprehensive support from feasibility studies and market analysis to site plan reviews and property evaluations, including FF&E, mechanical/electrical/plumbing, and structural assessments. Additionally, we assist with identifying potential investors, providing deal structuring guidance, and offering expert asset management. Our consultants are experienced in all aspects of acquisitions and dispositions.
We are repurposing an existing building for redevelopment or renovation and need help identifying the scope of the project. Can you assist?
Our team of technical experts, engineers, and sustainability specialists works closely with developers, architects, and contractors to define the scope of your project, whether it’s a single building or a multi-property portfolio. We guide you through every phase, from assessing structural requirements to incorporating sustainable design elements that align with current hospitality trends.
For a more streamlined process, explore our Services Page to find valuable resources to simplify the complexities of redevelopment and maximize the long-term impact and efficiency of your investment.
For a more streamlined process, explore our Services Page to find valuable resources to simplify the complexities of redevelopment and maximize the long-term impact and efficiency of your investment.
Company Questions
Questions related to HDE as a Business
How much do you charge for your consulting services?
Our consulting fees are tailored to each project, depending on the scope of services, project duration, travel requirements, and any other specific needs or complexities involved.
We provide customized pricing based on a thorough assessment of your unique goals and requirements to ensure the best value and outcome for your business.
We provide customized pricing based on a thorough assessment of your unique goals and requirements to ensure the best value and outcome for your business.
