The Truth About Hospitality Consultants

The Truth About Hospitality Consultants: When to Engage (And When Not To)

I attend a lot of industry events and when people ask what I do, to be honest I try to avoid saying the words “I’m a consultant”. The moment those words leave my mouth, I can see them slowly backing away from our conversation, worried I might somehow sign them up for a ‘transform your business’ program that just identifies problems without actually solving anything.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – that’s another common pushback I hear. But here’s the reality: an outside expert who works across multiple venues often spots critical issues before they become problems. It’s not about justifying our existence by finding faults. It’s about leveraging broad industry experience to identify risks and opportunities that aren’t visible when you’re deep in day-to-day operations.

When You Actually Need a Consultant

The clearest sign? When your business is growing faster than your systems can handle. If you’re constantly putting out fires instead of steering the ship, that’s when external expertise becomes valuable.

Another telling indicator is when you’re stuck in a cycle of recurring problems. You solve an issue only to see it pop up again a few months later. That’s usually a sign you need someone to help you get out of the weeds and bring fresh clarity to your purpose and direction.

You don’t need someone to tell you what’s wrong – you likely already know. What you need is help building frameworks that break these cycles and can scale with your growth.

When You Don’t Need One

There are times when hiring a consultant isn’t the answer, and it’s important to recognise these situations:

If you have a capable team but haven’t given them the authority or resources to implement change, bringing in a consultant won’t fix that underlying issue. Often, the solutions you need already exist within your organisation – they just need to be empowered and heard.

If you’re looking for someone to validate your existing plans or confirm what you already know, that’s not the best use of consulting expertise. The value comes from being challenged, not validated.

And if you’re seeking quick wins without addressing foundational issues, save your money. Real change – the kind that sticks and makes a difference to your bottom line – requires commitment to doing the hard work. A consultant can guide you through that process, but they can’t shortcut it.

Why Good Advice Often Goes Nowhere

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most consulting engagements fail not because of bad advice, but because of:

• • The perceived lack of time to implement changes
  • Fear of uncertainty and resistance to change
  • Pride (it’s hard to admit that what worked before isn’t working now)
  • The myth that owners need to have all the answers

What Actually Works

My most successful client relationships share these traits:

• • They’re ongoing partnerships rather than one-off fixes
  • There’s mutual trust and openness to direct feedback
  • The focus is on continuous, incremental improvements
  • The owner accepts an outside voice in their decision-making
  • We work towards both business and personal goals

Before You Hire a Consultant

Ask yourself:

1. 1. Are you ready to be vulnerable and accept that past approaches might need updating?
   2. Do you have the capacity to implement recommended changes?
   3. Are you looking for a quick fix or lasting change?

A consultant should be a trusted advisor who helps solve problems, not someone who claims to know more about running your business than you do. The best partnerships are built on humility, trust and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.

Want to explore if consulting is right for your venue? Let’s chat.