Hospitality Executive Coaching
For CEOs, owners, presidents and executive-committee members in hotels, restaurants and other service businesses. Every Executive Coaching client works with a senior coach with over 2,500 coaching hours.
What is hospitality executive coaching?
Hospitality executive coaching is one-on-one coaching for the C-suite: CEOs, owners, presidents and the executives who report to them in hotels, restaurants and other service businesses. At Hospitality Leadership Coach, it is always led by a senior coach with over 2,500 coaching hours who has also run hospitality operations.
That means sessions start on the problems only executives own: setting direction, leading the executive team, working with boards and owners, and building a culture that holds across every property or unit. For GMs, regional leaders and department heads, see Senior Leader & High-Potential Coaching.
Who is hospitality executive coaching for?
It is for the people who set direction for the whole organization. Most clients are at one of these turning points:
CEOs, presidents and owners
Leading the company, the executive team and the relationship with investors or a board.
New to the C-suite
The first year in a COO, CFO, CHRO or other executive seat, when the job changes fastest.
Executives leading change
An acquisition, new ownership, a rebrand, rapid growth or a turnaround.
Founders and family owners
Stepping back from daily operations and building a team that can run without them.
Healthcare, senior living and service executives
Who want hospitality-level service culture across their organization.
Coaching GMs or department heads?
See Senior Leader & High-Potential Coaching. Developing many leaders at once? Ask about an Enterprise Partnership.
How is it different from generic executive coaching?
The difference is context, not advice. Your coach already understands 24/7 operations, guest recovery, labor pressure and owner expectations, so no session is spent explaining the business.
We do not tell you how to run your hotel or restaurant. We coach how you lead it.
Industry experience: our lead coaches have 40+ combined years in hotels and restaurants, instead of learning your industry as they go.
Built for your teams: shift-based, guest-facing teams, not frameworks designed for office work.
Leading through others: the focus is how you lead your executive team and the leaders below them, not only your individual performance.
Visible results: success means behavior change your team and sponsor can see.
Turning strategy into action across properties, leading an executive team that disagrees well, presence with owners, boards and investors, building a bench and planning succession, and keeping the service culture strong as the company grows.
What happens in a coaching engagement?
HLC engagements follow our D²E³ method: Discover, Design, Execute, Evaluate, Evolve.
Discover
Stakeholder interviews, a 360 with as many participants as you choose, and DiSC and Workplace Big Five assessments.
Design
Two or three development goals, agreed with you and your sponsor, with what success will look like.
Execute
One-on-one sessions on a retainer, virtual or in person, with call or text access between sessions.
Evaluate
A midpoint review of progress with your sponsor, owner or board.
Evolve
A second 360, an impact report and a plan to keep the gains going.
What you discuss stays confidential. Sponsors see goals and progress, not session content.
Coaches who ran hospitality operations first
All of our coaches ran hospitality operations before they coached them. Executive Coaching is always led by a senior coach with over 2,500 coaching hours; Senior Leader & High-Potential Coaching is led by a coach credentialed ICF-PCC or above.
Clifton CarmodyPCC, ACTC · Founder and Managing DirectorHospitality veteran of 20+ years across hotels and restaurants, an ICF Professional Certified Coach, and certified in Advanced Team Coaching (ACTC). Coaches GMs, directors and owners on delegation, accountability and the operator-to-leader shift.
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Edward VicedoMCC, ACTC · Executive Coach & PartnerICF Master Certified Coach with the Advanced Certification in Team Coaching and 3,000+ coaching hours. 20+ years with Hilton, Mandarin Oriental and The Slanted Door Group, including Michelin-starred restaurants. Coaches CEOs, COOs and leadership teams on retention, succession and consistency across locations.
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Jannine EnricusoACC · Associate Coach12 years as a restaurant general manager in Los Angeles, Sydney and San Francisco, and an ICF Associate Certified Coach. Coaches managers and rising leaders, with a focus on helping women step into senior hospitality roles.
View profile →What coaching clients say
During our 6 months working together, I am proud to say I achieved 2 promotions! … My most valuable take away, is that you don’t have to change who you are to be a great leader.
His approach is methodical and insightful … He's helped me overcome my challenges through my own strengths and most importantly, the improvements did not go unnoticed by our executives.
Clifton’s process is both gentle and firm as well as sincere and genuine. I appreciate Clifton’s clarity and devotion and know his coaching has helped me be the best I can be.
From LinkedIn recommendations. Read them all on Clifton’s profile
How much does hospitality executive coaching cost?
Three ways to work with us. Senior Leader & High-Potential Coaching is for GMs and rising leaders. Executive Coaching is for the C-suite, with a senior coach (2,500+ hours), unlimited 360 participants, multiple assessments and a service guarantee that can include a full refund. Enterprise Partnerships cover many leaders and teams in one company.
- 360 feedback at the start, so coaching begins with how others see you
- DiSC or Workplace Big Five assessment with a debrief
- One-on-one virtual sessions over six months
- Email support between sessions
- Sponsor involvement recommended: goal-setting and a final review
- A coach credentialed ICF-PCC or above, who you choose
- Service guarantee (terms in your coaching agreement)
- A senior coach with over 2,500 coaching hours, guaranteed
- Unlimited 360 participants, before and after, with stakeholder interviews, so progress is measured
- Multiple assessments: DiSC and Workplace Big Five, each with a debrief
- Retainer: sessions on your schedule, virtual or in person
- Call or text access between sessions
- Midpoint review and a final impact report for your sponsor, owners or board
- Service guarantee, which can include a full refund (terms in your coaching agreement)
- One-on-one coaching for several leaders, at Executive or Senior Leader level
- Team coaching for leadership teams
- Assessments and 360s across the group
- One partnership plan agreed with your CEO and HR leader
- A partnership lead and regular progress reports to leadership
- Pricing set by scope and number of leaders
Coaching junior leaders or several people at once? Speak to us about special pricing and conditions for junior leaders, and about packages for leadership teams and properties. See boutique solutions or talk to us. Individual assessments are $600 each with a 90-minute debrief.
Every engagement carries our service guarantee: if you're not satisfied with progress, we'll make it right, with additional coaching at no extra cost, a release from the agreement, or a full refund, depending on your agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How long does hospitality executive coaching take?
It depends on your goals. Most clients work with us on an ongoing retainer, long enough to practice new behaviors on the job and for the team to notice the change.
Is virtual coaching effective for hotel and restaurant leaders?
Yes. The coaching is about how you lead, so it works without the coach on property, and it fits around shifts. In-person sessions are available on request.
Will my coach tell me how to run my operation?
No. Your coach understands the operation, but the work is on your leadership: decisions, delegation, communication and accountability.
Is coaching confidential?
Yes. Your sponsor agrees on the goals and sees progress. What you say in sessions stays between you and your coach.
What's the difference between coaching and leadership training?
Training teaches a group new knowledge. Coaching helps one leader apply it, changing specific habits in their own role.
Can a company sponsor coaching for a manager?
Yes. Most HLC clients are sponsored by their employer. HR or the owner helps set goals at the start and joins progress check-ins.
Related HLC resources
Executive Coaching vs. Senior Leader & High-Potential Coaching
Both packages are six months of one-on-one coaching on the D²E³ method. They differ in who they are for, who coaches, and how much measurement is built in.
| Executive Coaching | Senior Leader & High-Potential | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | From $20,000 | $15,000 |
| Length | Six months, one-on-one | Six months, one-on-one |
| Best for | CEOs, owners, presidents and C-suite executives | GMs, regional and area leaders, unit heads, department heads and rising leaders |
| Coach | Senior coach with over 2,500 coaching hours, guaranteed | ICF-PCC or above |
| 360 feedback | Unlimited participants, before and after, with stakeholder interviews | At the start |
| Assessments | DiSC and Workplace Big Five, each with a debrief | DiSC or Workplace Big Five, with a debrief |
| Sessions | Retainer, on your schedule, virtual or in person | Virtual sessions over six months |
| Between sessions | Call or text access | Email support |
| Guarantee | Service guarantee, which can include a full refund (terms in your coaching agreement) | Service guarantee (terms in your coaching agreement) |
Ready to lead through your team, not around it?
Tell us about the leader and the goal. A discovery call, usually about 45 minutes, is enough to decide whether coaching fits and what the engagement would focus on.