The Hospitality Advisers’ Alliance

is, as the name suggests, an alliance of hospitality industry professionals coordinated by David Hunter and Michael Cockman. To be part of the HAA, all members have to have had at least three references from delighted clients before they can be considered for membership.

Michael Cockman is a hospitality marketing specialist.

An independent adviser since 2003, he works with independent operators struggling to maximise their revenue from food, liquor and rooms.

He has many independent hotel clients but also works on behalf of brewery and pub companies such as Adnams & Co, Brakspear Pub Co, Charles Wells, Enterprise Inns, McMullen & Sons, Punch Taverns and Wadworth & Co who have both tenanted business owners and employees who need to improve their understanding of the hotel marketing process.

His last corporate role was as Marketing Director for Glendola Leisure and Hotel Management International. At Glendola he successfully launched many new hotel and restaurant projects including Waxy O’Connor’s and the Rainforest Cafe. At HMI he helped grow the number of hotels from 4 to 10 and launched new hotels in Portugal, Turkey, The Netherlands and UK.

He was previously Director of Marketing for SPHC which operated hotels across the South Pacific. Here he helped launch many new hotels and restaurants in New Zealand.

Michael is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, an Associate of the BII and author of the book “Putting Heads on Beds - the complete practical guide to marketing your independent hotel or guest accommodation”, which is available through bookstores and online retailers.

David Hunter is a hospitality operational performance specialist.

An independent adviser since 1988, he has particular expertise in people and organisation issues. He works with independent operators helping them to:

• maximise their food and liquor gross profit margins.
• reduce their labour cost overhead and keep it correct for the level of business.
• deal appropriately with any management, performance or motivational issues, involving both management and staff.

David is a Fellow of the HCIMA (Hospitality Management Institute), and a Fellow of the IIB (Institute for Independent Business).  He has worked as a senior General Manager (Operations) in the hotel and the restaurant business, both in the UK and abroad.

Over the last 20 years, David has worked as a consultant for a number of larger companies (including Grand Metropolitan, LivingWell and Nestle), but the vast majority of clients have been owners of businesses in the Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) sector – just the environment in which you may be planning to launch your new business.

Helping to launch new businesses, or working with existing ones, David has worked with Hotels, Restaurants (up to 3 Rosettes), Pubs, Outside Catering , Contract Catering, Institutional Catering, Nightclubs, Cafes, Dining Pubs, Sports Bars, Live entertainment venues, Banqueting, and the Wedding market.  And … experience of operating Kosher as well.

The Hospitality Advisers’ Alliance

We believe that when you need an adviser, you need a real specialist.

In addition to Marketing and Operations (though Michael and David above), the HAA has members who specialise in:

• Licensed stocktaking and the interpretation of stocktaking reports.  including remedying of deficits.
• Human Resources (Personnel Management) – including legal advice.
• Book-keeping and record-keeping.
• Menu development from a Consultant Chef.

Plus other disciplines such as Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, Kitchen Planning, Purchasing, Legal, Insurance, Funding, Banking, Licensing, and Energy Procurement.

For a no-obligation initial discussion phone Julie Godsoe on 01628 487613
or send an email.