The Consult Group supports hotel owners, investors, developers and operators through development, pre-opening, operational improvement and commercial performance. We combine practical hotel leadership with independent advice to turn plans into workable operations and improve the performance of existing properties.
Based in Cape Town and available for selected assignments across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The Consult Group is an independent hospitality advisory firm established to bring experienced hotel leadership into projects where decisions must work both commercially and operationally. We advise from early concept and development through opening, stabilisation and the improvement of established hotels and resorts.
The firm is founder-led today and structured to grow into a wider group of senior specialists. This allows each assignment to draw on the right operational, commercial and technical experience while building a business that can continue independently of any one individual.
We work with hotel and resort owners, investors, developers, independent operators and project teams. Assignments may involve a new development, pre-opening programme, operational review, repositioning, owner representation or a defined performance challenge.
We review the hotel concept, guest proposition, facilities, operating assumptions and commercial logic before avoidable decisions become costly to change.
We build and lead practical pre-opening road maps covering organisation, recruitment, systems, standards, budgets, commercial readiness and the transition from project to hotel operation.
We provide owners with an independent operating perspective, review operator or project reporting and help convert complex hotel information into clear decisions and accountable actions.
We assess guest experience, people, processes, costs and controls, then prioritise the changes most likely to improve service consistency and financial performance.
We review positioning, rate architecture, segmentation, distribution, sales and revenue practices to improve the quality and profitability of demand.
We strengthen service standards, leadership routines, operating discipline and team capability through practical frameworks, coaching and training.
We establish the facts through document review, stakeholder discussions, site observation and relevant performance data.
We identify the decisions and actions that matter most, with clear ownership, timing and measures.
Where required, we work alongside the client team to put the agreed plan into operation.
We leave behind practical tools, routines and capability so that progress continues after the assignment.
Engagements can range from an independent review to embedded project leadership. The scope, deliverables and decision rights should be agreed before work begins.
Riaan Drever is an international hotelier and hospitality advisor with nearly three decades of experience across hotel operations, development, pre-opening, rebranding and performance improvement. His career includes leadership of luxury hotels and resorts and work with owners, operators and multidisciplinary project teams.
He co-founded The Consult Group to convert this experience into a lasting advisory platform. Riaan leads the firm's initial assignments and methodology while the group develops a broader network of senior hospitality specialists.
Riaan is also the author of Navigating Ownership: Mastering Hotel Relationships.
The Consult Group's advisory work draws on direct experience across the following areas. Named brands, properties, project values and results will be added as verified case studies are approved for public use.
The Consult Group provides independent hospitality advisory services for hotels and resorts, including concept review, pre-opening, owner representation, operational improvement, commercial strategy and leadership capability.
The firm works with hotel and resort owners, investors, developers, independent operators and project teams on new developments and established properties.
The Consult Group was co-founded by international hotelier and hospitality advisor Riaan Drever. The firm is designed to grow through a wider group of experienced specialists.
The Consult Group operates from Cape Town, South Africa, and supports selected hospitality assignments across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Yes. Pre-opening support can cover planning, organisation, recruitment, systems, standards, budgets, commercial readiness and the transition from construction to hotel operations.
If you are planning a new hospitality venture, preparing an opening or reviewing the performance of an existing property, contact The Consult Group for an initial confidential discussion.
info@theconsultgroup.com
Independent Hospitality Advisory for Hotels, Resorts and Owners