About The Guest Strategy Co.
Our Mission
At The Guest Strategy Co., we help boutique hospitality brands grow with purpose — blending strategic clarity, operational excellence, and guest experiences that connect. As a hospitality management consulting firm, we build from the inside out, transforming how properties operate, present, and inspire loyalty.
Our Approach
Discover
Discover
Discover
We start with deep listening. From on-site audits to brand immersion, our hospitality management consulting process uncovers what makes your business unique — and where the hidden friction lives. It’s clarity before change.
Design
Discover
Discover
With insights in hand, we architect the guest journey, operational systems, and brand experience. As a hospitality management consulting partner, we blend strategy and creativity to help your vision take shape — from brand audits to guest experience design and business consulting services that drive results.
Deliver
Discover
Deliver
From team alignment to front-end guest touchpoints, we roll out solutions that stick. We don’t just hand you a plan — we partner in the transformation and drive measurable results.
Our Services
Brand & Experience Strategy
We help you define what makes your property unforgettable, and build consistency across every touchpoint. From refining brand identity to curating the guest journey, we align your visuals, voice, service standards, and in-room details to create an experience guests remember, rave about and return to.
Operational Excellence
We specialize in building strong foundations behind the scenes — from training high-performing teams to launching new programs, menus, and operational systems. Whether it’s fine-tuning service flow, onboarding staff, or implementing new tools, we create structure that empowers your team and elevates the guest experience.
Growth & Launch Consulting
We partner with ownership teams, designers, contractors, and financial advisors to bring bold hospitality visions to life — from concept through grand opening. Whether you’re reimagining a legacy property or executing a multimillion-dollar renovation, we manage the process with precision. Through hospitality management consulting, guest experience strategy, and vendor coordination, we ensure every detail supports the brand and drives the bottom line.
The Story Behind the Brand
The Guest Strategy Co. was built on experience — not theory.
Founder John Kennedy began his career in the wellness space, leading luxury spas and crafting guest experiences long before “guest journey” became a buzzword. He played a key role on the opening leadership team of a Forbes-rated resort, helping it earn national recognition and top hospitality accolades.
From there, John launched a hospitality management consulting practice that quickly gained traction across hotels, wellness brands, wineries, and service businesses. One early client — a struggling spa — became a pivotal moment: he acquired the business, rebuilt its operations, and continued consulting while managing hotel properties across Napa and Sonoma.
Today, The Guest Strategy Co. blends hands-on hospitality experience with bold business consulting services to help boutique brands scale with clarity, creativity, and results.
Our Experience
Industry leaders shaping iconic guest experiences.
