Paulin Hospitality

Hotel Operations & Pre-Opening Consultant

15 years opening and operating luxury properties accross US, Mexico, The Bahamas and Ireland. Former Relais & Chateaux and Rosewood leader. I help Independent Hotels and Restaurants launch without chaos, fix standards before they hit reviews and build teams that stay.


Esteban Paulin

Hotel Operations specialist with 15 years accross Relais & Chateaux, Rosewood,and Forbes-standard venues. I help independent hotels and restaurants launch without chaos, fix service standards before they hit reviews and built teams that stay. I work On-site, with your people, until it works.


where i have worked

I have opened luxury properties from scratch, rebuilt underperforming outlets, and set the service standards that teams use years later.

01.

luxury hotels

Rosewood Bahamar, Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire, Cashel Palace Hotel, Cliff House Hotel, Fairmont Grand del Mar, Addison Restaurant, Cut by Wolfgang Puck

02.

independent & openings

The Grand del Mar, Laurel Hardware/Ysabel, Pletora Bistronomie, Rosewood Bahamar

03.

the numbers

4 properties opened from scratch, 150+ staff trained in single rollout, 20% revenue increase, 10% labor cost reduction


Ways we can work

I do not do general advice. I install systems. Every property is different but the failure patterns are the same. I have designed four specific engagements based on where you are in your lifecycle: opening, bleeding, hiring, or maintainingI take on a limited number of projects per quarter. Below are the four ways we can work together.


the programs

Every property is different, I operate in four modes: fixing what is broken before it kills your reputation, or building what does not exist yet so you open strong . All four engagements include on-site time, written systems, and remote follow up.

01.

pre opening bootcamp

You do not get a second chance to open. I build the service infrastructure before the first guest arrives

02.

standards Audit & fix

For existing hotels or businesses with failing scores, high turnover, or an inspection approaching.

03.

new hire induction system

For hotels and restaurants hiring 10+ staff per season

04.

Monthly Retainer

For independent hotels and small groups without a corporate training department.

05.

Bespoke Package

Not all properties fits a box. Some need a hybrid. Some need a single intensive day. Lets work together and create a custom engagement


The pre opening bootcamp

Open Strong. Open Clean. Open Ready

The 14-day system that takes your team from strangers to a synchronized unit before the first guest walks in.


Openings are one of the most complex undertakings in hospitality. years of planning, millions in investment, and months of contruction all converge on a single moment: the first guest walking through the door. Yet many properties open with beautiful design and unprepared teams.I work with owners, general managers, and pre-opening teams to build operational infrastructure that most properties only realise they need after the damage is done. From service standards to team training, from POS systems to labour frameworks, every element is designed, documented, and rehearsed before the first guest arrives.


What is Included

01.

Customized Service Standards Manual (LQA / Forbes / Relais & Chateaux / Michelin Aligned) you decide where you want your standards to be

02.

5 Day intensive staff training: Service Choreaography, Wine presentation, upselling scripts, complaint recovery etc.

03.

POS & Reservation system rollout (volante, MICROS, Open Table, Table Path, Hotsoft, Avero) with manager Troubleshooting

04.

Roster and Labour-Cost framework built for your specific outlet mix.

05.

Opening Week on-site support: real time correction, guest - readiness checks, final team sign-off.

Timeline.

3 weeks on site + 1 week preparation


Standards Audit and Fix

Find the Gap. Fix the Leak. Protect the Brand

A 5-day diagnostic and repair for properties where service standards are slipping and guest scores are failing.


Every property has a gap between what the brand promises and what the guest actually experiences. Sometimes that gap is visible - slow service, uneasy check-out, disconnection with guests etc. More often it is invisible to management but glaring to guests: the server who does not know the menu, the receptionist with bad attitude, rushing the guests, lack of flexibility, the manager that avoids the floor, disorganized service for so long that nobody notices anymore.I find those gaps. I work your property as a mystery guest and operational auditor, seeing exactly what they feel, and documenting every touchpoint that falls short of your stated standard. Then I give you a clear prioritised, cost-neutral action plan- not a theorical report that sits on a shelf, but a practical diagnosis with specific fixes.5-days later I return to retrain your team on the root causes, not the symptoms. And for 25 days after that, I stay connected via Whatsapp and scheduled check-ins to make sure the imporovement is hold.This is not a luxury for struggling properties. It is a preventive maintenance for properties and businesses that want to stay good - and catch the drift before it becomes a decline.


What is Included

01.

2-day operational audit: mystery guest assesments, BOH workflow review, service touchpoint scoring

02.

Detailed corrective report with photo documentation, priority ranking, and cost-neutral solutions

03.

3-day team retraining focused on the specific gaps identified

04.

Manager Coaching session: how to sustain standards without me on property

05.

30-day remote follow up: Whatsapp support, progress check-in, final validation

timeline

5 days on-site + 30 days remote support

How it works

  1. Audit - I work your department/division for 2 days seeing what your guests see

  2. Report - Ypu receive a written diagnosis within 48 hours of my departure supported by LQA/Forbes/Relais & Chateaux Standards (you choose)

  3. Retrain - I return for 3 days to fix the root causes, not the symptoms

  4. Sustain - 30 days of remote and if needed present support to make sure the standards sticks


New Hire Induction System

Stop Repeating Day One


Most Hotels train new staff the same way; shadow someone for a day, then throw them onto the floor. The result is inconsistent service, repeated mistakes, and high turnover that costs more than training ever would.I Build onboarding systems that turn new hires into brand ambassadors within 30 days. Not through longer training, but through structured measurable, repeatable processes that your managers can deliver without me standing over them. The manual the calendar, the tests, the certificates - everything is designed, documented and ready to scale.You stop repeating Day One. Your team starts performing from Day One.


What is Included

01.

Custom pnboarding manual: brand story, uniform standards, service language, menu knowledge, wine basics, wlecoming the guests, check-in process, walking the guests to a room etc.

02.

Structured "Day 1 to Day 30" training calendra with daily checklists

03.

Train-the-Trainer session for your existing managers, supervisors, lead staff so they can deliver it independently

04.

Digital Tracking system for progress monitoring

05.

Final competency test and certificate for new hires.

timeline

1 week on-site + 1 week build

How it works

  1. Assess - I shadow your current onboarding for 2 days

  2. Build - I write the manual and schedule tailored to your brand

  3. Train - I coach your managers to deliver the program themselves

  4. Launch - First cohort runs thorugh the system with me observing


Monthly Retainer

A Director on Call


Most Independent Hotels and small groups do not need a full-time Director. They need someone who shows up when it matters, sees what the GM is too busy to see, and keeps standards from drifting between inspections.I act as an Director - on a fix monthly retainer. One visit per month, two-days on-site, plus unlimited remote support between visits. I audit, coach, and course-correct. Your managers get a senior voice to call when a guest complains, or a new hire needs fast-tracking. No full-time salary, no pension. no office. just expertise when you need it.The properties that stay excellent are not the ones with the biggest budgets. They are the ones with consistent, external accountability.


What is Included

01.

One visit per month (2 days): Operational Audit, Manager coaching, Menu engineering review

02.

Unlimited remote support: Whatsapp and email for real-time crisis management and decision backing

03.

Quarterly team workshop: wine training, service refresh, or pre-season briefing

04.

Priority booking for additional project days at reduced rate

05.

Annual standards review to keep your property inspection-ready

Commitment

3 months minimum

How it works

  1. Monthly Visit - I arrive, audit, coach and leave and action plan

  2. Remote Support - between visits, I answer your team questions in real time

  3. Quarterly Intensive - A focused workshop to reset and recharge the team


Bespoke Package

Not Every Property fits in one box. Some need a hybrid. Some need a single intensive day. Some need you to rebuild what they have and train them to maintain it.


I design custom engagements for properties with specific timelines, budgets, or challenges that fall outside the standard programs. The process is the same - diagnose, build, deliver, sustain - but the scope, duration, and investment are tailored to your exact situation.


Common bespoke scenarios

01.

A single-day for a team in crisi before a VIP event.

02.

A two week interim Management cover during a Director/Manager transition that allows to select the right candidate for the property.

03.

A hybrid audit + induction for a property that is both failing standards and hiring new staff

04.

A remote-only advisory retainer for a property/group with multiple small properties

05.

A menu and wine list engineering project without the full training component

Timeline

Defined in the proposal

How it works

  1. Discovery Call - You describe the situation. I ask the questions that uncover the real problem

  2. Proposal - within 48 hours, you receive a scope proposal with clear deliverables, timeline, and investment.

  3. Delivery - On-site, remote, or Hybrid. Whatever the situation requires.

  4. Handover - Documentation, Manager briefing, and a clear transition plan.

contact

ready to open without chaos-or fix what is already slipping?Every week you wait, your team rehearses bad habits. I work with a small number of properties each quarter to ensure the work actually gets done, not just documented.Please send your details and I will respond within 24 hours

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