All Consultants / James Samson
James Samson
Food, Beverage, and Restaurants
Samson Hospitality leverages innovative thinking, revenue growth strategies, and operational optimizations to transform guest experiences and unlock financial solutions that fuel business prosperity.
Key Consulting Services
- Food & Beverage Operational Consulting
- Staffing Solutions & Recruitment
- Event Production Services
- Concept/Brand Development
- Public Relations, Marketing, Social Media Management
Expertise
As a transformational leader, James seamlessly integrates creativity, strategy, and human connection to deliver scalable, results-driven solutions for hotels, restaurants, private clubs and corporate events. His strengths lie in seeing the big picture while perfecting the details, driving innovation to enhance efficiencies and guest satisfaction, and fostering meaningful partnerships that inspire long-term success. His resilience and adaptability allow him to navigate the ever-changing hospitality landscape with confidence, purpose, and a commitment to excellence. James' ability to turn vision into execution makes him a trusted partner in shaping the future of hospitality.
Background
- James has been a visionary leader in the hospitality industry for nearly three decades, known for his exceptional ability to identify opportunities, craft tailored solutions, and elevate guest experiences. Throughout his career, he has served in executive level roles at some of the nation’s leading full-service convention hotels and resorts within the luxury, lifestyle, and premium brand segments. With a unique blend of strategic leadership, creative problem-solving, and operational expertise, James now transforms challenges into growth opportunities for businesses. Throughout his career, James succeeded at driving business objectives through a global mindset, creative lens, proactively resolving issues, and executing organizational goals year-over-year. In recent years, he was recognized for his experience in opening and closing Hotels, leading several renovation projects with new restaurant & bar concepts, exceeding business goals and asset owner expectations by managing budgets in excess of over $100M, leveraging vendor partnerships and developing hotel leaders into successful hoteliers. James now shares his expert knowledge by helping other organizations become financially successful through his consultancy.
Professional & Other
James was awarded chef of the year for Renaissance Hotels worldwide and has had the honorary pleasure to host at the historic James Beard Foundation House in New York City. He is an honorary member of the Les Amis D’ Escoffier Society of Chicago and a past member of the Chicago Department Public Health Food Advisory Group. James now resides in Phoenix Arizona.
Industry Associations
James's Latest Articles & Case Studies
Top 15 Food Trends to Watch in 2025
By James Samson Jan 19, 2023
As leaders in the food and beverage industry, we at Samson Hospitality are always on the lookout for emerging food trends that...
Optimizing Menu Engineering for the Hospitality Industry
By James Samson Jan 19, 2023
Menu engineering is an essential practice in the hospitality industry, particularly for food and beverage operations. It involves the strategic design and...