James Samson

Food, Beverage, and Restaurants


Phoenix, Arizona, United States
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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 is a graduate of the Florida Culinary Institute earning a degree in hospitality administration/management and culinary arts. He also received certification for Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management through Cornell University. He is a level II certified wine and spirit professional through WSET. James has held executive chef and director of food and beverage roles for the JW, Renaissance and Marriott Hotel brands in Florida and Chicago.

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.

James's Latest Articles & Case Studies

James Samson

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...

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James Samson

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...

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