All Consultants / Stephen Darling

Stephen Darling

Planning and Development Consulting

Vancouver, Canada
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Experience in planning and development consulting for owners and architects, Stephen's approach creates the road to profitability plus fresh shrewd insights for the future.

Key Consulting Services

  • Pre-construction Concept & Plan Review
  • Pre-opening Planning & Support

Expertise

Through Stephen's network of legal financial and design consultants, he provides a comprehensive approach to creating competitive advantages for clients. Stephen is often called upon by Owners and Developers looking for an independent opinion or alternative solutions; as well as by architects and engineers seeking input during the planning phase to maintain project momentum. He undertakes plan reviews for industry professionals by providing a second opinion plus operator's insight.

Background

  • In the past 10 years, Stephen has uncovered, considered and recommended more than a dozen hotel projects in the US and Canada, that have resulted in successful outcomes for his clients. With a background in luxury hotels, including unbranded independent properties, he provide insight into maximizing potential through authentic, local hospitality and friendly efficient service. Having worked on mixed-use developments, including condo hotel ownership, Stephen brings a leveraged approach to unique hotels in leading urban and resort locations.

Testimonial

  • Stephen took on the Group’s expansion into north America with gusto. Through his great commitment, drive and passion, he strategically networked in the US, Canada and Mexico; and delivered six hotel management agreement in four years-some now delayed due to the US financial crisis. Working closely with investors, lawyers, and developers from coast to coast, he gained a reputation for the company as a capable and pragmatic deal-maker. Most significantly, he put together a highly complex deal in Manhattan that involved multi-national partners and social players. Stephen’s clear vision, relationship with key players and understanding of the projects and tremendous advantages that have earned him a great reputation for dynamic integrity in his community and further afield. Laterally, he successfully opened Shangri-La’s first hotel in the Western World and created the Northe American Tigers programme as a method of translating the style and culture of Asian hospitality into the west. Stephen is a passionate hotelier and well respected in the industry it was my pleasure to work with him- and his assistance in introducing Shangri-La in North America was a great success!

    -

    – Giovanni Angelini, CEO (Retired), Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Professional & Other

In 2001, he was awarded the Pinnacle Award for Canadian Hotelier of the Year. In 2002 he became chair of Tourism Vancouver and Co-Chair of the 'Yes 2010 Campaign' that helped secure the 2010 Winter Olympics for Vancouver. He carry's the Institute of Corporate Directors' icd.d designation and serves on two boards at present. For six years, Stephen served on Variety The Children's Charity's BC Advisory Council. When time permits, Stephen coaches and mentors young and 'not-so-young' people wanting to make their way in the hospitality industry. Stephen's second language is French, plus he manages with conversational Spanish.

Industry Associations

Stephen's Latest Articles & Case Studies

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Chuck Kelley Stephen Darling

Top 10 Tips for New Consultants

By Chuck Kelley & Stephen Darling May 23, 2023

Put aside the Nuances of Corporate World Transitioning from the corporate way of doing things to the realities of the consulting world...

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Stephen Darling

Reset, Release, Pivot… Think Beyond to Move your Hotel Forward

By Stephen Darling May 23, 2023

Be bold in repurposing your hotel's assets - from rooms to meeting space to kitchens - to keep your hotel in survival mode until post pandemic levels of demand for hotels and events return.

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Stephen Darling

Unorthodox Hotel Space Repurposing to Create New Profit Centers

By Stephen Darling May 23, 2023

As a veteran hospitality consultant working out of Vancouver, British Columbia, I’m privy to some very interesting cases and projects throughout the...

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