Hi There!
I'm Matt Bernard, Founder and Principal at INNsightful Hospitality Advisors. I'm passionate about helping hotel owners maximize the value of their properties through common-sense solutions that are actually implementable.
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I believe that a company's people are it's strongest asset, so the recommendations provided always take your team's strengths and opportunities into account to ensure they'll be champions for change and active participants in the process.
My Story
My hospitality career began at 15 when I started my first business, Bernard Catering Services. Though that venture was short-lived, it stoked my entrepreneurial spirit and started my love affair with hospitality.
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I found my way to the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, where I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 2014 as a member of the school's Hotel Leadership Development Program and a manager of the student-run Statler Hotel.
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Post graduation, I took on a series of management roles with companies including White Lodging and Disney, learning the ins-and-outs of complex hotel operations and leading teams of more than 300 in the Front Office and Housekeeping.
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After being presented with the opportunity to become a hotel General Manager at the age of 26, I joined Highway West Vacations, where I subsequently grew into the Area General Manager for the California Central Coast, overseeing close to 500 rooms in the market and spearheading the renovations for two hotel properties.
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In my most recent role with Kasa Living, a tech-enabled short term rental management company, I oversaw the growth of the company's hotel portfolio from one to fifteen properties, which included building out best-practices and operating standards. I subsequently joined the leadership of the Launch Operations team that oversaw all aspects of property launches including interior design, supply chain management, vendor training, and FF&E and OS&E installation.
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My wife and I live in Chicago with our senior rescue dog, Truman. In my spare time, I enjoy testing new recipes, exploring Chicago's hidden gems, and putting new stamps in my passport.