My Journey: Why I’m on a Mission to Fix Hospitality from the Inside Out

Hi, I'm Benedikt

I’ve spent my entire career in hospitality, managing hotels, lodges, and even a vineyard. I’ve seen the beauty and the chaos. I’ve seen what happens when teams are supported and inspired, and I’ve seen what happens when they’re not.

After years in management, one thing became clear: there’s almost no real training for people who step into leadership roles. We expect them to manage finances, people, and performance, yet no one teaches them how. Post-Covid, that gap became a crisis. Leaders were burnt out, service was collapsing, and people were leaving the industry in droves. I decided I wanted to be part of the solution.

With The Hospitality Company, I help business owners and managers think strategically about their venues, creating plans, building systems, improving profitability, and helping them lead happier, more stable teams. I also run my own brand, Habit, where I deliver group workshops and online courses focused on guest experience and leadership.

What I love most is watching people light up during those sessions and the moment they realise how much more effective they can be. They leave motivated, equipped, and proud of what they do.

My approach is deeply human. I’ve been in their shoes, so I know what it feels like when you’re overwhelmed, frustrated, or stuck in the day-to-day. I can be tough when needed, I’ll hold you accountable, but I also know when to listen and when to pull back. It’s all about understanding people, because hospitality is, at its core, a people business.

Some of my proudest moments are watching leaders I’ve coached step up, a general manager now mentoring her own managers, an owner who finally makes decisions based on data instead of stress, and a small team where everyone feels valued and covers for one another. That’s what real progress looks like.

Looking ahead, I want to expand my work beyond New Zealand and Australia, collaborate with inspiring people around the world, and write a book that captures the lessons I’ve learned.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, and one thing I want others to remember, it’s this:
You start losing the game when you stop learning.

Keep learning, from me or from somewhere else. Read books, listen to podcasts, stay curious. It’s the only way our industry, and the people in it, will truly thrive.

 Email Benedikt at [email protected]