Hospitality · Events · Advisory

A straight-talking
partner in
your corner.

I've spent 30 years in hospitality and events — building companies, making mistakes, and figuring out what actually moves the needle. Now I work with a small number of early-stage founders who are ready to stop spinning their wheels.

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30+
Years in Hospitality & Events
3
Company Exits & Acquisitions
2–3
Clients Accepted at a Time
Exits & Acquisitions
Elite Meetings International
Acquired by Cvent — 2014
Resorts & Great Hotels
Sold to Islands Media
Islands Media
Sold to Bonaire Publishing
My Story

Some of the best things
happened because I just
stayed curious.

I spent a decade in luxury hospitality publishing, building relationships with some of the world's finest hotels and resorts. Along the way I kept hearing the same thing from the hoteliers I worked with: bring us groups, bring us meetings. That one insight eventually led me to found Elite Meetings International in 2005 — a platform connecting top corporate meeting planners with the best hotels and resorts in the world.

We built it from scratch. No roadmap, no guarantee. Just an idea I believed in, a network I'd spent years earning, and a team I genuinely cared about. In 2014 we sold to Cvent. I was also part of the sale of Resorts & Great Hotels to Islands Media, and the sale of Islands Media to Bonaire Publishing.

Three transactions. A lot of lessons. And a deep appreciation for what it actually takes to build something real — and what it costs when things don't go the way you planned.

I'm not the guy who shows up with a deck full of theories. I'm the guy who's been in the room, made the mistakes, and figured out what actually moves the needle. If you're building something in hospitality or events and want a straight-talking partner in your corner — let's talk.

What I Do

Not theory.
Real experience.

I've built companies, navigated acquisitions, opened doors that took years to earn, and learned some hard lessons along the way. Here's what I bring to the founders I work with.

01
Focus & Clarity

Early-stage companies often try to do too many things at once — I know because I've been there. I help you cut through the noise, identify what actually matters, and build everything around that.

02
The Right Introductions

Thirty years of relationships with decision-makers across the hospitality and events world. I can't promise outcomes — but I can get you in rooms that would otherwise take years to access on your own.

03
Honest Strategic Guidance

From validating your idea before you build it, to structuring deals where everyone wins, to using the latest AI tools to move faster — I'll tell you what I actually think, not just what you want to hear.

+
Hospitality & Events Products Welcome

If you have a product or service built for the hospitality or events industry — technology, a platform, an experience, or something new — I understand your buyer, I know your market, and I've navigated this world from every angle. That's exactly where I can add the most value.

How It Works

Simple, honest,
high-touch.

I keep my client list intentionally small. That's not a sales tactic — it's just how I work. When I'm in, I'm fully in.

Step 01
A Real Conversation

We spend an hour together — no pitch, no agenda. Just getting clear on where you are, where you want to go, and whether working together makes sense.

Step 02
Getting Oriented

I take time to really understand your business — your product, your market, your team, and the obstacles that are slowing you down.

Step 03
Working Together

Weekly sessions, real availability when you need it, introductions, business planning, and straight-talking guidance tailored to your specific situation.

Step 04
Growing Together

The best engagements evolve naturally. At six months we reassess — and if things are working, most clients want to keep going, sometimes with equity on the table.

Beyond Business
The Foy Family on the golf course in Santa Ynez

A little bit about
who I am.

I've been married to my wonderful wife Shelley for 30 years. We raised three boys — Harrison (26), Preston (24), and Logan (26) — in Santa Barbara, where they grew up alongside the business, traveling with us to some incredible hotels and resorts across North America. They saw the good parts and the hard parts, and they were supportive through all of it. I'm really proud of that.

In 2021 we made the move to Santa Ynez — Shelley's hometown — and honestly it's been one of the best decisions we've ever made. There's something about wine country that has a way of putting everything in perspective.

Family and integrity are the two things I come back to no matter what. They shape how I do business just as much as anything I've learned in a boardroom.

Outside of work I'm usually on a golf course, on a mountain, out fishing or hunting, or just soaking up everything the Santa Ynez Valley has to offer.

Golf Skiing Fishing Hunting Wine Country Fitness

The Engagement

Let's figure out
if we're a
good fit.

I work with two to three clients at a time on a six month retainer basis. It's intentionally small — because the people I work with deserve my full attention, not a slice of it. If that sounds like what you're looking for, I'd love to have a conversation.

Duration
6 Month Minimum
Investment
$8,000 / Month
Availability
2–3 Clients Only
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