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Jean-Philippe KernJK

Jean-Philippe Kern

COO/DOP Hospitality

€1,500/day
Aix-les-Bains, FR
15+ years

Average response time: 1 hour

Freelancer profile translated to English.
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About Jean-Philippe

Hotel operations leader, I support owners, investors, and management teams in structuring, transforming, and optimizing the performance of hotel and lifestyle assets.

With over 20 years of international experience in luxury and lifestyle hospitality in Europe and North America, I operate at the intersection of operations, brand strategy, finance, and management. My background spans international groups and independent collections, iconic urban hotels, as well as resorts and boutique destinations.

I assist organizations at key moments: rapid growth, multi-asset structuring, brand repositioning, performance recovery, post-acquisition integration, or investor-driven value creation. My approach is pragmatic, highly operational, with a strong culture of results and financial discipline.

My expertise includes multi-site operations management, EBITDA and margin improvement, creation and optimization of F&B concepts, HR and managerial structuring, governance and investor relations, CapEx steering, ESG integration into operations, and managing complex situations.

I act as a fractional COO, interim manager, or senior advisor. Typical deliverables include operational diagnostics, transformation plans, business plans, budget reviews, management dashboards, F&B strategies, CapEx prioritization, and on-site team support.

Based in Aix-les-Bains and mobile internationally, I favor collaborations based on clarity, trust, and lasting impact. My goal: improve performance without losing sight of teams and the customer experience.
  • French

    Native or bilingual

  • English

    Native or bilingual

  • German

    Conversational

Can work on-site
Aix-les-Bains (up to 50km)

Experience

  • Beaumier (KSL Capital Partners),
    COO / DOP
    HOSPITALITY
    May 2022 - October 2025 (3 years and 5 months)
    Chambéry, France
    Key operational leader in Beaumier's creation from a boutique startup into a collection of 11 distinctive luxury lifestyle hotels (9–92 keys) across France, Switzerland, and Spain. Reporting to the Group CEO, I shaped the group's operational structure and culture. I focused on designing and delivering a guest experience rooted in place, aesthetics, lively food & beverage and emotional connection—balancing authenticity with consistency.
    • ● Platform Growth & Asset Optimization: Delivered +27% YoY EBITDA growth with 90% flow-through; improved group margin to 32% and property margin to 41%. Led recovery plans on underperforming assets.
    • ● F&B Margin Enhancement: Increased group F&B margin to 25% by developing high-margin concepts, optimizing pricing strategies, and strengthening operational cost controls.
    • ● Governance, HR & CapEx: Oversaw HR structuring for 500+ FTEs and chaired the CSE. Directed CapEx (FF&E) and FLS compliance across the portfolio, ensuring asset protection and guest experience standards.
    • ● ESG & Brand Equity: Advanced the ESG roadmap aligned with B Corp standards. Strengthened brand presence with 5 hotels featured in Condé Nast Traveler, Fitz Roy named Best Ski Hotel in France 2024 and three Michelin-starred restaurants.
    Luxury Hospitality Leadership Operations Management Food and Beverage
  • Sofitel Strasbourg et Luxembourg
    General Manager
    HOSPITALITY
    April 2011 - May 2022 (11 years and 1 month)
    Strasbourg, France
    Sofitel Strasbourg (2013–2022) – 150 keys
    Repositioned Sofitel’s founding property into a flagship within Accor’s luxury portfolio, strengthening brand equity, accelerating revenue growth, demonstrating crisis leadership and business continuity during the 2018 terrorist attacks and Covid-19.
    Achieved +20% total revenue growth and +30% F&B revenue growth; doubled F&B margin from 10% to 20%. Secured RGI leadership (RGI 189, MKG 2019).
    Led 100+ FTEs and a CODIR of 10; Top 3 in employee engagement Sofitel France.
    Organized the 50th Sofitel Jubilee; served as Accor Regional Ambassador; received multiple Accor Awards (Financial Performance, Sofitel Excellence, F&B, Market Share).

    Sofitel Luxembourg (2010–2013) – 109 keys
    Repositioned a mature corporate asset into the luxury segment, enhancing financial and market performance.
    Delivered +12% RevPAR growth and +15% net profit increase through operational efficiency and cost control.
    Developed a high-performing bar concept; achieved RGI 140, outperforming the comp set.


    Luxury Leadership Hospitality Food & Beverage Operations Management
  • Novotel Reading & Birmingham
    General Manager
    HOSPITALITY
    January 2005 - April 2011 (6 years and 3 months)
    Reading, United Kingdom
    Repositioned two key assets in highly competitive UK urban markets, driving brand elevation, operational excellence, and sustained market leadership.
    • ● Reading – 178 keys: Launched and positioned the hotel as market leader within one year of opening. Delivered GOI consistently above budget (e.g., 55.5% in 2009 with 73.4% drop-through); achieved best RGI in the compset.
    • ● Birmingham - 148 keys: Led the property's repositioning from 3-star to 4-star, upgrading service standards and significantly improving guest satisfaction.
    Hospitality Leadership operational steering Food and Beverage Project Management

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Education

  • Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and F&B
    Ecole Hôtelière, Strasbourg
    1994
    Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and F&B
  • Leading and Managing; Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking
    Cornell University
    2021
    Leading and Managing; Framing Complex Problems with Systems Thinking

Skill set

Categories