Combined, the team of professionals at Hospitality Advisors Group has more than 200 years of experience and a vast network of resources in the hospitality industry. Each has been engaged in their respective areas of specialization in the trenches as operators. They have a demonstrated track record of success in achieving impressive bottom line results for their properties and their clients.
The Hospitality Advisors Group team is dedicated to distinguishing itself by providing responsive and personalized service.
Zachary Z. Zoul, CHA
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Zachary Z. Zoul has thirty years of executive experience managing hospitality, development, and property management operations. Prior to joining Hospitality Advisors Group, Zoul was President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of the Cote Family Companies, a resort, hospitality, and real estate/development company with holdings in the Midwest and Southwest including the award winning Grand View Lodge Resort and it’s three championship golf courses and the Tanque Verde Ranch resort. He served on the executive team of Palmetto Bluff in Hilton Head, South Carolina overseeing operations for one of the largest resort and residential communities in the United States encompassing 20,000 acres including the Inn at Palmetto Bluff – recognized as the #1 resort in North America. Additionally, he served as General Manager for two distinctive coastal Georgia properties, including the Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island. Zoul’s focus on sales and marketing was reflected in his work as an Adjunct Professor for Brenau University teaching graduate and undergraduate marketing. In addition to his pre-opening and start-up experience, Zoul has been actively involved in hospitality facility design and development, including Minnesota’s newest outstate and widely acclaimed conference and event center – the Gull Lake Center. Zoul holds a Master’s Degree from Minnesota State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Drake University and is a Certified Hotel Administrator by the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
Specializing in:
- Sales and Marketing
- Facilities
- Organizational Development and Assessment
- Capital Improvement Planning
- Competitive Set Analysis
- Renovation Project Management
Jeanne Brooks
President and Senior Advisor
Jeanne Brooks founded Brooks Associates twenty-five years ago to provide experience-based management expertise to the owners of independent luxury inns and boutique hotels. Drawing on her experience in sales and hospitality standards, Jeanne has addressed all aspects of the hospitality business for owners, developers, investors, and management. Jeanne tailors training programs for hotels and inns to reach the discerning business and leisure guests. In addition to serving individual properties, Jeanne served as Executive Director of Classic Inns of the South.
Staff development and training is the cornerstone of Jeanne’s expertise - ensuring that each staff member embodies the philosophy of gracious service. In her work, she assesses each department according to client needs. Staff is trained to anticipate and exceed guest expectations. Jeanne has often been engaged to consult on design with architects and interior designers ensuring that style is complimented with the highest hospitality standards. Brooks Associates has enhanced the client “price to value” perception by addressing the design program, space planning, and interior design with passionate attention to detail. Product design, guest services, marketing, staffing and training are strategically aligned to support market leadership in rate and occupancy.
Jeanne’s work has evolved to include residential resort developments and private clubs. The scope of work includes staff development, training, property owner/guest satisfaction, design expertise, culinary, and the creation of amenity and hospitality programs.
Specializing in:
- Service Standards
- Training
- Weddings, Groups, and Special Events
- Staff Assessment
- Culinary Design
- Interior Design
Thomas Ruhs
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Thomas A. Ruhs graduated from Michigan State University and is a hotel industry executive with more than 30 years experience developing and managing complex luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States. His expertise includes the development, renovation, and re-branding of upscale hotels and resorts. Ruhs also has extensive experience with golf residential projects, having managed projects including Spanish Hills Country Club, Isleworth Country Club, Steele Canyon Country Club, WestWinds Country Club, and the renovation of Elkhorn Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho.
As an executive with Gemstone Resorts, Ruhs served as General Manager of the 4 Diamond Hotel Orrington, and later as Chief Executive Officer of Delavan Resort Development and its Lake Lawn Resort property. He also served as General Manager of Doral Resort in Palm Springs where he developed the Doral Conference Center. Ruhs was a founder and principal of W|R Hospitality, a marketing-driven hospitality management group. W|R provided litigation support for dissolution of the partnership agreements for DanMar Hotels and follow-up management services for numerous Radisson Hotels. He also served as Vice President of Operations and as a Partner of Buena Vista Hospitality Group. Also for BVHG, Ruhs coordinated the development and construction of the AAA – 4 Diamond Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort.
Specializing in:
- Golf and Club Operations
- Rates and Yield Management
- Food and Beverage
- Asset Management
- Ancillary Service Development
- Market Feasibility Analysis
- Strategic Plan Development
Justin Witt
Managing Director –Marketing and Multi-Media
Since 2001 Justin has been a managing partner of Syzygy Productions, LLC, a marketing communications firm based in Atlanta and serving hospitality industry clients worldwide. He is a former owner of Town Crier Media, a Cape Cod based print media marketing firm, and is currently also owner of Patagonia Unlimited, a fly fishing and eco-tourism outfitter based in Rio Pico, Argentina.
Specializing in:
- Marketing Strategy
- Branding
- Website Development
- Videography
- Photography
- Graphic Design
- Copy Development
- Search Engine Optimization
- Social Media
Ron Cambridge
Senior Vice President and Managing Director – Retail Services
Ron Cambridge Profile
Ron Cambridge is a Retail Merchandising and Operations professional with over thirty-five years of domestic and international experience directing multi-million dollar budgets with Department Stores, high-end Specialty Stores, Resort Stores, Catalog, Airlines, and Duty Free Stores. His experience includes retail business planning, assortment planning, store design and concept, construction supervision, personnel training, and visual presentation. He also has an extensive background in Spa and Golf merchandising. Cambridge served as Vice President of Operation and Town Center Manager for Alys Beach Development, a planned community conceptualized by Andres Duany. He also served as Executive Director of Retail Operations for the Amelia Island Plantation where he was responsible for the design, merchandising, and assortment planning for a new 28,000 square foot Village Center plus Pro Shops, Tennis Shops, Beach Shops, and Spa retail.
At Buena Vista Hospitality Group, Ron was the Retail Director for The Palace Hotel, The Chateau Cartier, and Rocky Gap Golf Resort. As President of Duty Free Enterprises, Ron oversaw a duty free company that had locations in the Caribbean and Central America in airports, hotels, cruise ships, and airlines with more than $30 million in sales in four years. His gained his initial retail training from main-stream Department Stores, starting as a Department Manager and working his way up to Senior Vice President/General Merchandise Manager of The Home Store for Jordan Marsh*Florida. His $150 Million Division included 15 stores. Jordan Marsh*Florida was one of Allied Stores most profitable Divisions. Allied Stores was later purchased by Federated Department Stores.
Specializing in:
- Retail Planning
- Merchandising
- Store Design
- Retail Install
- Turn-key Retail
Chef Matthew Roher
Managing Director – Culinary Services
Matthew Roher is a graduate of the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York. His Chef assignments include: Restaurant Associates, Tropica and World Financial Center properties, MezzaLuna Restaurant, Ritz Carlton Hotel - Atlanta, The Landings Club, and the Hampton Island Preserve. He is the owner and founder of Earth to Table a Savannah, Georgia based sustainably focused food service and Hospitality Company. Divisions and outlets include: Cha Bella Restaurant, Earth to Table Catering, Avondale Farm, and Farmboxsavannah.com. Roher has dedicated his professional career to using, sourcing and promoting local, sustainably-produced food products. In Savannah, he is credited with creating a world-class earth-to-table hospitality program at the exclusive Hampton Island Club. He is the co-founder of the Market at Trustees’ Garden, an established organic food market and the Founder and President of Slowfood Savannah.
Chef Matthew’s recognitions and awards include: Fodor’s Choice Award, Top Ten Trip Advisor, Savannah Best Downtown Restaurant, Savannah Best Overall Restaurant, Best Organic Restaurant, Best Chef Savannah, He has been featured in numerous articles and travel publications including: South Magazine, Travel and Leisure, Garden and Gun, Southern Living, Food and Wine, Savannah Magazine, AmericanWay magazine, Delta Sky magazine, and Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Specializing in:
- Menu Development
- Cost of Goods Sold Analysis
- Culinary Standards and Training
- Outlets Branding and Positioning
Tommy Linstroth
Managing Director – Sustainability Services
Tommy Linstroth has a distinguished in the private, academic, and non-profit sectors where he has been responsible for overseeing client sustainability solutions including managing sustainable development projects. Linstroth has been involved in more than 30 projects achieving LEED certification, including the first building in the Southeast to be both LEED certified and on the National Register of Historic places, the first all-retail LEED shopping center in the nation, the first LEED McDonald’s restaurant, and Sustainable Fellwood - one of the largest green affordable housing developments.
He has helped clients achieve LEED certification on projects ranging from million square foot warehouses to boutique hotels to historic renovations to schools.
Linstroth has a Bachelor of Science degree the University of Wisconsin and a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Charleston, with concentrations on sustainable development and environmental policy. He is a frequent speaker on green building throughout the country and is the co-author of the book Local Action: The New Paradigm in Climate Change Policy published in November 2007. He is a frequent contributor to numerous journals and periodicals and has a column in Sustainable Facilities magazine.
