PHA Team

Hartmut was born in Munich, Germany and raised in Cupertino, CA following his father’s transfer to Silicon Valley as a teen.  He learned his English during this time and when his parents returned to Germany, Hartmut decided to stay and begin his hospitality career which has now spanned more than 30 years.  

Starting as a bellman, he has since worked virtually every position between hotel experience, to training at European hotel school, to Cornell Masters in Hospitality Management.  Working from the ground up in rooms, food & beverage, front of house, as well as back of house. His continued success allowed him to grow into supervisory and managerial roles leading to General Manager today.  

He has been a General Manager for over 16 years in luxury Bed & Breakfast, Limited Service, Select Service, Full Service, and Luxury. In city as well as resort properties ranging from 25 rooms to over 1000 throughout the US and Europe.  He has opened hotels, closed hotels (covid), managed major renovations from rooms to public areas.  Emergency protocols are very important to him having experience at properties he worked at, New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, Cleveland during the George Floyed riots & covid, and Berlin during covid.  

As different as each hotel and location has been, so has the ownership aspect. From individual private owners, investor groups, REITs, to private equity firms. Balancing the expectations and needs between management, ownership, and property needs has been a key to Hartmut’s ever-growing knowledge and success. Cultivating constant and ongoing positive connections and relationships with various owners over the years has allowed Hartmut to run effective, financially sound, well maintained, excellent properties all over the US.

Along the way, Hartmut has grown a tremendous network. A multitude of industry leaders, community leaders, and professionals.  He has maintained fantastic relationships with them all throughout the years.  Two important, as well as personal connections that he is particularly proud of are co-chairing the Melanoma Research Foundation’s first & second Wings of Hope Gala in Chicago and becoming an Honorary Commander in the US Air Force at Travis Air Force Base through his community involvement.  His network is expansive, vast, and is continually growing.  Being able to utilize this network professionally as well personally through community has been an important and special part of his career.

Cummulatively, Hartmut’s 30 years of experience, over 16 years as GM ,and lessons he has learned, gives a well experienced foundation to coach and advise General Managers and Hospitality Professionals of today.  He is the person that will help you and represent your best interests and needs.  He will help you think strategically, make sound decisions and be a valued General Manager or Hospitality Professional that enjoys longevity, success, and stability.