About

For over 40 years, Linda Hayes has created experiences for others. Schooled as an interior designer, her career includes working in corporate America as a designer, facility manager, and market sales manager for a Fortune 500 in southern Florida and the Caribbean, all before creating a successful lodging property and restaurant in SW Virginia.

Much of Hayes' knowledge of the hospitality industry originates from her personal properties, having designed, built, and successfully operated Inn at Riverbend, a Select Registry seven-room inn overlooking the Appalachian Mountains and the oldest US river, the New River, in SW Virginia. Owned and operated starting in 2003, Hayes transferred ownership and moved just eight miles away in late 2010. During that time frame, Hayes was also the owner of a historic building in the downtown area, and together with chefs who leased the space, they created The Bank Food and Drink. In 2011, Hayes took over the restaurant's operation until selling the building in the spring of 2015.

Those previous years of interactions with clients and guests are the basis for Hayes' consulting work. Her business acumen, lodging, food and beverage experience, and insightful vision make her a great asset as a business consultant to her clients, focusing on the results which shorten the process involved in analyzing and growing their business. Hayes' clients stretch across the United States and Mexico and range from owner-operated limited services properties to larger full-service properties with event venues and restaurants.

In March 2016, Hayes launched The Future Innkeeper Hands-On Workshop, a 4-day "boot camp" allowing those interested in this industry to truly experience all aspects of operating a small lodging property with a behind-the-scenes opportunity to work in all areas of a small lodging property. Over 30 attendees now own and operate their properties.  A virtual version of the workshop is also offered over five weeks.

Helping to advance our niche of the hospitality industry is the basis for Hayes' involvement for many years in the industry’s state and national associations including being a speaker, conference organizer and chair, a member of the education committee, board member, and exhibitor She served on the first board of ALP, is the interim CEO of the ALP Fund Board and an Associate Silver Member of Select Registry.

Beyond ALP, Hayes shares her knowledge as a frequent presenter on variety of topics including Building your Business from the Ground Up, Packaging and Upselling for Profit, Business Planning 2.0, Creating a Healthy Work Environment, Staffing 101, Charting your Financials, and more. Additionally, Hayes offers webinars, virtual learning sessions and is part of the Inner Circle with White Stone Marketing.

Are you envisioning the ownership of a small lodging property but uncertain about the initial steps? Have you recently acquired a bed and breakfast, inn, or boutique hotel and require support in staffing and operations? Perhaps you're a small property owner seeking to rejuvenate your lodging establishment to align with the expectations of today's guests. Linda Hayes, a seasoned hospitality consultant, provides personalized coaching, onsite training, and workshops tailored to prospective and existing owners, as well as investors.