{"id":2598,"date":"2026-09-15T10:02:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T08:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/?p=2598"},"modified":"2026-09-16T23:31:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T21:31:02","slug":"succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/de\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\/","title":{"rendered":"Nachfolgeplanung f\u00fcr Hotel- und Restaurantgruppen."},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row3 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f4f7fb;}.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c1{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail\" style=\"width:56px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/florian-kittler-square.jpg\" alt=\"Florian Kittler\" width=\"56\" height=\"56\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong style=\"color:#103b70\">By Florian Kittler &middot; September 15, 2026<\/strong><br\/>Managing Partner, Cornerstone Hospitality &middot; ~18 min. read<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c2{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=cornerstone-hospitality.global\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/google-preferred-source-badge.png\" alt=\"Add Cornerstone as a preferred source on Google\" style=\"max-width:202px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#40506b;font-size:18px;line-height:1.6;font-weight:500\">Succession planning for hotel groups turns on incentives more than on lists. Here is what a working plan contains and what quietly works against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Succession planning for hotel and restaurant groups is a standing answer to one question.<\/strong> If this seat became vacant on Friday, who takes it, how ready are they, and what are we doing between now and then to close the difference? It is not a document somebody files and forgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The part that is hardest to answer quickly is usually the third one. Only 20% of HR leaders say they have leaders ready to fill their most critical roles, and internal candidates can currently fill only 49% of critical positions immediately <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a>. That is despite 75% of organizations saying they prioritize internal promotion over external hiring and 80% admitting they lack confidence in their own bench <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a>. The intent is nearly universal. The readiness is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This piece is about what a succession plan has to actually contain, what hospitality specifically does to the arithmetic, and the structural reason that plans written at a group level usually stop working the moment a property has to run them.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row5 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#fafbfd;}.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c4{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c4\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#6c7a8c;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">In this article<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#what-it-is\">What succession planning for hotel groups actually is<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#numbers\">The readiness numbers and what they cost<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#depth\">Counting the bench honestly in succession planning for hotel groups<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#handover\">Why the overlap is the part worth paying for<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#transfer\">The incentive that quietly stops succession working<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#build\">Building succession planning for hotel groups that holds<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#multi-property\">What changes for succession planning across hotel groups<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#glossary\">Glossary<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h0, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h0[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h0\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h0 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h0[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h0\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h0 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h0[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h0\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h0 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h0\">The readiness gap, in numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(4, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row14 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-4-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f4f7fb;}.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c7{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c7 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c7\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-count-up-p2598_n6 .kb-count-up-title{color:#194783;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n6 .kb-count-up-title{text-align:center;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n6 .kb-count-up-number{color:#194783;font-size:50px;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n6 .kb-count-up-number{text-align:center;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-countup kb-count-up-p2598_n6 kb-count-up\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"20\" data-prefix=\"\" data-suffix=\"%\" data-duration=\"2.5\" data-separator=\"\"><div class=\"kb-count-up-process kb-count-up-number\"><\/div><div class=\"kb-count-up-title\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:12.5px\">of HR leaders say they have leaders ready to fill their most critical roles <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f4f7fb;}.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c9{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c9\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-count-up-p2598_n8 .kb-count-up-title{color:#194783;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n8 .kb-count-up-title{text-align:center;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n8 .kb-count-up-number{color:#194783;font-size:50px;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n8 .kb-count-up-number{text-align:center;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-countup kb-count-up-p2598_n8 kb-count-up\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"49\" data-prefix=\"\" data-suffix=\"%\" data-duration=\"2.5\" data-separator=\"\"><div class=\"kb-count-up-process kb-count-up-number\"><\/div><div class=\"kb-count-up-title\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:12.5px\">of critical positions can be filled immediately by an internal candidate <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f4f7fb;}.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c11{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c11 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c11\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-count-up-p2598_n10 .kb-count-up-title{color:#194783;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n10 .kb-count-up-title{text-align:center;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n10 .kb-count-up-number{color:#194783;font-size:50px;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n10 .kb-count-up-number{text-align:center;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-countup kb-count-up-p2598_n10 kb-count-up\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"1.6\" data-prefix=\"\" data-suffix=\"X\" data-duration=\"2.5\" data-separator=\"\"><div class=\"kb-count-up-process kb-count-up-number\"><\/div><div class=\"kb-count-up-title\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:12.5px\">more likely a promotion succeeds when assessments inform the selection <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f4f7fb;}.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c13{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c13 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c13\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-count-up-p2598_n12 .kb-count-up-title{color:#194783;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n12 .kb-count-up-title{text-align:center;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n12 .kb-count-up-number{color:#194783;font-size:50px;}.kb-count-up-p2598_n12 .kb-count-up-number{text-align:center;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-countup kb-count-up-p2598_n12 kb-count-up\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"18\" data-prefix=\"\" data-suffix=\"-20%\" data-duration=\"2.5\" data-separator=\"\"><div class=\"kb-count-up-process kb-count-up-number\"><\/div><div class=\"kb-count-up-title\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:12.5px\">premium paid for an external hire over a comparable internal promotion <a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Key insight<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h1, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h1\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h1 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h1\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h1 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h1\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"what-it-is\" class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h1 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h1\">What succession planning for hotel groups actually is<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That word &#8220;plan&#8221; does a lot of unhelpful work here. It suggests a document somebody writes, approves, and files, and that version rarely changes anything. A succession plan that somebody reviews annually and consults only when people resign is really just a list, and a list on its own does not make anybody ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A working plan has four parts, and the fourth is the one worth the most attention.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row19 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c16{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c16 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c16\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib15 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib15\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">The critical seats, named<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Not the org chart. The seats where a vacancy would cost real money within a quarter, which in a hotel group is usually a shorter list than people expect and almost never includes everyone at a given grade.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c18{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c18 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c18\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib17 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib17\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">The candidates, with a readiness horizon<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">For each seat, who could take it now, who could take it in one to two years, and who in three to five? A name with no horizon attached is an opinion rather than a plan.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row24 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c21{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c21 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c21\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib20 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib20\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">The specific gap for each candidate<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Written in one sentence per person. Not &ldquo;needs more commercial exposure&rdquo; but the actual thing that would have to be true, stated so that somebody could tell in twelve months whether it happened.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c23{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c23 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c23\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib22 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib22\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">The work that closes the gap, with a date<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">This is the part that drops out, and dropping it is what turns the plan into a list. A gap identified and not resourced is simply a gap that has now been written down. For a specific gap such as executive presence or making the final call under pressure, that work is usually a run of one to one coaching attached to a real assignment, not a course booked and forgotten.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h2\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h2\">The test for succession planning for hotel groups is whether the plan changes anybody&#8217;s week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One real test is whether the plan changes anybody\u2019s week. If naming somebody as a successor produces no different assignment, no different conversation with their manager, and no different review, then the naming was administrative. The seat still fills reactively when it opens. Somebody updates the plan afterward to record what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row27 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f4ffe6;}.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c26{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c26\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#5a9e00;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why this matters<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15.5px\"><strong>The distinction that matters most.<\/strong> A replacement plan answers, &ldquo;Who could we put in the seat?&rdquo; A succession plan answers, &ldquo;Who will be ready for the seat, and what are we doing about it?&rdquo; The first takes about an hour and returns in about an hour. The second is a standing commitment, and it returns what the seat is worth.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;overflow:clip;isolation:isolate;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28{background-color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta28 alignwide kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 h1, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 h2, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 h3, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 h4, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 h5, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 h6{color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_ctac29\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah30\"]{font-style:normal;color:#ffffff;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah30\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah30\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah30 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah30\">Not sure how deep your own bench really is?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A short, structured conversation is often enough to see where the readiness gaps sit.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn31{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn31 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn31\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn32.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn32.kb-button{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn32.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn32.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btnp2598_btn32 kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-inherit kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false wp-block-button__link wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/contact\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Talk to us<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why this matters<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h3, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h3\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h3 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h3\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h3 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h3\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"numbers\" class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h3 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h3\">The readiness numbers in succession planning for hotel groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taking succession seriously is not a sentimental case. It is arithmetic, and the arithmetic is unusually clear.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h4, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h4[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h4\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h4 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h4[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h4\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h4 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h4[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h4\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h4 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h4\">What being unready costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When an internal candidate is not ready, the seat goes to an external hire, and external hiring at a senior level carries a measured penalty. Matthew Bidwell&rsquo;s study of personnel data across a US investment banking division found that external hires are paid about 18% to 20% more than comparable internal promotions. They also need about two years to get up to speed, and hiring managers confirmed they typically pay 10% or 20% more to pull people out of positions where they already have security <a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is a higher price for a slower start, and it is before the failure risk. A longitudinal study followed more than 20,000 new hires across 312 organizations. 46% failed within 18 months, and only 19% achieved unequivocal success <a href=\"#source-11\">[11]<\/a>. Michael Watkins puts the unaided breakeven point, where a leader contributes as much value as they have consumed, at up to six months <a href=\"#source-14\">[14]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Replacement costs compound it. Gallup describes the cost of replacing an individual employee as ranging from one half to two times annual salary and calls that a conservative estimate <a href=\"#source-5\">[5]<\/a>. At the general manager level, a conservative estimate is still a large number.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h5, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h5[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h5\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h5 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h5[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h5\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h5 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h5[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h5\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h5 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h5\">What being ready is worth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That same research also finds the upside is measurable rather than theoretical. Organizations with strong leadership benches are 2.9X more likely to fill leadership roles internally, and 2.8X more likely to outperform financially <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a>. Promotions are also 1.6X more likely to succeed when assessments inform the selection <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>The situation<\/th><th>What the evidence says<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Internal candidate ready<\/td><td>Fills immediately, at no premium, with the shorter ramp of somebody who already knows the group<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Internal candidate named but not ready<\/td><td>Fills after a delay, or does not fill, and the seat goes external anyway<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>No internal candidate<\/td><td>External hire at an 18% to 20% premium and about two years to full speed <a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Assessment used in the decision<\/td><td>Promotion 1.6X more likely to succeed <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of that says never hire externally. There are good reasons to go outside, and the strongest groups do both deliberately. It says the choice should be a real choice, and at present it usually is not. 30% of new CEOs at the world&rsquo;s largest corporations are hired from outside <a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a>. A large share of those appointments happened because the bench was not ready, not because a board genuinely preferred an outsider.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row35 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eef3fc;}.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c34{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c34 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c34\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#194783;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why this matters<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15.5px\">A ready internal candidate fills the seat immediately and at no premium. An unready bench forces a costly, slower external hire nearly every time, and the cost shows up whether or not anybody planned for it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\" id=\"depth\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cs-b06-rings.jpg\" alt=\"Succession planning for hotel groups: most of a leadership bench sits further out than ready now, measured in years\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Key insight<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h6, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h6\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h6 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h6\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h6 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h6\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h6 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h6\">Counting the bench honestly in succession planning for hotel groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In its first succession review, the most useful thing a group can do is count honestly by horizon rather than by title. The result is almost always uncomfortable, and it is almost always the same shape. There is a small center, a thin second ring, and a large outer band of seats with nobody credible attached to them at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That shape is not a failure of the exercise. It is the finding. A group that reports a full bench on first count has usually recorded ambition rather than readiness. It will discover the difference when a seat opens.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h7, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h7\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h7 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h7\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h7 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h7[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h7\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h7 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h7\">Reading the horizons properly<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row40 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c37{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c37 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c37\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib36 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib36\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Ready now<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Means could take the seat this quarter with normal support and would hold it. It is not could survive it, and it is not is the most senior person available. If the honest answer requires a caveat, the person belongs in the next ring.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c39{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c39 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c39\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib38 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib38\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Ready in one to two years<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Is where most of the useful work sits. The gap is specific, it is closable, and there is time to close it. This is the ring that a development budget should be aimed at. It is frequently the ring that gets the least attention because it is neither urgent nor a crisis.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row45 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c42{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c42 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c42\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib41 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib41\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Ready in three to five years<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Is a genuine category, not a polite one. It covers people whose gap is experience that cannot be compressed. The correct action is usually a sequence of assignments rather than a program.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c44{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c44\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib43 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib43\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">No successor named<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Is the ring that should drive the next twelve months.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h23, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h23[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h23\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h23 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h23[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h23\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h23 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h23[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h23\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h23 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h23\">What an honest horizon reading looks like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every seat in it is either a seat that will be filled externally when it opens or a seat where somebody has not yet been willing to make a judgment about a person. Both are decisions, and both are better made deliberately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What makes a succession review honest is not who is on the list. It is this: for each name, what would you tell an owner if that person took the seat next month and it went badly. If the answer is that you would not be surprised, they are not ready now.<\/p>\n<cite>Florian Kittler, Managing Partner, Cornerstone Hospitality<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is worth noting where the industry currently sits on the underlying supply. More than half of hotels report being somewhat or severely understaffed <a href=\"#source-9\">[9]<\/a>. Labor costs are a top concern for 65%, and workforce shortages are named by 42% <a href=\"#source-9\">[9]<\/a>. A separate survey found 65% still reporting shortages <a href=\"#source-8\">[8]<\/a>, with 71% carrying open positions at an average of six to seven per property <a href=\"#source-8\">[8]<\/a>. A bench is built out of a workforce, and the workforce is thin.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row48 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#f8f9fb;}.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c47{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c47 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c47\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#194783;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">What to do<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15.5px\">Count the bench by horizon, not by title, and treat every seat with no successor named as this year&rsquo;s priority, not next year&rsquo;s.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\" id=\"handover\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cs-b06-relay.jpg\" alt=\"Succession planning for hotel groups is a handover with an overlap, not a replacement in a single week\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why this matters<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h8, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h8\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h8 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h8\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h8 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h8[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h8\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h8 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h8\">Why the overlap is the part of succession planning for hotel groups worth paying for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second structural error, after treating the plan as a list, is treating the transition as an event. A seat becomes vacant, a person is appointed, and the person starts. Everything that mattered about the outgoing leader&rsquo;s knowledge of the property, the owner, the team, and the local market leaves the building on their last day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overlap is where the value sits. It is the part groups cut first because it costs money to have two people paid for one seat. That saving is real, and it is usually smaller than what it buys. Set against a breakeven point of up to six months unaided <a href=\"#source-14\">[14]<\/a>, a four to eight week overlap is cheap.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h9\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h9 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h9\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h9 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h9\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h9 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h9\">What a good overlap actually contains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not shadowing, which produces a well informed observer. The successor should be running something real, with the incumbent available rather than in charge. Owner and key account introductions happen in person and with the incumbent&rsquo;s endorsement because a relationship transferred by email is not really transferred. And the team should be told clearly and early who is taking over. Because the alternative is that they work it out from signals and draw their own conclusions in the meantime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other half of the handover is harder to schedule. It is what the incumbent knows that is not written anywhere. Which owner needs a call before a decision rather than after it, where a supplier relationship is personal, and which member of the team is carrying more than their title suggests? None of that is in a handover document; all of it takes weeks to transfer. Its absence is a large share of why capable successors have poor first quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row51 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#fef7ee;}.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c50{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c50 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c50\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#e67e22;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">When the overlap is impossible<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15.5px\">Sometimes the incumbent leaves abruptly, and there is no overlap to have. The substitute is a structured debrief with whoever remains in the first fortnight, aimed specifically at relationships and history rather than process. It is worse than an overlap and much better than nothing. It is rarely done because the fortnight after an unplanned departure is the busiest one.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\" id=\"transfer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cs-b06-tugofwar.jpg\" alt=\"Why succession planning for hotel groups stalls: the property bears the cost and the group receives the benefit\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;overflow:clip;isolation:isolate;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52{background-color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta52 alignwide kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 h1, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 h2, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 h3, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 h4, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 h5, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 h6{color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac53 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_ctac53\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah54\"]{font-style:normal;color:#ffffff;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah54\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah54\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah54 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah54\">Want a second, external read on your bench?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An outside view on candidates who are close to the group tends to surface what an internal review misses.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn55{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn55 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn55\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn56.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn56.kb-button{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn56.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn56.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btnp2598_btn56 kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-inherit kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false wp-block-button__link wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/contact\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Talk to us<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Key insight<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h10, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h10[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h10\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h10 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h10[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h10\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h10 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h10[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h10\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h10 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h10\">The incentive that quietly stops succession planning for hotel and restaurant groups working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every multi property group has the same conversation. Central leadership asks general managers to develop successors. General managers agree in the meeting and do not do it. The behavior is then read as a culture problem, and culture programs are commissioned to address it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not a culture problem. It is an accounting problem, and the general managers are behaving rationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A general manager who develops a strong deputy carries the full cost. There is the time, the tolerated mistakes on a stretch assignment, and the slightly worse month while somebody learns. When that deputy is ready, they move to another property, because that is what a group bench is for. The property loses its strongest performer and starts again. Group level reporting records a successful internal fill. The property records a departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under that arrangement, the property level optimum is to develop nobody and to hire ready made people from other properties. If enough general managers reach that conclusion, and some will, the group ends up with a thin bench and a good deal of internal poaching.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h11, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h11[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h11\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h11 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h11[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h11\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h11 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h11[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h11\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h11 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h11\">What actually changes it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only one thing, which is to make developing people improve the developer&rsquo;s own numbers. The mechanisms vary, and the principle does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">What to do<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row61 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c58{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c58\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib57 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib57\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Count outbound promotions as a property result<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">A general manager who supplies two people to the group bench in a year has produced something the group values. Their review should say so in the same section as occupancy and margin, not in a paragraph at the end.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c60{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c60 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c60\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib59 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib59\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Fund the backfill centrally, not from the property<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">If the property has to absorb both the development cost and the replacement cost, the arithmetic never works. Central funding of the backfill is the single most effective structural change available.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row66 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c63{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c63 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c63\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib62 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib62\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Make the bench visible both ways<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">A general manager who can see which people from other properties are ready for their own vacancies is participating in a market rather than donating to one.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c65{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c65\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib64 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib64\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Say it out loud in the appointment<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">If developing successors is part of the general manager role, it belongs in the brief at appointment and in the first review, not in an annual reminder from the group.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also a personal disincentive worth naming because it goes unspoken. A general manager who builds an obviously ready deputy has created a visible alternative to themselves. Unless the group is explicit that this counts in the manager&rsquo;s favor rather than against them, some proportion of leaders will quietly decline. No policy will detect it when they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">What to do<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h12, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h12[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h12\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h12 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h12[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h12\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h12 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h12[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h12\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"build\" class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h12 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h12\">Building succession planning for hotel groups that holds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Six steps, in order. The order matters because each one is unusable without the one before it.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row71 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c68{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c68\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib67 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib67\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Name the critical seats, and keep the list short<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Seats where a vacancy costs real money inside a quarter. Twelve seats reviewed properly beats sixty reviewed nominally. The short list is what makes the rest of the process affordable.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c70{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c70 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c70\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib69 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib69\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Get an external read on the candidates<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Internal judgment is informed, and it is not neutral, because the people making it also manage the people being judged. Structured interviews are the strongest single predictor of job performance at .42, ahead of job knowledge and work sample tests <a href=\"#source-12\">[12]<\/a>. Promotions are also 1.6X more likely to succeed when assessments inform them <a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row76 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c73{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c73\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib72 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib72\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Write one sentence per person<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">A specific gap, stated in language a sponsor would recognize, is testable in twelve months. If it cannot be written in one sentence, it has not been diagnosed, and whatever gets bought next will be aimed at nothing.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c75{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c75 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c75\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib74 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib74\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Attach an assignment, not a course<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Roughly 70% of development comes from challenging experiences and assignments, 20% from developmental relationships, and 10% from coursework <a href=\"#source-10\">[10]<\/a>. A plan whose entire response to every gap is a training program has funded the smallest lever available.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row81 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c78{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c78\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib77 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib77\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #c8102e\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Connect each candidate&#39;s manager<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Managers account for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement across business units <a href=\"#source-13\">[13]<\/a>, and Korn Ferry finds team climate accounts for up to 31% of the variation in team level engagement <a href=\"#source-15\">[15]<\/a>. A successor returns from every development conversation into a climate their manager sets.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c80{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c80 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c80\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > #kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kadence-info-box-icon-container .kt-info-svg-icon, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-info-svg-icon-flip, #kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-blocks-info-box-number{font-size:50px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-blocks-info-box-media{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-blocks-info-box-media-container{margin-top:0px;margin-right:15px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:15px;}#kt-info-boxp2598_ib79 .kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore{background:transparent;border-width:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top:4px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:8px;margin-top:10px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-boxp2598_ib79\" style=\"border-top:4px solid #194783\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-top kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h3 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Review three times a year, not once<\/h3><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Annual review means a plan is stale for eleven months of every twelve, and in an industry with hospitality&#8217;s turnover, it is stale much faster than that. Three touches a year is the minimum at which a plan reflects reality.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One addition on the second step, because it is where most plans are weakest. The read has to include the people below the candidate as well as above. A leader who is impressive upwards and difficult downwards is a familiar figure in this industry, and they are invisible to a review that only asks their manager. 89% of new hire failures are attributable to attitudinal factors rather than technical skill <a href=\"#source-11\">[11]<\/a>. Given that, the view from below is not a courtesy. It is the most predictive input available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why this matters<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h13, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h13[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h13\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h13 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h13[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h13\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h13 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h13[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h13\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"multi-property\" class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h13 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h13\">What changes for succession planning for hotel groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four things, and each one changes the plan rather than merely making it harder.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h14, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h14[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h14\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h14 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h14[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h14\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h14 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h14[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h14\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h14 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h14\">The clock runs faster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accommodation and food services recorded a monthly quit rate of 4.3% in March 2026, the highest of any industry and nearly double the private sector average of 2.2% <a href=\"#source-6\">[6]<\/a>, and Deloitte finds 76% of hospitality workers and 80% of restaurant workers leave their jobs within a year <a href=\"#source-7\">[7]<\/a>. A plan written against a three year horizon is being written about a population that will substantially have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, this means naming successors earlier and at a lower level than feels comfortable, and accepting that a proportion of the investment walks. That proportion is the cost of having anybody at all on the bench, and groups that refuse to accept it end up with the alternative. This is an external hire at an 18% to 20% premium <a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h15, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h15[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h15\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h15 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h15[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h15\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h15 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h15[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h15\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h15 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h15\">Retention is part of the plan, not a separate initiative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">High potential intention to depart rose from 13% in 2020 to 21% in 2024. High potential talent is 3.7X more likely to leave within a year when their manager does not provide regular growth opportunities <a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a>. Gallup finds 52% of voluntarily exiting employees say their manager or organization could have prevented it. 51% say that in the three months before leaving, nobody spoke with them about job satisfaction or their future <a href=\"#source-5\">[5]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is the same lever twice. Naming somebody as a successor, telling them, and giving them a real assignment is simultaneously a development action and a retention action, and it is close to free. Not telling them, which many groups do deliberately to avoid disappointing the people not named, forfeits both.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h16, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h16[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h16\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h16 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h16[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h16\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h16 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h16[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h16\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h16 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h16\">The standard has to travel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A single property can hold a standard in one leader&rsquo;s head. A group cannot, and a bench built property by property will produce successors who are ready for the property they trained in. The work that makes readiness portable is cross property assignment. That is also the assignment most disruptive to run and therefore the one most often replaced with a course.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h17, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h17[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h17\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h17 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h17[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h17\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h17 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h17[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h17\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h17 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h17\">The sector is growing into the gap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The World Travel and Tourism Council forecasts the sector supporting 376 million jobs worldwide in 2026, one in nine jobs globally. It projects almost 89 million new jobs over the next decade <a href=\"#source-16\">[16]<\/a>. Demand for capable hospitality leaders is not about to ease. Meanwhile, 66% of executives and managers say their most recent hires were not fully prepared, with lack of experience the most common failing <a href=\"#source-7\">[7]<\/a>. The US training expenditure of $102.8 billion allocates just 13% of the average budget to management and supervisory training <a href=\"#source-17\">[17]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing demand, a thin supply of ready leaders, and a small share of budget aimed at the layer that produces them. Groups that fix the third of those will not have to compete quite so hard on the first two.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row84 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eef3fc;}.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c83{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c83 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c83\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#194783;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why this matters<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:15.5px\">A thin, slow moving bench is now competing against faster turnover and a growing sector at the same time. The groups that count the bench honestly and fund development centrally are the ones that will not have to win every hire from outside.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(3, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row88 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-3-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c85{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c85 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c85\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#194783;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Where to start<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/corporate-leadership-development-hotel-groups\/\" style=\"font-weight:700;color:#194783;text-decoration:none\">Corporate Leadership Development for Hotel Groups &#8594;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c86{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c86 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c86\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#194783;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Related reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/building-a-leadership-pipeline-in-hospitality\/\" style=\"font-weight:700;color:#194783;text-decoration:none\">Building a Leadership Pipeline in Hospitality &#8594;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c87{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c87 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c87\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#194783;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Related reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/internal-vs-external-candidate-assessment\/\" style=\"font-weight:700;color:#194783;text-decoration:none\">Internal vs External Candidate Assessment &#8594;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Key insight<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h18, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h18[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h18\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h18 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h18[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h18\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h18 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h18[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h18\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"glossary\" class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h18 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h18\">Glossary<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row90 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#fafbfd;}.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c89{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c89 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c89\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Critical seat.<\/strong> A role where a vacancy would cost real money within a quarter. The list is deliberately shorter than the org chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Readiness horizon.<\/strong> Ready now, ready in one to two years, or ready in three to five. A name without a horizon is an opinion rather than a plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bench strength.<\/strong> The proportion of critical seats with a credible internal successor at a stated horizon. Counted honestly, it is usually thinner than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Overlap.<\/strong> The period where the incumbent and the successor are both in place, the successor running something real. Where most of the handover value sits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Transfer problem.<\/strong> The structural issue where one property bears the cost of developing somebody and another receives the benefit, making it rational at the property level to develop nobody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Backfill.<\/strong> The appointment made to replace somebody who has moved up or across. Funding it centrally rather than from the property is the single most effective fix to the transfer problem.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h19, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h19[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h19\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h19 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h19[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h19\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h19 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h19[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h19\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h19 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h19\">What our clients and candidates say<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row93 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c91{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c91\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Florian played a pivotal role in my career transition within the hospitality industry, combining deep expertise in executive search with a highly strategic advisory approach. Unlike traditional recruiters, he takes the time to truly understand your long term ambitions, challenges your assumptions, and positions you for sustainable leadership success.<\/p>\n<cite>Stefan Savic, Hospitality Professional, Asset Management, Development &amp; Strategy<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c92{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c92 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c92\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-plain is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the years I have worked with Florian and he has continually provided a service second to none. The caliber of individuals he recommends is always spot on, as he ensures that he understands not only the requirements and expectations of a role but also the importance of the success and growth of the business being related to people.<\/p>\n<cite>Daniel Aylmer, Chief Executive Officer, Greater China<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;overflow:clip;isolation:isolate;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94{background-color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta94 alignwide kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 h1, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 h2, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 h3, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 h4, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 h5, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 h6{color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac95 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_ctac95\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah96\"]{font-style:normal;color:#ffffff;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah96\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah96\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah96 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah96\">Ready to build a bench that actually holds?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bring your critical seats and we will help you count the bench honestly, horizon by horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn97{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn97 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn97\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn98.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn98.kb-button{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn98.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn98.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btnp2598_btn98 kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-inherit kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false wp-block-button__link wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/contact\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Talk to us<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#c8102e;font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">What to do<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h20, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h20[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h20\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h20 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h20[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h20\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h20 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h20[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h20\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"faq\" class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h20 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h20\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;color:#194783;margin:28px 0 8px;\">Planning and readiness<\/h4>\n\n\n<style>.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:8px;}.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq .kt-accordion-panel-inner{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{display:block;}.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq .kt-accordion-inner-wrap .kt-accordion-pane:not(:first-child){margin-top:8px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-idp2598_faq kt-accordion-has-4-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basic kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-panep2598_q1\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How often should a succession plan be reviewed?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three times a year at minimum. Annual review leaves the plan stale for eleven months of twelve, and hospitality&rsquo;s 4.3% monthly quit rate <a href=\"#source-6\">[6]<\/a> means the underlying population changes faster than that.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-2 kt-panep2598_q2\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Should we tell people they are named as successors?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally yes. High potential talent is 3.7X more likely to leave within a year when the manager does not provide regular growth opportunities <a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a>, and naming somebody, telling them, and giving them a real assignment is a development action and a retention action at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-3 kt-panep2598_q3\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How many successors should each critical seat have?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least one at ready now or one to two years, and ideally two at different horizons. One name is a single point of failure, and a seat with two credible successors also gives the group a genuine choice rather than a default.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-4 kt-panep2598_q4\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Is it cheaper to promote internally or hire externally?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Internally, on the measured evidence. External hires are paid about 18% to 20% more than comparable internal promotions and take about two years to get up to speed <a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a>. That does not mean never hire externally, only that it should be a choice rather than a consequence of an empty bench.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:16px;font-weight:bold;color:#194783;margin:28px 0 8px;\">Process and pitfalls<\/h4>\n\n\n<style>.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq2 .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:8px;}.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq2 .kt-accordion-panel-inner{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq2 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq2 .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{display:block;}.kt-accordion-idp2598_faq2 .kt-accordion-inner-wrap .kt-accordion-pane:not(:first-child){margin-top:8px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-idp2598_faq2 kt-accordion-has-3-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basic kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-5 kt-panep2598_q5\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Our general managers will not develop successors. What do we do?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Change the accounting rather than the message. A property that develops somebody and loses them to a group move has invested and received nothing, so declining is currently the rational choice. Count outbound promotions as a property result and fund the backfill centrally.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-6 kt-panep2598_q6\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How long should the handover overlap be?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four to eight weeks when it is possible, with the successor running something real rather than shadowing. Set against an unaided breakeven point of up to six months <a href=\"#source-14\">[14]<\/a>, the cost of the overlap is small relative to what it prevents.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-7 kt-panep2598_q7\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">What is the single biggest mistake groups make?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Writing the plan and stopping. If naming somebody as a successor produces no different assignment, no different conversation with their manager, and no different review, the naming was administrative, and the seat will still be filled reactively.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;overflow:clip;isolation:isolate;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{border-top-left-radius:12px;border-top-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-right-radius:12px;border-bottom-left-radius:12px;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99{background-color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_cta99 alignwide kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 h1, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 h2, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 h3, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 h4, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 h5, .kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 h6{color:#ffffff;}.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_ctac100 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_ctac100\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah101\"]{font-style:normal;color:#ffffff;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah101\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah101\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_ctah101 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_ctah101\">Want an honest count of your bench?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A structured read across your critical seats takes about four weeks and tells you where the gaps genuinely are. No commitment, no charge.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn102{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btnsp2598_ctabtn102 .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btnsp2598_ctabtn102\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn103.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn103.kb-button{color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn103.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btnp2598_btn103.kb-button{border-top-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-top-style:solid;border-right-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);border-left-style:solid;}}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btnp2598_btn103 kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-inherit kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false wp-block-button__link wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/contact\/\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Start a confidential conversation<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h21, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h21[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h21\"]{font-style:normal;color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h21 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h21[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h21\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h21 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-headingp2598_h21[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h21\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h21 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h21\">References<\/h3><h4 style=\"font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#0a1a33;margin:0 0 12px;\">Sources 1 and 2: succession readiness and the cost of external hires<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li id=\"source-1\"><em>DDI<\/em>: Succession Planning Best Practices: How to Close the Leadership Readiness Gap: reports that &ldquo;only 20% of HR leaders say they have leaders ready to fill their most critical roles&rdquo; and that &ldquo;80% of organizations lack confidence in their leadership bench&rdquo;, while &ldquo;75% of organizations prioritize internal promotion over external hiring&rdquo; and internal candidates &ldquo;can fill only 49% of critical positions immediately&rdquo;. It also finds promotions are 1.6X more likely to succeed when assessments inform selection, and organizations with strong benches are 2.9X more likely to fill leadership roles internally and 2.8X more likely to outperform financially: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ddi.com\/blog\/succession-planning-best-practices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ddi.com\/blog\/succession-planning-best-practices<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-2\"><em>Knowledge at Wharton<\/em>: Why External Hires Get Paid More, and Perform Worse, than Internal Staff: reports Matthew Bidwell&rsquo;s study &ldquo;Paying More to Get Less: The Effects of External Hiring versus Internal Mobility&rdquo;, published in Administrative Science Quarterly and drawn from personnel data in a US investment banking division from 2003 to 2009. External hires are paid &ldquo;about 18% to 20% more&rdquo; than comparable internal promotions and need &ldquo;about two years to get up to speed&rdquo;, and hiring managers confirm they &ldquo;typically pay 10% or 20% more to pull people out of positions&rdquo; where they already have security: <a href=\"https:\/\/knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu\/article\/why-external-hires-get-paid-more-and-perform-worse-than-internal-staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu\/article\/why-external-hires-get-paid-more-and-perform-worse-than-internal-staff<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 style=\"font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#0a1a33;margin:28px 0 12px;\">References 3 to 5: leadership development, the exodus forecast and replacement cost<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\"><li id=\"source-3\"><em>Harvard Business Review<\/em>: Turning Potential into Success: The Missing Link in Leadership Development: by Claudio Fern&aacute;ndez Ar&aacute;oz, Andrew Roscoe and Kentaro Aramaki, reports that &ldquo;66% of companies invest in programs that aim to identify high potential employees and help them advance&rdquo; while &ldquo;only 24% of senior executives at those firms consider the programs to be a success&rdquo;. It adds that &ldquo;a mere 13% have confidence in the rising leaders at their firms, down from an already low 17% just three years ago&rdquo;, and that at the world&rsquo;s largest corporations &ldquo;a full 30% of new CEOs are hired from the outside&rdquo;: <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2017\/11\/turning-potential-into-success-the-missing-link-in-leadership-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">hbr.org\/2017\/11\/turning-potential-into-success-the-missing-link-in-leadership-development<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-4\"><em>DDI<\/em>: Global Leadership Forecast 2025 Study Signals Looming Leadership Exodus: surveys 10,796 leaders and 2,185 HR professionals across more than 50 countries and 24 industry sectors, reporting 71% of leaders with increased stress, 40% of stressed leaders considering leaving leadership altogether, and trust in immediate managers at &ldquo;just 29%, a 37% decline since 2022&rdquo;. It also records high potential intention to depart rising &ldquo;from 13% in 2020 to 21% in 2024&rdquo;, with high potential talent 3.7X more likely to leave within a year where the manager does not provide regular growth opportunities: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ddi.com\/about\/media\/global-leadership-forecast-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ddi.com\/about\/media\/global-leadership-forecast-2025<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-5\"><em>Gallup<\/em>: This Fixable Problem Costs U.S. Businesses $1 Trillion: establishes that &ldquo;the cost of replacing an individual employee can range from one half to two times the employee&rsquo;s annual salary&rdquo; and describes that as &ldquo;a conservative estimate&rdquo;. It also reports that 52% of voluntarily exiting employees say their manager or organization could have prevented their departure, and 51% say that in the three months before leaving, neither their manager nor any other leader spoke with them about job satisfaction or their future: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gallup.com\/workplace\/247391\/fixable-problem-costs-businesses-trillion.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">gallup.com\/workplace\/247391\/fixable-problem-costs-businesses-trillion<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 style=\"font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#0a1a33;margin:28px 0 12px;\">Sources 6 to 8: hospitality turnover and staffing shortages<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol start=\"6\" class=\"wp-block-list\"><li id=\"source-6\"><em>OysterLink analysis of US Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS data<\/em>: Hospitality Workers Quit at a Higher Rate Than Any Other Industry in the U.S.: establishes that &ldquo;the quit rate for accommodation and food services reached 4.3% in March 2026, the highest among all industries&rdquo; and &ldquo;nearly double the private sector average of 2.2%&rdquo;. Retail trade, the next highest sector, recorded 3.1%, against healthcare at 1.9%, manufacturing at 1.4% and finance at 1.2%. Layoffs in the sector held at 1.3%, matching the national average, so roughly three quarters of separations are people choosing to leave: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/hospitality-workers-quit-at-a-higher-rate-than-any-other-industry-in-the-us---oysterlink-analysis-302765460.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/hospitality-workers-quit-at-a-higher-rate-than-any-other-industry-in-the-us<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-7\"><em>Deloitte<\/em>: Frontline Workforce Trends in Airlines, Hospitality, and Restaurants: reports that &ldquo;80% of restaurant workers and 76% of hospitality workers leave their job within a year&rdquo;, and that &ldquo;66% of executives and managers say most recent hires were not fully prepared, and that lack of experience was the most common failing&rdquo;. It also finds 82% of workers naming feeling happy and engaged at work as the key driver of productivity, and 75% hoping for greater stability in the face of change: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deloitte.com\/us\/en\/Industries\/consumer\/articles\/frontline-workforce-human-capital-trends.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">deloitte.com\/us\/en\/Industries\/consumer\/articles\/frontline-workforce-human-capital-trends<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-8\"><em>American Hotel &amp; Lodging Association<\/em>: 65% of surveyed hotels report staffing shortages: surveys 282 hoteliers between 6 December 2024 and 3 January 2025 with Hireology, finding 65% still reporting shortages, 9% describing themselves as &ldquo;severely understaffed&rdquo; against 13% in May 2024, hotel employment &ldquo;nearly 10% below pre pandemic staffing levels&rdquo;, and 71% carrying open positions at an average of six to seven per property. Housekeeping accounts for 38% of the gaps and front desk 26%, and 72% of respondents say career opportunities in hospitality are better than ever: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahla.com\/news\/65-surveyed-hotels-report-staffing-shortages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ahla.com\/news\/65-surveyed-hotels-report-staffing-shortages<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 style=\"font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#0a1a33;margin:28px 0 12px;\">References 9 to 11: staffing costs, development mix and executive failure rates<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol start=\"9\" class=\"wp-block-list\"><li id=\"source-9\"><em>American Hotel &amp; Lodging Association<\/em>: Rising Cost, Staffing Challenges Persist for Hotels as Travel Demand Expected to Hold Steady: surveys 246 hoteliers in late February 2026 and finds that &ldquo;more than half of respondents report their properties are somewhat or severely understaffed&rdquo;, with labor costs a top concern for 65% and workforce shortages named by 42%. Retention incentives in use include higher wages at 70%, flexible scheduling at 54%, hotel discounts at 54% and enhanced benefits at 31%: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahla.com\/news\/rising-cost-staffing-challenges-persist-hotels-travel-demand-expected-hold-steady\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ahla.com\/news\/rising-cost-staffing-challenges-persist-hotels<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-10\"><em>Center for Creative Leadership<\/em>: The 70-20-10 Rule for Leadership Development: sets out the framework that &ldquo;emerged from over 30 years of our Lessons of Experience research&rdquo;, in which development divides into &ldquo;70% challenging experiences and assignments, 20% developmental relationships, 10% coursework and training&rdquo;. CCL notes the framework is drawn from research spanning China, India, Singapore and the United States and is used across a client base including two thirds of the Fortune 1000: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccl.org\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/70-20-10-rule\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ccl.org\/articles\/leading-effectively-articles\/70-20-10-rule<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-11\"><em>Leadership IQ<\/em>: Executive Failure Rates: reports a longitudinal study of more than 20,000 new hires across 312 organizations, evaluated by 5,247 hiring managers at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, finding that &ldquo;46% of new hires failed within 18 months; only 19% achieved unequivocal success&rdquo; and that 89% of failures were attributable to attitudinal factors against 11% for technical skill. The leading drivers were coachability at 26%, emotional intelligence at 23%, motivation at 17% and temperament at 15%: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leadershipiq.com\/blogs\/leadershipiq\/executive-failure-rates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">leadershipiq.com\/blogs\/leadershipiq\/executive-failure-rates<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 style=\"font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#0a1a33;margin:28px 0 12px;\">Sources 12 to 14: assessment validity, manager impact and transition timing<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol start=\"12\" class=\"wp-block-list\"><li id=\"source-12\"><em>Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology<\/em>: Is Cognitive Ability the Best Predictor of Job Performance? New Research Says It&rsquo;s Time to Think Again: reports the revised operational validity estimates from Sackett and colleagues, in which &ldquo;structured interviews emerged as the strongest predictors of job performance&rdquo; with a mean operational validity of .42, job knowledge and work sample tests follow at .40, .38 and .33, and &ldquo;cognitive ability rounded out this list with a validity estimate of .31&rdquo;. The article explains that earlier meta analytic corrections had systematically inflated these figures: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.siop.org\/tip-article\/is-cognitive-ability-the-best-predictor-of-job-performance-new-research-says-its-time-to-think-again\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">siop.org\/tip-article\/is-cognitive-ability-the-best-predictor-of-job-performance<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-13\"><em>Gallup<\/em>: Managers Account for 70% of Variance in Employee Engagement: states that &ldquo;managers account for at least 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores across business units&rdquo;, drawn from research measuring the engagement of 27 million employees and more than 2.5 million work units over two decades. It also finds about one in 10 people possess high talent to manage, that companies &ldquo;miss the mark on high managerial talent in 82% of their hiring decisions&rdquo;, and that talented managers contribute about 48% higher profit than average managers: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/businessjournal\/182792\/managers-account-variance-employee-engagement.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">news.gallup.com\/businessjournal\/182792\/managers-account-variance-employee-engagement<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-14\"><em>The Future Organization, interview with Michael Watkins<\/em>: The First 90 Days: Strategies for Leaders in Transition: records Watkins stating that &ldquo;unaided the process for leaders to reach the breakeven point can take up to six months&rdquo;, the breakeven point being where a leader contributes as much value as they have consumed. He also observes that &ldquo;most people spend 10 to 15 years in leadership positions before getting any formal leadership training from their organization&rdquo;, with the average leader in their late thirties or early forties before any training at all: <a href=\"https:\/\/thefutureorganization.com\/the-first-90-days-strategies-for-leaders-in-transition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">thefutureorganization.com\/the-first-90-days-strategies-for-leaders-in-transition<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 style=\"font-size:15px;font-weight:bold;color:#0a1a33;margin:28px 0 12px;\">References 15 to 17: leadership climate, sector growth and training investment<\/h4>\n\n\n<ol start=\"15\" class=\"wp-block-list\"><li id=\"source-15\"><em>Korn Ferry Institute<\/em>: Stronger Leadership, Stronger Climate, Better Results: analyzes &ldquo;data from over 2,700 individuals across 541 teams&rdquo; and finds that &ldquo;team climate accounted for up to 31% of the variation in team level engagement&rdquo;. It reports that the right leadership characteristics and team environment &ldquo;can lift engagement scores by up to 42 percentile points&rdquo;, and that leaders scoring high on Presence, Agility and Striving produced team climates &ldquo;approximately 30 percentile points stronger&rdquo; than lower scoring leaders: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kornferry.com\/institute\/stronger-leadership-stronger-climate-better-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">kornferry.com\/institute\/stronger-leadership-stronger-climate-better-results<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-16\"><em>World Travel &amp; Tourism Council<\/em>: Global Travel &amp; Tourism Growth to Outpace Wider Economy by 1.5 Times Over the Next Decade: published 12 May 2026 with research partner Oxford Economics, forecasts that the sector will &ldquo;support 376 million jobs worldwide in 2026, representing one in nine jobs globally&rdquo; and contribute &ldquo;$12TN to the world economy, accounting for 9.9% of global GDP&rdquo;. Over the next decade it projects &ldquo;almost 89 million new jobs globally, accounting for approximately one third of all new jobs expected&rdquo; across the wider economy: <a href=\"https:\/\/wttc.org\/news\/global-travel-tourism-growth-to-outpace-wider-economy-by-1-5-times-over-the-next-decade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">wttc.org\/news\/global-travel-tourism-growth-to-outpace-wider-economy-by-1-5-times-over-the-next-decade<\/a><\/li><li id=\"source-17\"><em>Training magazine<\/em>: 2025 Training Industry Report: records that &ldquo;U.S. training expenditures jumped 4.9 percent to $102.8 billion in 2025&rdquo; and that &ldquo;organizations spent $874 per learner this year compared with $774 per learner in 2024&rdquo;, while average training received fell to &ldquo;40 hours of training per year vs. 47 hours last year&rdquo;. Management and supervisory training took 13 percent of the average budget. The survey covers a weighted universe of 152,572 US companies with 100 or more employees: <a href=\"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/2025-training-industry-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">trainingmag.com\/2025-training-industry-report<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-headingp2598_h22 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-headingp2598_h22\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-idp2598_row106 alignwide wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c104{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c104 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c104\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-thumbnail\" style=\"width:140px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/florian-kittler-square.jpg\" alt=\"Florian Kittler, ISHC, Managing Partner, Cornerstone Hospitality\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-columnp2598_c105{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-columnp2598_c105 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-columnp2598_c105\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span>Written by<\/span><br\/><strong>Florian Kittler, ISHC<\/strong><br\/>Managing Partner, Cornerstone Hospitality, Global Practice Leader, Hospitality, Travel &amp; Leisure<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Florian leads Cornerstone International Group&rsquo;s global Hospitality, Travel &amp; Leisure Practice. He brings seventeen years of senior hospitality experience, including Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Mandarin Oriental, and Shangri-La Hotels &amp; Resorts, and sixteen years in retained executive search. He is bilingual in English and German and works across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/hospitality-executive-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Connect with Florian on LinkedIn &#8594;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How often should a succession plan be reviewed?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Three times a year at minimum. Annual review leaves the plan stale for eleven months of twelve, and hospitality's 4.3% monthly quit rate [6] means the underlying population changes faster than that.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Should we tell people they are named as successors?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Generally yes. High potential talent is 3.7X more likely to leave within a year when the manager does not provide regular growth opportunities [4], and naming somebody, telling them, and giving them a real assignment is a development action and a retention action at the same time.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"How many successors should each critical seat have?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"At least one at ready now or one to two years, and ideally two at different horizons. One name is a single point of failure, and a seat with two credible successors also gives the group a genuine choice rather than a default.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Is it cheaper to promote internally or hire externally?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Internally, on the measured evidence. External hires are paid about 18% to 20% more than comparable internal promotions and take about two years to get up to speed [2]. That does not mean never hire externally, only that it should be a choice rather than a consequence of an empty bench.\"}}, {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Our general managers will not develop successors. What do we do?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Change the accounting rather than the message. A property that develops somebody and loses them to a group move has invested and received nothing, so declining is currently the rational choice. 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If naming somebody as a successor produces no different assignment, no different conversation with their manager, and no different review, the naming was administrative, and the seat will still be filled reactively.\"}}]}<\/script>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Florian Kittler &middot; Managing Partner, Cornerstone Hospitality &middot; ~18 min. read Succession planning for hotel groups turns on incentives more than on lists. Here is what a working plan contains and what quietly works against it. Succession planning for hotel and restaurant groups is a standing answer to one question. If this seat became&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"show","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,32,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cornerstone-blog","category-hospitality","category-leadership-development"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Succession Planning for Hotel and Restaurant Groups<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Most hospitality benches are not ready. 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See what real succession planning for hotel and restaurant groups requires, and the incentive that blocks it.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/de\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cornerstone - Hospitality\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-15T08:02:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-16T21:31:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cs-2598-coaching-one-to-one-crossed-legs.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1360\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Florian Kittler\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Verfasst von\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Florian Kittler\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Gesch\u00e4tzte Lesezeit\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"25\u00a0Minuten\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Florian Kittler\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1b2e0d33096a76bb8c6d56f1cbf49647\"},\"headline\":\"Succession Planning for Hotel and Restaurant Groups\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-15T08:02:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-16T21:31:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":5820,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/cs-2598-coaching-one-to-one-crossed-legs.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Blog\",\"Hospitality\",\"Leadership Development\"],\"inLanguage\":\"de\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/\",\"name\":\"Succession Planning for Hotel and Restaurant Groups\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/succession-planning-hotel-restaurant-groups\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cornerstone-hospitality.global\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/cs-2598-coaching-one-to-one-crossed-legs.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-15T08:02:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-16T21:31:02+00:00\",\"description\":\"Most hospitality benches are not ready. 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With more than 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality and executive search, he partners closely internationally with senior executives, owners, and organizations. Florian holds professional coaching certifications in ICF (ACC) and EMCC (EIA), alongside an AI Manager &amp; Consultant designation, reflecting his commitment to people development and innovative leadership solutions. He is also part of the exclusive ISHC network. He leads cross-border executive searches, executive coaching, and leadership advisory projects for hotel management companies, property owners, and investors, spanning C-suite, board, and emerging AI- and digital-driven roles. 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