Career
Twenty-eight years, one industry.
From a first F&B floor in 2001 to the GM's office and back. Scroll through twelve roles across South Africa, the Maldives, and Europe. Gaps between titles are confidential advisory engagements.
- Present
Full-time Consulting
Francois Briel Hospitality Consulting · Independent · Cape Town, South Africa
Jun 2026 to Present · Current
Cape Town · Remote & on-site
- Advising hotel owners, operators, and asset managers on hospitality strategy, openings, and turnaround.
- Executive recruitment for senior hospitality roles at an 8% placement fee.
PresentFull-time Consulting
Francois Briel Hospitality Consulting · Independent · Cape Town, South Africa
Jun 2026 to Present · Current
Cape Town · Remote & on-site
- Advising hotel owners, operators, and asset managers on hospitality strategy, openings, and turnaround.
- Executive recruitment for senior hospitality roles at an 8% placement fee.
- 1 yr 7 mos
Group Director of Hospitality
The Homestead · Full-time · 4 yrs 8 mos at the group
Nov 2024 to Jun 2026 · 1 yr 7 mos
South Africa · On-site
- Promoted through three roles inside the group, from F&B Manager to Group Director.
- Hospitality strategy, brand standards, and commercial performance across the portfolio.
Earlier roles in the group
- 02
Group Director of Food & Beverage
Jul 2024 to Nov 2024 · 5 mos · South Africa
- 03
Food and Beverage Manager
Oct 2021 to Jul 2024 · 2 yrs 10 mos · Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Group Director of Hospitality
The Homestead · Full-time · 4 yrs 8 mos at the group
Nov 2024 to Jun 2026 · 1 yr 7 mos
South Africa · On-site
- Promoted through three roles inside the group, from F&B Manager to Group Director.
- Hospitality strategy, brand standards, and commercial performance across the portfolio.
Earlier roles in the group
- 02
Group Director of Food & Beverage
Jul 2024 to Nov 2024 · 5 mos · South Africa
- 03
Food and Beverage Manager
Oct 2021 to Jul 2024 · 2 yrs 10 mos · Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
1 yr 7 mos - 11 months
Consulting · under NDA
Nov 2020 to Oct 2021 · 11 mos
Confidential advisory work for hotel ownership during the post-lockdown recovery.
11 monthsConsulting · under NDA
Nov 2020 to Oct 2021 · 11 mos
Confidential advisory work for hotel ownership during the post-lockdown recovery.
- Returned to operations
Food and Beverage Manager
Radisson Blu · Full-time
Sep 2019 to Nov 2020 · 1 yr 3 mos
- Operational F&B leadership through a period of unprecedented disruption.
- Cost discipline and team retention under reduced occupancy.
Food and Beverage Manager
Radisson Blu · Full-time
Sep 2019 to Nov 2020 · 1 yr 3 mos
- Operational F&B leadership through a period of unprecedented disruption.
- Cost discipline and team retention under reduced occupancy.
Returned to operations - Two years in the Maldives
Director of Food & Beverage
Velassaru Maldives · Full-time
Jul 2017 to Sep 2019 · 2 yrs 3 mos
Maldives
- F&B direction across multiple outlets at a 5★ private-island resort.
- International team leadership, menu development, and guest experience standards.
Two years in the MaldivesDirector of Food & Beverage
Velassaru Maldives · Full-time
Jul 2017 to Sep 2019 · 2 yrs 3 mos
Maldives
- F&B direction across multiple outlets at a 5★ private-island resort.
- International team leadership, menu development, and guest experience standards.
- 6 months
Consulting · under NDA
Mar 2017 to Sep 2017 · 6 mos
Independent F&B consulting for hotel and restaurant clients.
Consulting · under NDA
Mar 2017 to Sep 2017 · 6 mos
Independent F&B consulting for hotel and restaurant clients.
6 months - First general manager seat
General Manager
TRUTH. Coffee Roasting · Full-time
Sep 2015 to Mar 2017 · 1 yr 7 mos
Cape Town, Western Cape
- Led one of Cape Town's most internationally recognised coffee brands.
- Operations, retail, roastery, and brand stewardship.
First general manager seatGeneral Manager
TRUTH. Coffee Roasting · Full-time
Sep 2015 to Mar 2017 · 1 yr 7 mos
Cape Town, Western Cape
- Led one of Cape Town's most internationally recognised coffee brands.
- Operations, retail, roastery, and brand stewardship.
- 6 months
Consulting · under NDA
Mar 2015 to Sep 2015 · 6 mos
Confidential interim work between resort and city engagements.
Consulting · under NDA
Mar 2015 to Sep 2015 · 6 mos
Confidential interim work between resort and city engagements.
6 months - Two years at Zimbali
Director of Food & Beverage
Fairmont Zimbali Lodge and Resort · Full-time
Mar 2013 to Mar 2015 · 2 yrs 1 mo
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
- F&B direction across lodge and resort outlets within a five-star international brand.
- Banqueting, restaurants, bars, and in-room dining under one P&L.
Two years at ZimbaliDirector of Food & Beverage
Fairmont Zimbali Lodge and Resort · Full-time
Mar 2013 to Mar 2015 · 2 yrs 1 mo
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
- F&B direction across lodge and resort outlets within a five-star international brand.
- Banqueting, restaurants, bars, and in-room dining under one P&L.
- Three years in Joburg
General Manager
Lekgotla Restaurant · Full-time
Mar 2010 to Feb 2013 · 3 yrs
Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Whole-business leadership of a destination restaurant in central Johannesburg.
- Concept stewardship, financial performance, and team development.
General Manager
Lekgotla Restaurant · Full-time
Mar 2010 to Feb 2013 · 3 yrs
Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Whole-business leadership of a destination restaurant in central Johannesburg.
- Concept stewardship, financial performance, and team development.
Three years in Joburg - Almost five years at Southern Sun
Food and Beverage Manager
Southern Sun Hotels · Full-time
Mar 2005 to Nov 2009 · 4 yrs 9 mos
South Africa
- Multi-property F&B operations across one of South Africa's largest hotel groups.
- Banqueting volume, restaurant performance, and cost control at scale.
Almost five years at Southern SunFood and Beverage Manager
Southern Sun Hotels · Full-time
Mar 2005 to Nov 2009 · 4 yrs 9 mos
South Africa
- Multi-property F&B operations across one of South Africa's largest hotel groups.
- Banqueting volume, restaurant performance, and cost control at scale.
- One year at The Vineyard
Restaurant Manager
The Vineyard Hotel · Full-time
Mar 2004 to Mar 2005 · 1 yr 1 mo
Cape Town, Western Cape
- Restaurant floor leadership at a long-established Cape Town property.
Restaurant Manager
The Vineyard Hotel · Full-time
Mar 2004 to Mar 2005 · 1 yr 1 mo
Cape Town, Western Cape
- Restaurant floor leadership at a long-established Cape Town property.
One year at The Vineyard - Where it started
Assistant Food & Beverage Manager
Sun International · Full-time
May 2001 to Mar 2004 · 2 yrs 11 mos
Cape Town, Western Cape
- First management role inside a major South African hotel group.
- Grounding in operations, service standards, and the realities of the F&B floor.
Where it startedAssistant Food & Beverage Manager
Sun International · Full-time
May 2001 to Mar 2004 · 2 yrs 11 mos
Cape Town, Western Cape
- First management role inside a major South African hotel group.
- Grounding in operations, service standards, and the realities of the F&B floor.
Today
The next chapter is independent.
Francois Briel Hospitality Consulting works with hotel owners, operators, asset managers and anyone in the hospitality business who want a consultant who has done the job.