Michael Colvin

Atlanta,GA

Summary

I am a passionate and innovative hospitality executive with 20 years of progressive leadership. My career journey spans across multiple branded hotels, as well as tech-enabled Apart-Hotel startups. I have a proven track record of success, overseeing national portfolios and leading large, multi-market teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences, operational excellence, and owner returns. I have partnered my years of on-the-ground operational expertise with a data-driven, systems-oriented mindset to scale performance through technology, AI, and centralized efficiency. Recognized for hands-on leadership, strategic problem-solving, and the ability to blend hospitality tradition with modern innovation, I am passionate about disrupting the status quo of hospitality.

Work History

Director of Operations (Corporate)

Mint House

Supported the post-acquisition integration of Locale Hospitality, aligning operational standards, technology systems, and leadership structures across a combined national portfolio.
Tasked with streamlining operational processes to enhance efficiency across departments.
Directly oversee six key markets and multiple market leaders, ensuring a seamless guest experience, consistent brand delivery, and market-level profitability.
Led the restructuring of market leadership teams, building a unified, high-performing operations culture focused on accountability, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.
Partner with executive leadership to optimize centralized services (guest care, housekeeping, maintenance coordination), and implement scalable, AI-enhanced tools to reduce costs and improve response times.
Use a hands-on operational approach, visiting markets regularly to assess property performance, identify root causes of operational challenges, and implement actionable solutions.
Analyzed performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and drive continuous growth.
Spearheaded technology integration efforts, enhancing data management and reporting capabilities.

Director of Operations (Corporate)

Locale Hospitality

Oversaw end-to-end operations for a rapidly expanding portfolio across multiple U.S. Markets, as well as our virtual Guest Care team, which drove consistent performance in guest satisfaction, NOI, and owner relations.
Designed and implemented tech-forward systems to automate operational workflows. These operational automations led to case studies, podcast invites, and invitations to speak on the innovation of technology in hospitality, and numerous conferences.
Project-managed expansion from LOI to launch, overseeing site readiness, staffing, and post-opening stabilization to ensure a successful market ramp-up.
Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by training market leaders to leverage analytics and KPI dashboards for performance tracking and problem-solving.
Fostered a culture of collaboration and communication among team members by restructuring our communication methods, adding structure to leadership calls, and launching "Hot Topic," our weekly internal podcast.
Identified opportunities for cost reduction and process improvement, implementing changes that resulted in significant savings and a reduction in staffing dependency.

Regional Operations Manager / Market General Manager

The Guild

Led operations for six locations across five cities, managing diverse asset types, including multi-family and hotel properties.
Oversaw all aspects of new market launches, from construction coordination and lease-ups to guest experience design, and on-site team hiring.
Drove property-level profitability by streamlining workflows, optimizing staffing models, and ensuring brand consistency across markets.
Identified and resolved operational inefficiencies, driving improvements in service delivery and customer satisfaction.
Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts to ensure optimal service levels and cost-effectiveness.

General Manager / Director of Operations

Kimpton Hotels

Led the property from last place in OSAT for the company to top 10 within six months and maintained strong, consistent performance.
Directed daily operations for full-service hotels, consistently achieving or exceeding revenue forecasts and flow-through targets.
Strengthened owner trust through transparent reporting and proactive asset management, balancing operational excellence with financial discipline.
Implemented process efficiencies that reduced expenses, while enhancing service quality and employee engagement.
Mentor department heads, guiding performance improvement, and staff development strategies.
Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability. Including partnering with a non-profit for an amenity offering that went viral, "Puppies & Prosecco," which garnered over five hundred million hits.

Director of Operations / Director of Rooms

Marriott Hotel

Led award-winning teams, ranked top 3 in Guest Satisfaction & Cleanliness across the Americas.
Oversaw room operations, guest services, and housekeeping, driving continuous improvement in productivity and service metrics.
Worked with the Six Sigma Lean Team to implement cost-saving initiatives that improved overall profitability.
Served as systems champion for enterprise technology rollouts, ensuring successful adoption and optimization across property teams.
Maintained full accountability for budget adherence, guest experience, and operational excellence.

Skills

Operational efficiency with a focus on tech automations
Strategic planning and execution
Cost control

Employee development and engagement
Organizational structuring and scale
Proficient in multiple PMS and CRM platforms

Websites

Awards

Gunter Stannius Award of Excellence

Leader of the Year X2

Leader of the Quarter X2

Best in Class Leadership Engagement Award

Timeline

Director of Operations (Corporate)

Mint House

Director of Operations (Corporate)

Locale Hospitality

Regional Operations Manager / Market General Manager

The Guild

General Manager / Director of Operations

Kimpton Hotels

Director of Operations / Director of Rooms

Marriott Hotel