Comprehensive support in opening a new property – from operational strategy and procedure development, through the choice of systems and tools, to team recruitment and the first months of operation. Good preparation does not eliminate the emotion. It eliminates the chaos.
Opening a hotel is one of the most demanding moments in a property's life. Mistakes made at this stage have long-term consequences – operational, financial and reputational. A poorly chosen PMS, an unprepared team, delayed equipment deliveries, a lack of procedures – each of these can extend the property's ramp-up by months.
Our role in the pre-opening is full-time or advisory – depending on the client's needs. We can run the entire pre-opening as an interim management team, or we can support your team in selected areas – operational strategy, systems selection, recruitment, SOP development, training. Whatever the model, the goal is the same: an opening in which chaos has been replaced by predictability.
We support both investors launching their first property and experienced operators opening another hotel. The common denominator: time pressure, quality pressure and the need for an experienced partner.
You are opening your first hotel and need a partner to lead the pre-opening end to end – from operational strategy to the first months of operation. Studio Alpina takes full operational responsibility.
You are delivering a property to hand over to an operator, or introducing a hotel under your own brand. We support the preparation of the property for handover and the first months of operation.
Your management team needs support to open another property in the portfolio in parallel. We provide interim management and support in selected pre-opening areas.
You are introducing your own brand into an independent property. We accompany the process of implementing the brand standards, training and operational procedures.
A hotel pre-opening is a multi-threaded, multi-month process. Below is the scope in which we most often support clients. Each element can be delivered comprehensively or selectively.
An action plan for the 9–18 months before opening. A schedule of deliveries, recruitment, training, systems rollout, soft opening and grand opening.
Close collaboration with the design team throughout the project cycle – from the detailed brief, through coordination of trades, to handovers.
Support in selecting operational equipment, oversight of timely delivery and quality. An FF&E and OS&E list appropriate to the property's category.
Price negotiations, support during rollout, integrations.
Support in recruiting the General Manager, Front Office Manager, F&B Manager, Executive Chef and Head of Sales. A network of industry referrals.
A pre-opening training programme – systems operation, service standards, emergency procedures, brand standards. Soft opening and trial runs.
A full SOP package for all departments – Front Office, Housekeeping, F&B, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Engineering. Adapted to the property's specifics.
Accompanying the team through the first 3–6 months of operation – calibrating procedures, operational corrections, mentoring the management.
We organise the pre-opening in a way that minimises the risk of delays and eliminates the typical pitfalls of a first opening. Each stage has clearly defined milestones.
Brief, project audit, development of the operational strategy and the pre-opening schedule (9–18 months before opening).
Selection and rollout of hotel systems, selection and delivery of FF&E / OS&E, technology integrations.
Recruitment of key team members, development of the organisational structure, HR policy.
Development of SOPs, training programmes, brand standards. Trial runs and mystery shopping before opening.
Soft opening, grand opening, operational supervision over the first 3–6 months, post-launch corrections.
An opening backed by solid preparation – because although no hotel starts without a few stumbles, the difference between a good and a bad opening lies precisely in what was done beforehand. Less chaos, faster reactions and a shorter time to full operational performance.
The hotel reaches full operational performance in 3–6 months rather than 12–18. This translates directly into a faster return on investment.
Procedures, systems and the team are ready before the first guest. Trial runs and the soft opening eliminate the typical pitfalls of opening day.
Recruitment, training and onboarding planned well in advance. The team knows the property, the systems and the standards before the first guest crosses the threshold.
Experience from dozens of openings in the Marriott, Starwood, Vienna House and IHG chains – brought to the Polish market without corporate templates.
We have supported a dozen or so properties in Poland with strategy and concept – from boutique city hotels to large leisure resorts. Below are three examples in which the concept stage proved decisive.
Comprehensive support in opening a boutique chain hotel in the centre of Kraków – from the operational structure to the rollout of brand standards.
Pre-opening of a conference and hotel property: recruitment of the key team, operational procedures and a MICE sales strategy.
Operational support and rollout of service standards for a mountain hotel – from the F&B concept to the first months of operation.
Have other questions? Write to us – we'll be glad to talk about your project.
Ideally – 12–18 months before the planned opening date. That gives time for strategic decisions (PMS, brand standards, staffing structure), a calm recruitment of key positions and a solid rollout of procedures. A pre-opening started 3–6 months before opening is already an emergency mode.
Yes. We work both in a full interim management model (Studio Alpina runs the entire pre-opening as the Pre-Opening Team) and in an advisory support model (selected areas, specific topics).
We are not tied to any vendor. We base our recommendations on the property's specifics, business model and scale. We work with Opera Cloud, Mews, Protel, Profitroom, Apaleo. For POS – Symphony, Lightspeed, R-Keeper. The decision is always made in dialogue with the client.
Yes – especially in recruiting key positions: GM, Front Office Manager, F&B Manager, Executive Chef, Head of Sales. We have a broad network of industry contacts and years of experience in assessing candidates for leadership roles.
An open, operating hotel with a trained team, working systems, a complete set of SOPs, implemented service standards and full operational documentation. In the first months after opening we accompany the team.
Yes. We handle most projects in Poland, but the Studio Alpina team has led hotel openings within international chains. Working languages: Polish, English, German, Italian.
Every hotel project begins with a conversation. Tell us about your needs – we'll reply within 24 hours.
Every project begins with a conversation. Write to us or give us a call – we reply within 24 hours.