Roger Cline Launches New Consulting Venture: Roundhill Hospitality

ROSLYN HEIGHTS, NY— Former top Andersen consultant, Roger Cline, branched off on his own and created a new consulting firm, Roundhill Hospitality, which is expected to attract some big-name hospitality clients. Based in a New York suburb, Roundhill Hospitality (www.roundhillhospitality.com), which launched last month, plans to reap the benefits of Cline’s more than 30 years of industry consulting experience with clients that included Cendant Corp., Choice Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Mandarin Oriental and Six Continents— to name a few. The venture’s new chairman/CEO, said Roundhill is poised to build on his industry experience, and that the firm has already lined up several hospitality clients. “All relationships are confidential,” he noted, but he did add that the industry can expect to see Roundhill working with “many of the client’s I’ve served in the past.” In-house, Cline said, “our [consulting]team is building,” and he alluded to the fact that Roundhill is currently working to attract other top industry consultants to sign on. “Will I take some of my friends with me? I’d say, watch out for future announcements [from Roundhill],” he remarked. Given the recent Eron scandal, Arthur Andersen has lost most of its hotel clients— Marriott, Starwood, and Hilton, among others, have all replaced the firm as its auditor; and sources recently told HOTEL BUSINESS® that the firm’s hospitality division was dissolved. This could open a door for new consulting firms looking for travel-related business. Cline, however, showed no ill feelings towards large consulting firms, like Andersen, where he served as director of hospitality consulting services from 1993 to 2002. In fact, he stated that, “I have respect for large firms. Having come from one myself, I feel they do a tremendous job on a global basis.” But Cline went on to add that, “In today’s environment, specialty consulting firms can provide similar services on a more dedicated and personalized basis.” Roundhill offers its hospitality clients a number of services including strategy, market analysis, customer relationship management, distribution, organization, asset management, growth and development, capital and property markets, and litigation support. Cline noted that his new venture will target clients in every segment of the industry from hospitality companies and hotels to financial institutions, public sector agencies, law firms, and investment banks. “Even in a down economic cycle, consultants are still needed to do work, just a different type of work,” he said. “I expect in the next year, Roundhill will grow significantly with an established reputation.”