About Us
Who We Are | What We Do | How We Work
Who We Are. Tissot Consulting is a leading full-service advisory firm specialising in the hospitality industry across Africa and Big-Europe. Our team of seasoned professionals brings over four decades of collective experience to restaurant and hotel openings, as well as turnarounds for struggling operations. We offer innovative and strategic counsel tailored to each client’s unique needs and vision.
What We Do. We leverage our extensive expertise to help clients create value and mitigate risks in the hospitality sector. Our services include concept development, food and beverage strategies, menu engineering, design and construction oversight, operational optimization, marketing strategy, and staff training. Our diverse team of industry veterans – including former owners, chefs, managers, and marketing experts – brings fresh ideas to breathe life into new concepts and revitalize existing brands, always with a focus on driving bottom-line performance.
How We Work. Our approach adapts to each client’s specific situation. For new ventures, we provide comprehensive guidance through the opening process. In turnaround scenarios, we offer objective analysis and innovative solutions for operational, menu, and marketing challenges. We’re committed to mastering industry dynamics and sharing this knowledge with our clients. Together, we execute projects that balance authenticity with efficiency and profitability, ensuring sustainable success in the competitive hospitality landscape.
Ready to bring your hospitality vision to life? Whether it’s a luxurious hotel, an innovative restaurant, a vibrant nightclub, or a high-end casino, Tissot Consulting has the expertise to turn your concept into a thriving reality – contact us today to start your journey.
Jean Claude Tissot. January 2023.
Jean Claude J Tissot is a seasoned French hospitality executive with a career spanning several decades and multiple continents. Born in the French West Indies on the island of Guadeloupe, Mr Tissot has built a reputation for excellence in hotel and restaurant management across various prestigious brands and establishments.
Mr Tissot is bilingual in French and English, with additional knowledge of Russian and Spanish. He is proficient in various hotel management software systems and is HACCP certified. His expertise spans pre-opening operations, food and beverage management, strategic planning, and financial management in the hospitality industry.
Throughout his extensive career, Jean Claude has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt to various cultural contexts and manage large-scale hospitality operations across different countries and continents, making him a respected figure in the international hospitality industry. His diverse personal interests further enrich his global perspective and contribute to his success in the hospitality field.
President | CEO | Business Owner
The man behind Tissot Consulting
Mr. Tissot and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. December 2022.
Education and Early Career
Tissot’s journey in hospitality began with his education in France. He completed his Baccalauréat at Lycée Geoffroy St Hilaire in Étampes in 1977, followed by a degree in Hospitality Management & Service from INFATH Hotel School in Marseille in 1984.
His commitment to continuous learning led him to attend Cornell University Hotel School in Ithaca, NY, USA from 1989 to 1990, further enhancing his expertise in the field.
Mr Tissot’s professional career began in 1985 as a Food & Beverage Manager at the Oldport Harbor Restaurant in Ithaca, NY, where he managed a 300-seat French restaurant and supervised 40 employees. This role also included overseeing a 70-seat dinner cruise boat and special events, providing him with diverse experience early in his career.
International Experience
Jean Claude’s career is marked by significant international experience. He played a crucial role in the pre-opening and opening of Disneyland Paris, starting as a Complex Manager and rising to the position of Area Food & Beverage Manager from 1991 to 1995. In this role, he managed multiple restaurants serving up to 20,000 guests daily.
His career then took him to Ukraine, where he served as General Manager for San Tori Grimm Group in Kyiv from 1995 to 1998. Here, he managed a large-scale Japanese & Thai style restaurant project with a staff of 100 and an annual turnover of 6.5 million US Dollars.
Mr Tissot’s international journey continued with roles in the United States, including a position as F&B Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in Florida from 1998 to 2001, where he was involved in the pre-opening and opening of the first Ritz-Carlton in Miami Key Biscayne.
Leadership in Diverse Settings
Throughout his career, Mr Tissot has demonstrated adaptability and leadership in various settings. He held General Manager positions with Alliance Hospitality Group in France from 2001 to 2003, managing hotels near Paris. From 2003 to 2007, he served as Director of Food & Beverage at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France, one of the world’s top business schools, managing all F&B activities for a daily guest count of 2500.
His experience extends to unique hospitality environments, such as his role as Director of Operations for Les Iles Paul Ricard in France from 2007 to 2009, where he managed the Ricard family estate, including hotels and F&B outlets on two islands.
Serious Jean Claude Tissot. March 2024.
Recent Career Highlights
In the latter part of his career, Mr Tissot has taken on challenging roles in diverse locations. He served as Operations Manager at D’Lux Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine (2009-2011), and as Resident Manager at the prestigious Donbas Palace Hotel in Donetsk, Ukraine (2011-2012).
From 2012 to 2015, Mr Tissot was the Director of Operations France for Air Culinaire Worldwide, an in-flight catering service, where he successfully increased turnover and profitability.
His most recent positions include various senior management roles in Kenya, Montenegro, Chad, Algeria, Togo, and French Guyana between 2015 and 2021.
His final noted position was as General Manager of Krystal Palace Douala in Cameroon from November 2021 to May 2024, where he oversaw the opening and operations of this 5-star hotel.
Happy Jean Claude Tissot. March 2023.
Jean Claude in a good mood. March 2023.
Jean Claude in a good mood, again. November 2023.
Personal Interests
Outside of his professional life, Tissot has shown a keen interest in sports, particularly football, volleyball, handball, and rugby. He also has a passion for jazz music, having created and developed the first jazz radio program in Ukraine for Super Nova radio station in Kyiv.
Tissot is an avid cinema enthusiast, with a particular fondness for films starring Denzel Washington. His love for the actor’s work reflects his appreciation for powerful performances and compelling storytelling in film.
Music plays a significant role in Tissot’s life beyond his professional endeavors. He possesses an extensive knowledge of singers, bands, and songs across various genres and eras. This deep appreciation for music extends into his leisure activities, where he enjoys DJ-ing in his free time. This hobby not only showcases his vast musical knowledge but also allows him to share his passion with others, creating engaging musical experiences in social settings.
These personal interests in film, music, and DJ-ing complement Tissot’s professional expertise in the hospitality industry, contributing to his well-rounded personality and ability to connect with diverse groups of people. They also reflect his creative side, which likely influences his innovative approaches in his professional roles.
