Meet Team STEPS

The People Behind the Progress

We partner with hospitality owners, operators, and tourism organizations to turn complexity into clarity and strategy into measurable results.

President & Founder

Jared Sissons

With extensive experience running resort and hotel operations, Jared understands firsthand the operational, financial, and leadership challenges facing hospitality businesses. He has led teams, optimized operations, improved profitability, and elevated guest experiences, bringing a practical, operator's mindset to every engagement. His advisory approach is grounded in real-world execution, not theory.

Having served as Board Chair of Tourism Squamish and Board Chair of Destination Osoyoos, Jared also brings senior-level governance and destination leadership experience. In these roles, he guided organizations through strategic planning, organizational change, and stakeholder alignment, working closely with industry partners, municipalities, and community leaders to strengthen destination competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

Through STEPS Hospitality Consultants, Jared helps hospitality organizations sharpen strategy, build high-performing teams, and navigate an evolving tourism landscape with confidence. Known for his clear thinking, collaborative leadership style, and results-focused approach, Jared delivers practical solutions that create lasting value for both operators and destinations.

The Practice

Operators, technologists, and strategists, one bench.

Maryse LaRocque

Executive Vice President, Marketing, Branding & Strategic Development

Maryse LaRocque serves as Executive Vice President, Marketing, Branding & Strategic Development for STEPS Hospitality Consultants, advising hospitality, tourism, and destination organizations on strategic growth, brand positioning, guest experience, and partnership development. Drawing on more than 25 years of international experience, she helps clients identify opportunities, create distinctive market positions, and develop experiences that drive long-term business value.

Maryse has advised luxury travel operators, boutique hospitality brands, destinations, fine dining establishments, and tourism stakeholders throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Her expertise spans luxury travel, destination promotion, concept development, experience design, branding, and strategic partnerships, helping clients transform ideas into memorable hospitality offerings that resonate with guests and stand out in competitive markets.

Kevin Davison

Vice President Operations Eastern Canada

Kevin Davison serves as Vice President of Operations, Eastern Canada, advising hotel owners and operators on strategies that strengthen operational performance, elevate guest experience and improve financial outcomes. With a disciplined, hands-on approach, Kevin works directly with ownership groups and property leadership teams to identify operational opportunities that drive measurable results.

Kevin brings more than 30 years of hospitality leadership experience across branded hotel environments and large-scale residential hospitality operations. Throughout his career, he has overseen complex operations including revenue performance, guest service standards, team development, and budget management.

Asif Kara

Vice President Asset Management & Property Development

Asif Kara is a hospitality-driven real estate executive known for elevating guest experiences, optimizing operations, and creating welcoming, high-performing environments. He began his career in hospitality, where he developed a strong foundation in service excellence, brand culture, and customer experience.

Today, Asif applies his hospitality mindset to the strategic management of real estate portfolios, guiding development, leasing, and asset management with a focus on people, place, and long-term value.

Jean Marc Guillamot Sr.

Hospitality Consultant, Operations and Crisis Management

Jean-Marc is a bilingual hospitality executive with over 40 years of experience in hotel operations, multi-property leadership, and asset performance across Canada. He brings a wealth of expertise in operational turnarounds, organizational alignment, and performance optimization in both urban and resort settings.

Having successfully led organizations through major crisis events, including the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires and 2020 floods, Jean-Marc offers a practical, experience-based perspective on leadership, resilience, and decision-making in high-pressure environments. He is the author of Leadership Through Hell and High Water.

David Kimmel

Hospitality Technologist Consultant

David brings over 30 years of industry experience, most recently serving as Director of Technology for Atlific Hotels. He specializes in supporting hotel owners and management companies through complex, high-stakes initiatives, including new builds, major renovations, system upgrades, and brand conversions.

David's expertise is particularly valuable in navigating the technical requirements of global brands such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Wyndham, alongside cybersecurity, PCI DSS compliance, and business continuity frameworks.

Megan Watters

Revenue Management Consultant

Megan Watters brings a strong background in hotel revenue management, strategic forecasting, pricing optimization, and operational performance to STEPS Hospitality Consultants. She has developed a reputation for delivering data-driven strategies that help properties maximize revenue, improve profitability, and strengthen overall business performance.

At STEPS, Megan works closely with hotel owners and operators to develop customized revenue management solutions tailored to each property's unique goals and market conditions.

Sohaib Abubakar

AI Solutions & Digital Transformation Consultant

As an AI Solutions & Digital Transformation Consultant, Sohaib brings extensive experience helping organizations leverage technology to improve operational efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance customer experiences.

Working alongside the STEPS team as an independent consultant, Sohaib supports hotel owners and operators in identifying operational inefficiencies and developing practical AI-powered solutions tailored to their unique business needs.

Zukhruf Sarwar

AI Strategy & Business Transformation Consultant

STEPS Hospitality Consultants works with Zukhruf Sarwar, an independent AI strategy and business transformation consultant whose expertise includes digital transformation, customer experience optimization, operational analytics, and enterprise technology consulting.

With STEPS, Zukhruf helps hotel owners and management teams identify opportunities where AI and automation can improve operations, increase efficiency, and support long-term business goals.

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