ABOUT
Kelly O’Connor’s true passion for hospitality and service industry logistics shines through in all of her endeavors and is as noticeable as her trademark smile.
Deeply-Rooted Hospitality Experience
Kelly O’Connor is a hospitality industry service expert with a journey starting in 1991, and experience from coast to coast in the United States. Her roles have ranged from: Host, Server, and Bartender in smaller, neighborhood restaurants to Server Trainer, Bar Manager, and Service Manager in acclaimed dining environments.
Kelly was most recently the Head Bartender at Michelin-starred Bâtard, a modern European casual fine dining restaurant situated in the heart of Tribeca, New York. At Bâtard, she had a knack for converting first-time guests to regulars, with them forfeiting their table reservations to remain seated under her service at the intimate 6-seat bar.
"I am a foodie, and born and bred New Yorker, who treasures the hospitality of a restaurant as much as the quality of the food. There are only a small number of restaurants that fit this bill for me and Bâtard is one of them because of Kelly. Kelly makes you instantly feel at home. Her warmth and enthusiasm is actually visible as she welcomes you and ensures your dining experience is more than you had hoped for (and surprisingly, remembers you when you return a month or two later). My customers all ask to dine at Bâtard, with Kelly, when I am entertaining them...she has certainly helped me raise my customer SAT scores! Kelly truly enjoys her job and her guests."
Regular Guest at Bâtard, Ilene Anderson, Director of the Chief Customer Office at SAP America
She created elevated classic cocktails and spritzes from seasonal ingredients mixed with locally produced spirits. Kelly also collaborated with the chefs to ensure the beverages expertly pair with the seasonally-evolving menu. She has improved the drink revenue over her first year by 26.3% and the second year by 65%. Kelly also ensures that she’s saved the restaurant money by paying close attention to liquor cost, quality control, and inventory.
Kelly also previously worked for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, the industry trailblazer and benchmark for best-in-class service. She was an integral part of the opening of several renowned restaurants, starting as Opening Server and Trainer at Maialino, later promoted to the Opening Service Manager at North End Grill. Prior to this, Kelly was a Server and Trainer in The Bar Room at The Modern for several years.
Kelly’s comprehensive service background allows her to provide pragmatic consultancy in all facets of the dining experience.
Kelly’s Mantra: Enthusiastic, Efficient, and Impeccable Service!
Throughout this journey, Kelly has learned and cultivated the principles for quality service. She emphasizes efficiency, positive and instructive leadership, and suggestive selling — while having a clear focus on seamless and high-level hospitality experiences.
With an appreciation for impeccable dining experiences and atmospheres, Kelly's contagious enthusiasm has helped her employers and colleagues succeed. She is a creative problem-solver who maintains a scrupulous eye on the finer points of food and beverage service while building teams in a positive, friendly, and open environment.
Instilling these Traits in Your Business
After experiencing a successful career in the industry, Kelly has built a business sharing her passion for great service by advising others on how to achieve the same success.
She founded Kelly O'Connor Hospitality Consulting to provide a more positive approach to consulting services. Her objective is to help guide, train, and develop service employees in a more hospitable way and put them on a path to a successful career. Her services help small businesses achieve quality, efficiency, and profitability with remarkable results!