A brief Coffee Table Chat | Trust & tenacity
One-on-One with Juan Breiding
For Juan Breiding, building a brand from the ground up is not just familiar—it’s invigorating. His first year at Experiential Hospitality reaffirmed a core belief: that transparency, persistence, and purpose are essential to creating something that lasts.
From valuing realistic financial projections to embracing the joy of devising meaningful guest experiences, Juan brings a grounded yet passionate lens to the journey. Whether navigating investor conversations or co-creating with his teammates, his reflections reveal a deep respect for the process—and for the privilege of shaping moments that leave a lasting impact.
1. LOOKING BACK AT YOUR FIRST YEAR WITH EXPERIENTIAL HOSPITALITY, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST UNEXPECTED LESSON OR CHALLENGE THAT SHAPED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE COMPANY’S VISION AND OPERATIONS?
One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned is the critical role that financial transparency plays in aligning our vision with long-term operational integrity. Early on, I gained a deeper appreciation for how pro forma financials are not just planning tools, but reflections of our strategic intent, discipline, and credibility. When projections are grounded in reality—supported by sound market data and a clear understanding of operational capabilities—they serve as a solid foundation for trust, both internally and with external partners.
2. EXPERIENTIAL HOSPITALITY IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION AS A STARTUP REDEFINING OUTDOOR HOSPITALITY. OVER THE PAST YEAR, HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE SHAPED YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD A BRAND THAT STANDS OUT IN THIS INDUSTRY?
I have been fortunate to experience the thrill of building a brand from scratch before, and this time, it’s just as exciting as the first. It’s like working with an open canvas. I’m lucky to be alongside teammates who are knowledgeable, passionate, and hard-working professionals. We each bring different talents to the table, and we push hard to make things happen.
In my professional life, I have learned the “secret sauce” from great leaders I was fortunate to cross paths with, Henry and Miguel Purcell.
At a young age, they taught me to always look after your guests, your collaborators, and Mother Nature. I’ve always believed that I work in an industry whose goal is to make people happy. How wonderful is that? And how lucky am I?
Of course, I want to make a profit; you can’t exist without one, but making people happy is such a fulfilling pursuit.
Only time will tell if we stand out among so many great competitors. I think the journey ahead will be challenging but deeply rewarding. We aim to create something that meets the highest standards, and providing great experiences is truly a privilege. I believe we are onto something great.
3. IF YOU COULD SHARE ONE DEFINING MOMENT FROM THIS PAST YEAR THAT REAFFIRMED YOUR DECISION TO BE PART OF THIS COMPANY, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
It has been a challenging journey, filled with moments that tested our hope. One defining moment was presenting our business model to a new investor and witnessing their positive response to our case, our combined experience, and our persistence. Nothing in this world can substitute persistence; it is a powerful force, and when paired with determination, it becomes unstoppable.
