About Us
Opening a new restaurant, bar or liquor store can be a time consuming venture. H.O.S.T. Consulting provides our clients with assistance from the beginning to the end of their projects. Let us manage all aspects of your licence applications, while you deal with the other aspects of the project, including lease arrangements, staffing and construction.
H.O.S.T has over 25 years in the hospitality industry. Our staff has worked and managed licensed establishments as well as with the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch and understands the challenges faced by business owners. Our experience working in government has given us extensive knowledge and understanding of the local and provincial government rules and laws around liquor licensing. Our relationships with staff in local and provincial government departments assists us in providing you with the answers you need to achieve licensing success.
H.O.S.T. Consulting will manage the often complicated licensing processes for you, saving you time and money, getting you the liquor licensing you need, when you need it!
Who We Are
Rick Erdman ~ President
Rick founded H.O.S.T. Consulting after 22 years with the Government of B.C. The last five of which was as a liquor inspector in the City of Vancouver with Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. A former owner/ operator of restaurants and pubs, Rick is well versed in the many challenges faced by operators of hospitality businesses in BC. His over 20 years of experience with all aspects of liquor licensing and the hospitality industry and over 1000 successful liquor license applications, make Rick uniquely qualified to handle the many challenges our clients confront.
Stephen Barron ~ Managing Partner
A former liquor inspector with the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch of B.C., Stephen joined H.O.S.T. in 2008. He is well versed in all aspects of liquor licensing, including compliance and enforcement issues and has been assisting clients in every aspect of licensing from relocating liquor primary licenses to new applications for food or liquor primary licenses and everything in between.
John Davidson
John joined H.O.S.T. in 2009 after a 35-year career in policing. During the last 6 years, at the rank of Inspector, John developed operational, risk management and emergency/ disaster management plans and has extensive experience working with liquor compliance issues. John’s extensive contacts with the policing and security industry have proven invaluable for H.O.S.T.’s clients in providing the tools to address allegations of non-compliance and other concerns.
Bob Aardal
Bob has successfully managed hotels, bars, nightclubs and LRS’s. Bob specializes in assisting licensees in reworking their establishments through changes in inventory controls, operational standards and staff management.
Bob has provided management consulting services to many of H.O.S.T.’s clients, providing systems to address establishment issues and creating efficiencies while boosting profits.