Will Guidara

The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Unreasonable Hospitality

The inspiring, bestselling guide to the essential lessons in service and leadership from the former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

At just twenty-six years old, Will Guidara took charge of Eleven Madison Park: a struggling New York City two-star brasserie that had never lived up to its breathtaking room. Eleven years later, it was named the best restaurant in the world.

How did Guidara pull off this unprecedented transformation?

Radical reinvention, a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room – and memorable, over-the-top, bespoke hospitality.

From surprising a family, who had never seen snow, with a magical sledding trip through Central Park, to filling a private dining room with sand and mai-tais to console a couple with a cancelled holiday trip, Guidara's leadership philosophy has empowered his team to think and act differently.

The lasting impact was felt behind the scenes. where they learnt:

    How to deliver praise and criticism with intention
    Why the solution to the toughest business challenges is often to give more, not less
    How real magic happens when every employee starts thinking like an owner


Now in Unreasonable Hospitality, Guidara shows us that every business can choose to be a hospitality business – and how we can all transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences.

Packed with vivid stories from the world’s most celebrated restaurants, and featuring industry icons such as Daniel Boulud and Danny Meyer, Unreasonable Hospitality is an essential read for anyone who wants to lead with generosity, build exceptional teams, and create work that truly matters.

Recommendation from my manager at work. This was an interesting read and I never really knew how high end restaurants operated, so this was a new experience. Took away some good pointers on caring about how what you do and your choices make others feel, and how to think about creating magical experiences for others and your team.

Unreasonable Hospitality The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

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