Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide

Put the ideas of the New York Times bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality into action with this beautifully illustrated, interactive companion guide from Will Guidara, former co-owner of the legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

With his book Unreasonable Hospitality, Will Guidara issued a compelling invitation: "No matter what business you're in, you can make the choice to be in the hospitality industry." His lessons about service and leadership celebrated the one principle that never goes out of season: the human desire to be taken care of.

If Unreasonable Hospitality is the why, then The Field Guide is the how.

This practical, step-by-step journal offers a clear roadmap for applying Guidara’s lessons in real life, helping you turn generous thinking into consistent action. Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Build and lead your team with consistency, integrity--and yes, hospitality
• Develop a culture of hospitality with five essential components--excellence, communication, collaboration, feedback, and repair--and the systems that will keep those values front and centre
• Create bespoke gestures with the power to transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences--as well as how to create a ready-made toolkit of simple, repeatable actions that still feel personal

Featuring deeply personal stories, his own as well as those of readers he's encountered, the book is packed with practical exercises that are as relevant to the CEO of a Fortune 500 as they are to the ambitious intern at the front desk. Each can be done on your own, with your team, or company-wide at the annual retreat.

Beautifully designed and illustrated in full colour, this delightful, participatory guide―meant to be marked up and discussed―will have you feeling like a kid about to crack open a new colouring book. You'll walk away inspired, with a power pack of specific, immediately actionable ideas to help you elevate the magic in what you do―for yourself, the people you work with, and the people you serve.

Review

Working alongside Will Guidara is the ultimate masterclass in how to thoughtfully improve the lives of those around you. He is now sharing his truly remarkable gift with the world in this keenly observant and heartfelt must-read, for anyone looking to stand out from the pack. ― Dan Levy, Emmy® award winning writer, actor, director, and producer of Schitt's Creek

Any organization would benefit from his thinking. ― Simon Sinek

Will Guidara weaves heartfelt stories and keen observations to illustrate how purposeful, no-holds-barred hospitality satisfies our essential need to belong. An exceptional book for anyone or any organization aiming to excel at human connection. ― Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group and author of Setting the Table

One of the five best management books I have ever read. Plus, it is the most engaging and entertaining – by a wide margin. This is, flat out, not a book to miss. ― Roger Martin, writer, strategy advisor and management thinker

Will Guidara is one of the very best in the hospitality business, but this book is for everyone. His insights on how to be a great entrepreneur cut through the noise. ― David Chang, chef and founder of Momofuku, and host of Ugly Delicious

Will gives us the best reason to be unreasonable―the people we serve. His approach to hospitality is novel, noble, and not at all exclusive to the restaurant industry. If you want to revolutionize the way you do business, you need this book! ― Dave Ramsey, bestselling author and radio host

Making people feel welcome, accepted, appreciated, seen, known… what could be cooler than that? This is what Will has unlocked in this book: that hospitality is as thrilling and inspiring to give as it is to receive, both in work, and in life. ― Christina Tosi, founder and CEO of Milk Bar

In this book, Will Guidara shows us how to lead and to serve at the next level by building a foundation of hospitality, and creating a people-first “working together” culture. It’s an inspiring book for businesses in every industry. ― Alan Mulally, former CEO of Boeing and Ford

In dining rooms, in conference rooms, and in all corners of hospitality, Will Guidara has made a career out of going above and beyond, giving people what they want, even when they don’t know they want it. This book puts his story, and more than a few of his trade secrets, in your hands. ― Questlove

Guidara makes his nonfiction debut with an enthusiastic guide for leaders [and asserts] sage advice about leadership. ― Kirkus Review

About the Author

Will Guidara is the author of the New York Times bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality, which chronicles the lessons in service and leadership he has learned over the course of his career in restaurants. He is the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, which under his leadership was named the Best Restaurant in the World. He is the host of the Welcome Conference, a co-producer of the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear, and a recipient of the Wall Street Journal Innovator Award. He lives in New York with his wife, Christina, and their two children, Frankie and Sonny.