Unreasonable Hospitality

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.

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

AS SEEN ON THE HIT TV SHOW 'THE BEAR'

‘Any organization would benefit from his thinking’ Simon Sinek, bestselling author of Start With Why

‘One of the five best management books I have ever read. Plus, it is the most engaging and entertaining’ Roger Martin, bestselling author of Playing to Win

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.

Guidara’s team surprised a family who had never seen snow with a magical sledding trip to Central Park after their dinner; they filled a private dining room with sand, complete with mai-tais and beach chairs, to console a couple with a cancelled vacation.
But the most lasting impact was felt behind the scenes. Guidara’s leadership philosophy empowered his team to think and act differently, learning:

• 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.