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Hospitality is all about making people feel welcome, cared for, and remembered. Doing it well takes skill, heart, creativity, and a little know-how. These five great books can help you level up. They’re full of practical tips, real-world advice and inspiration to help you deliver better service, grow your leadership skills, and really stand out in the industry. If you want to succeed in hospitality, these reads are an ideal place to start.
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Stand Out Hospitality by Cassie Davison is an inspiring and practical guide for anyone running or dreaming of running their own hospitality business. With over 30 years of experience building and turning around pubs, cafés, and restaurants, Cassie shows that success in hospitality is about leading with heart, creativity and resilience, rather than simply chasing trends. At the heart of the book are her Five Pillars of Stand Out Hospitality: Set High Standards, Stand Out, Define Your Identity, Build Belonging, and Tell a Great Story. These pillars help business owners connect with their teams, delight their customers, and lead with purpose, all while keeping their energy and passion alive. Filled with real-life stories, practical tips, and reflection prompts, Stand Out Hospitality is full of actionable advice to help you take small steps that make a big difference and build a hospitality business you truly love.
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Hospitality DNA dives into what really sets the world’s top bars and restaurants apart and shows that success in hospitality isn’t about being “born with it.” Through interviews with award-winning operators from around the globe, the book uncovers the key traits behind their success, called the Hospitality HELIX: Humble Nature, Explorer’s Pursuit, Lifetime Experience, Indomitable Spirit, and eXtraordinary Culture. But this isn’t just theory. Hospitality DNA is packed with real stories, insights and practical lessons that readers can apply in their own businesses. From industry legends like Angus Winchester, Lil Lovell and Jack McGarry, you get an inside look at how the best operators think, lead, and innovate. With inspiring stories, original concepts and actionable takeaways, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to transform their hospitality game and create a business that truly stands out.
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Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, co-owner of the legendary Eleven Madison Park, is an inspiring guide to service, leadership, and creating unforgettable experiences. At just 26, Guidara took over a struggling two-star New York brasserie and, over 11 years, turned it into the world’s best restaurant, by going beyond the ordinary and embracing what he calls “unreasonable hospitality.” From giving a family who had never seen snow a magical sledding trip in Central Park, to transforming a cancelled holiday into a beach-themed dining room, Guidara shows how generosity, creativity, and attention to detail can turn everyday moments into something truly special. He also shares how to empower your team, think like an owner, and lead with intention and care. Full of stories from Guidara’s journey and insights from hospitality legends like Danny Meyer and Daniel Boulud, Unreasonable Hospitality inspires anyone looking to make their work, and the experiences they create, extraordinary.
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Setting the Table by Danny Meyer, the famous restaurateur behind Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack, is both an inspiring story and a practical guide to running a successful business. Meyer opened his first restaurant at the age of 27, knowing that most new restaurants fail. However, he found a way to succeed. His secret is what he calls Enlightened Hospitality: treating both customers and staff with care, respect, and attention. Through personal stories and lessons from his decades in the business, Meyer shows how building strong relationships with your team and giving customers memorable experiences can make a big difference. His advice is for restautants and anyone who wants to lead, motivate a team, and run a business that really works. Setting the Table is full of practical tips, wisdom, and encouragement for anyone who wants to do their job well and enjoy it.
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The Hospitality Handbook shows how great hospitality can make a real difference for teams, customers and businesses. Too often, companies treat hospitality as just a “nice-to-have” skill, but it’s actually one of the hardest things to do well, and one of the best ways to stand out. Without the right mindset and systems, teams can get stuck reacting to problems, while leaders work harder without seeing the results they want. This book gives clear, practical ways to train hospitality into any business. It shows how to build a culture where every team member knows how to deliver amazing service, every time. By turning hospitality into repeatable systems, businesses can make their customers happier, their teams more motivated, and their brand stronger. The Hospitality Handbook is a must-read for anyone who wants service to become a real, lasting advantage.
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Stand Out Hospitality by Cassie Davison is an inspiring and practical guide for anyone running or dreaming of running their own hospitality business. With over 30 years of experience building and turning around pubs, cafés, and restaurants, Cassie shows that success in hospitality is about leading with heart, creativity and resilience, rather than simply chasing trends. At the heart of the book are her Five Pillars of Stand Out Hospitality: Set High Standards, Stand Out, Define Your Identity, Build Belonging, and Tell a Great Story. These pillars help business owners connect with their teams, delight their customers, and lead with purpose, all while keeping their energy and passion alive. Filled with real-life stories, practical tips, and reflection prompts, Stand Out Hospitality is full of actionable advice to help you take small steps that make a big difference and build a hospitality business you truly love.
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Hospitality DNA dives into what really sets the world’s top bars and restaurants apart and shows that success in hospitality isn’t about being “born with it.” Through interviews with award-winning operators from around the globe, the book uncovers the key traits behind their success, called the Hospitality HELIX: Humble Nature, Explorer’s Pursuit, Lifetime Experience, Indomitable Spirit, and eXtraordinary Culture. But this isn’t just theory. Hospitality DNA is packed with real stories, insights and practical lessons that readers can apply in their own businesses. From industry legends like Angus Winchester, Lil Lovell and Jack McGarry, you get an inside look at how the best operators think, lead, and innovate. With inspiring stories, original concepts and actionable takeaways, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to transform their hospitality game and create a business that truly stands out.
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Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, co-owner of the legendary Eleven Madison Park, is an inspiring guide to service, leadership, and creating unforgettable experiences. At just 26, Guidara took over a struggling two-star New York brasserie and, over 11 years, turned it into the world’s best restaurant, by going beyond the ordinary and embracing what he calls “unreasonable hospitality.” From giving a family who had never seen snow a magical sledding trip in Central Park, to transforming a cancelled holiday into a beach-themed dining room, Guidara shows how generosity, creativity, and attention to detail can turn everyday moments into something truly special. He also shares how to empower your team, think like an owner, and lead with intention and care. Full of stories from Guidara’s journey and insights from hospitality legends like Danny Meyer and Daniel Boulud, Unreasonable Hospitality inspires anyone looking to make their work, and the experiences they create, extraordinary.
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Setting the Table by Danny Meyer, the famous restaurateur behind Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack, is both an inspiring story and a practical guide to running a successful business. Meyer opened his first restaurant at the age of 27, knowing that most new restaurants fail. However, he found a way to succeed. His secret is what he calls Enlightened Hospitality: treating both customers and staff with care, respect, and attention. Through personal stories and lessons from his decades in the business, Meyer shows how building strong relationships with your team and giving customers memorable experiences can make a big difference. His advice is for restautants and anyone who wants to lead, motivate a team, and run a business that really works. Setting the Table is full of practical tips, wisdom, and encouragement for anyone who wants to do their job well and enjoy it.
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The Hospitality Handbook shows how great hospitality can make a real difference for teams, customers and businesses. Too often, companies treat hospitality as just a “nice-to-have” skill, but it’s actually one of the hardest things to do well, and one of the best ways to stand out. Without the right mindset and systems, teams can get stuck reacting to problems, while leaders work harder without seeing the results they want. This book gives clear, practical ways to train hospitality into any business. It shows how to build a culture where every team member knows how to deliver amazing service, every time. By turning hospitality into repeatable systems, businesses can make their customers happier, their teams more motivated, and their brand stronger. The Hospitality Handbook is a must-read for anyone who wants service to become a real, lasting advantage.
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