Non-binding request for Will Guidara
Will Guidara
New York Times bestselling author and hospitality leader behind one of the world's most celebrated restaurants.
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Why you should book Will Guidara for your next event
- Discover how unreasonable hospitality creates unforgettable customer experiences, stronger teams and lasting business success.
- Gain practical leadership insights from the former co-owner of the restaurant once named the Best Restaurant in the World.
- Learn from a bestselling author, award-winning innovator and executive who helps organizations raise the standard of service.
Non-binding request for Will Guidara
Transforming hospitality into a powerful leadership and business strategy
Will Guidara has redefined what exceptional hospitality looks like. As the New York Times bestselling author of Unreasonable Hospitality and the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, he has inspired leaders across industries to create remarkable experiences that people never forget. His keynotes combine leadership, customer experience and culture with practical strategies that help organizations strengthen relationships, inspire employees and stand out in competitive markets.
Book Will Guidara for your event
Will Guidara is one of the most influential voices in hospitality, leadership and customer experience. Best known as the author of the New York Times bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality, he has inspired organizations around the world to rethink how extraordinary service can become a lasting competitive advantage.
As the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, Will helped lead the restaurant to international recognition, culminating in it being named the Best Restaurant in the World. His leadership philosophy extends far beyond restaurants, showing businesses in every industry how creating exceptional experiences strengthens customer loyalty, energizes teams and drives long-term success.
Today, Will Guidara shares these lessons with audiences through engaging, thought-provoking keynotes that blend inspiring stories with practical takeaways. Whether speaking to executives, entrepreneurs or frontline teams, he challenges audiences to raise their standards and create moments that people remember.
Who is Will Guidara?
Will Guidara built his reputation by proving that hospitality is much more than excellent service. It is a mindset that influences leadership, culture and every interaction between an organization and the people it serves.
His bestselling book, Unreasonable Hospitality, introduced this philosophy to a global audience, demonstrating how generosity, creativity and genuine care can transform businesses across every industry. The book has become an essential read for leaders seeking new ways to strengthen employee engagement and customer relationships.
In April 2026, he expanded on these ideas with the release of Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide, providing an even more practical framework for turning hospitality into everyday action.
Leadership inspired by world-class excellence
Will Guidara's leadership journey reached global recognition through Eleven Madison Park, where he served as former co-owner. Under his leadership, the restaurant earned the distinction of being named the Best Restaurant in the World, setting a benchmark for excellence, innovation and unforgettable guest experiences.
His work demonstrates that extraordinary results are created by intentional leadership, empowered teams and a commitment to exceeding expectations. These principles resonate across industries, making his presentations valuable for organizations focused on customer experience, company culture and leadership development.
Audiences leave with practical ideas they can apply immediately, regardless of whether they work in hospitality, healthcare, finance, technology, retail or professional services.
Beyond hospitality
Will Guidara's influence extends well beyond the restaurant industry. He is the host of The Welcome Conference, where leaders gather to explore the future of hospitality, leadership and human connection.
He also serves as a Co-Producer on the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear, bringing his expertise and perspective on restaurant culture to one of television's most celebrated productions.
His contributions to business and innovation have also been recognized with the Wall Street Journal Innovator Award, highlighting his impact as a leader whose ideas continue to shape organizations around the world.
What audiences can expect
When booking Will Guidara, audiences can expect insights on topics including:
- Creating unforgettable customer experiences through unreasonable hospitality.
- Building high-performing teams with purpose, trust and accountability.
- Developing leadership that inspires people to exceed expectations.
- Strengthening organizational culture through generosity and human connection.
- Turning exceptional service into a sustainable business advantage.
His presentations are engaging, relatable and filled with memorable stories that illustrate how small moments of care can create extraordinary outcomes. Rather than focusing solely on hospitality as an industry, Will demonstrates how its principles apply to every business that depends on people, relationships and trust.
Book Will Guidara as a keynote speaker
Organizations looking to elevate leadership, improve customer experience and strengthen company culture will find Will Guidara to be an inspiring and practical keynote speaker. Drawing on his experience as the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, his work as the author of Unreasonable Hospitality, his role as host of The Welcome Conference, his contributions as Co-Producer of the Emmy Award-winning series The Bear, and his recognition with the Wall Street Journal Innovator Award, he delivers presentations that leave audiences motivated to think differently about service, leadership and excellence.
With the release of Unreasonable Hospitality: The Field Guide in April 2026, Will continues to expand his message, equipping leaders and organizations with practical tools to create remarkable experiences that make a lasting impact. Booking Will Guidara means giving your audience the opportunity to learn from a leader whose ideas have transformed one of the world's most celebrated organizations and continue to influence businesses across industries.
Customer Reviews
5 of 5
Will had a phenomenal impact on our teams from both Paris and New York. His enthusiasm and passion for hospitality resonated with everyone. He offered out-of-the-box thinking and ideas, and he delivered his message with genuine authenticity and emotion. He inspired so many of us, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with Will and his unique experience.
Hermès
5 of 5
What a day. Will is incredibly kind, smart, and fun. Our leaders loved Will's keynote and said he was our best speaker of all our years doing this. It was wonderful. More to come as I get back in the office, but I wanted you to know how much I've enjoyed working with you, your team, and of course, Will. You all have been wonderful.
St. Luke's Health System
5 of 5
Will was incredible — completely the perfect fit for our event and wowed the crowd. People were still buzzing about it this morning as they were heading home from the conference. He mentioned that we don't use the word awesome enough as adults... so I can sum it up with: He. Was. Awesome.
Four Seasons
5 of 5
Will was incredible. So inspiring and engaging—just like we knew he would be. Definitely blew expectations out of the water. Getting survey results back and almost every single response mentioned him as their favorite part of the conference.
IHG
5 of 5
Will, as expected, was simply extraordinary. Thank you, and we are incredibly grateful for your kind help.
Wolfgang Puck
5 of 5
Will hit it out of the park. I could not have imagined a more personable, engaging, or relevant speaker, and he added a great deal of value to our conference.
Sotheby's
Rated 5.00/5 based on 6 customer reviews
Keynotes
Keynote by Will Guidara:
Unreasonable Hospitality
How Giving People More Than They Expect Can Get You To
Will Guidara transformed Eleven Madison Park from a modest brasserie into the best restaurant in the world—by putting human connection at the center of everything.
In this keynote, he shares how embracing a “one size fits one” philosophy and elevating the guest experience beyond expectations can create magic.
With powerful takeaways for leaders, teams, and brands, Will shows how unreasonable hospitality can help you win—by making people feel truly seen, valued, and unforgettable.
Keynote by Will Guidara:
Unreasonable Brands
How To Build a Brand Centered on Unreasonable Hospitality
For most of America’s history, we functioned as a manufacturing economy; now, we’re a service economy—more than three-quarters of our GDP comes from service.
So, whether you’re in retail, finance, education, healthcare, computer services, or communications, you are in the business of serving other people.
Making good products is no longer enough, and serving efficiently is no longer enough - now, it's how you make the people you work with and those you serve feel that matters most of all.
In this talk, Will will share why he believes our world is on the precipice of becoming a hospitality economy, and how every business can choose to be in the business of hospitality, by transforming ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences.
Keynote by Will Guidara:
Why Hospitality is Today’s #1 Leadership Skill
A New Model for Modern Leadership
In a post-pandemic world of remote teams and disconnected cultures, leadership requires a new skill: hospitality.
Will explains how great leaders, like great hosts, intentionally create environments where people feel connected, seen, and part of something larger.
This talk offers a fresh perspective on team building and emotional intelligence, with actionable strategies to help leaders turn individuals into high-performing, inspired teams—no matter the setting.
Will Guidara Keynote Speaker (Official Trailer)
Watch Will Guidara in action
Books by Will Guidara
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Unreasonable HospitalityBy Will Guidara -
I Love New YorkIngredients and RecipesBy Will Guidara -
Unreasonable HospitalityThe Field GuideBy Will Guidara
