The Next Big Idea

We're Still Thinking About This Conversation with Will Guidara

10 snips
Apr 30, 2026
Will Guidara, restaurateur who turned Eleven Madison Park into a world-class restaurant, shares stories about coining 'unreasonable hospitality' and why emotion and small rituals matter. He recalls redesigning arrivals, daily pre-meal meetings, playful low-cost delights like the hot dog moment, and the risks of buying and selling a famed restaurant.
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ANECDOTE

The Four Seasons Birthday That Hooked Him On Hospitality

  • Will's earliest hospitality awakening came at age 12 at The Four Seasons where small gestures made him feel like the center of the evening.
  • He remembers the napkin replacement and being called 'sir' more than the food, which taught him hospitality's emotional power.
ADVICE

Make The Premeal Meeting Nonnegotiable

  • Treat the daily pre-meal meeting as the most important 30 minutes to align team purpose and unlock creativity.
  • Use it to share the how and why, invite inspiration, and turn individuals into a trusting team.
ADVICE

Coauthor Core Values With The Team

  • Articulate core non-negotiables collaboratively rather than imposing them top-down.
  • Will and his team derived 11 values from studying Miles Davis—words like collaborative and endless reinvention—to guide decisions and invite ownership.
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