Will Guidara

Will Guidara, author of the National Bestseller "Unreasonable Hospitality," shares insights on service and leadership from his extensive career in the restaurant industry. As the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park, Guidara led the restaurant to earn four stars from the New York Times and three Michelin stars, and in 2017, it was named the #1 restaurant on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Guidara, a native of Sleepy Hollow, New York, began his journey in the restaurant industry at thirteen. After graduating from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, he trained at Spago Beverly Hills and attended culinary school in Spain. He then held various roles at Union Square Hospitality Group before becoming the general manager of Eleven Madison Park from 2006 to 2012. Guidara also co-founded the Welcome Conference, an annual symposium for hospitality professionals to share ideas and build community.

In 2011, Guidara and chef Daniel Humm purchased Eleven Madison Park, leading it to numerous accolades, including seven James Beard Foundation awards. Guidara's implementation of the concept of "Unreasonable Hospitality" transformed the restaurant into the world's best. The book is mentioned in the TV series "The Bear," which Guidara also features. Furthering his contributions to the show, Guidara received a story credit for the third episode of the third season, working side by side with series creator Christopher Storer. He appeared in the program's third-season finale, where he featured alongside his wife, Christina Tosi.

Guidara's ventures expanded to The NoMad Hotel, where he and Humm earned high praise, including a Michelin star and a spot on the World's Best Bar list. Guidara emphasizes the power of exceeding expectations in hospitality, a principle that helped elevate Eleven Madison Park. He has co-authored several cookbooks and received numerous accolades, including Crain's New York Business's 40 Under 40 and WSJ Magazine's Innovator Award.