Ideas change everything

The secret ingredients of great hospitality

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Will Guidara |

TED@BCG

• September 2022

Restaurateur Will Guidara's life changed when he decided to serve a two-dollar hot dog in his fancy four-star restaurant, creating a personalized experience for some out-of-town customers craving authentic New York City street food. The move earned such a positive reaction that Guidara began pursuing this kind of "unreasonable hospitality" full-time, seeking out ways to create extraordinary experiences and give people more than they could ever possibly expect. In this funny and heartwarming talk, he shares three steps to crafting truly memorable moments centered in human connection – no matter what business you're in.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Restaurateur Will Guidara's life changed when he decided to serve a two-dollar hot dog in his fancy four-star restaurant, creating a personalized experience for some out-of-town customers craving authentic New York City street food. The move earned such a positive reaction that Guidara began pursuing this kind of "unreasonable hospitality" full-time, seeking out ways to create extraordinary experiences and give people more than they could ever possibly expect. In this funny and heartwarming talk, he shares three steps to crafting truly memorable moments centered in human connection – no matter what business you're in.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

Will’s team partners with leaders across all industries to rethink how hospitality can connect people while becoming a fundamental part of their business. Follow Will on LinkedIn to learn more.

The Welcome Conference is Will's annual hospitality symposium, bringing together leaders in hospitality from across industries to connect, share ideas and inspire one another. Sign up to learn more.

About the speaker

Restaurateur, author

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Will Guidara believes in the remarkable power of hospitality.

Learn more

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Will Guidara | Optimism Press (2022)

Will Guidara - *Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect*

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

Read more about the TED Institute

Will’s team partners with leaders across all industries to rethink how hospitality can connect people while becoming a fundamental part of their business. Follow Will on LinkedIn to learn more.

The Welcome Conference is Will's annual hospitality symposium, bringing together leaders in hospitality from across industries to connect, share ideas and inspire one another. Sign up to learn more.