Will Guidara shares his concept of 'unreasonable hospitality' and the power of creating extraordinary experiences. He discusses making people feel special, improving guest experiences through creative touch points, and identifying and updating touch points in customer experiences. They also discuss the book 'Unreasonable Hospitality' and ways to connect with the author.
Unreasonable hospitality is about going above and beyond to make customers feel seen, valued, and cared for, and can be applied in any business regardless of budget or industry.
The power of unreasonable hospitality lies in the thoughtfulness behind gestures, not the cost, and finding opportunities to surprise and delight customers can leave a lasting impact.
Deep dives
The Power of Unreasonable Hospitality
Unreasonable hospitality is the key to creating memorable experiences and building strong relationships with customers. It means going above and beyond to make people feel seen, valued, and cared for. This approach can be applied in any business, regardless of budget or industry. By identifying touch points in the customer journey and recurring moments, businesses can develop creative and personalized gestures to make customers feel special. These gestures don't have to be expensive; even small, thoughtful actions can leave a lasting impact. Unreasonable hospitality is about being present, taking the time to think about what customers truly want, and treating them as unique individuals.
The Hot Dog Story: Making People Feel Special
The hot dog story illustrates the power of unreasonable hospitality. While working in a prestigious restaurant, the author overheard customers talking about never having a hot dog from a street cart. He immediately took action, got a hot dog, and served it to them alongside their gourmet meal. The customers were ecstatic, and the impact was far greater than any fancy dish served that day. This story shows that it's not about the cost of the gesture, but the thoughtfulness behind it. Unreasonable hospitality means finding opportunities to surprise and delight customers, making them feel seen and valued.
Systemizing Unreasonable Hospitality
Systemizing unreasonable hospitality is key to ensuring consistent and impactful customer experiences. This can be achieved by involving the entire team in the process and empowering them to think creatively. One exercise is to identify touch points in the customer journey and brainstorm ideas to make each touch point more awesome. Another approach is to recognize recurring moments and develop tailored gestures for those occasions. By providing the team with resources, budget, and permission to color outside the lines, businesses can create a culture of unreasonable hospitality. The impact is not only on customers but also on the team's motivation and satisfaction.
Benefits of Unreasonable Hospitality
Investing in unreasonable hospitality yields multiple benefits for businesses. It drives revenue by creating loyal customer advocates who spread the word about their exceptional experiences. It differentiates businesses from competitors, giving them an unfair advantage. The cost of unreasonable hospitality doesn't have to be exorbitant; creativity and thoughtfulness are more important than lavish spending. Moreover, businesses can start by repurposing existing budgets and reallocating resources to make gestures of hospitality more meaningful and personalized. Unreasonable hospitality is a mindset that prioritizes making people feel special and goes beyond the ordinary expectations of customer service.
When Will Guidara decided to serve a two-dollar hot dog in his four-star New York restaurant, his life was changed forever. This move to create a personalized street food experience for out-of-town customers earned such a positive reaction that Will began to practice "unreasonable hospitality" full-time, seeking out new and creative ways to create extraordinary experiences. His national bestseller, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, details the service and leadership lessons he’s learned throughout his restaurant career, and in today’s episode, he shares surprisingly simple ideas to help you craft memorable moments centered on human connection, no matter what business you're in. As founder of the creative hospitality agency Thank You and host of the Welcome Conference, Will also has some practical advice for business owners that will make you reconsider your definition of hospitality and transform your approach to customer service. Join us as we explore the importance of the daily huddle, why crazy generosity doesn’t need to cost a lot, what Will means by “one size fits one,” and more!
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