Will Guidara

Will Guidara is an American restaurateur and hospitality consultant who co-led Eleven Madison Park to become the world's #1 restaurant in 2017.^[1] During his 13-year tenure as general manager and co-owner, the restaurant earned three Michelin stars, seven James Beard Awards, and a four-star review from The New York Times.^[3] He co-founded Make It Nice Hospitality Group, which operated multiple acclaimed restaurants including NoMad locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.^[4]

Guidara sold his restaurant interests in 2019 and published "Unreasonable Hospitality" in 2022, which became a bestselling business book.^[16] He currently works as a hospitality consultant and keynote speaker, commanding fees between $56,000 and $100,000 per engagement.^[14] In 2024, he was inducted into the Cornell Hotel Society's Hotelie Hall of Fame alongside his father, Frank Guidara, a former president of Restaurant Associates.^[10]

William Guidara was born November 25, 1979, in Sleepy Hollow, New York.^[11] His father, Frank Guidara, was president of Restaurant Associates, and his mother was a flight attendant for American Airlines.^[11] When Guidara was four years old, his mother was diagnosed with brain cancer and later became quadriplegic due to radiation treatment complications.^[15]

Guidara began working in restaurants at age 13 and created a life goals list at age 12 that included attending Cornell University and owning a restaurant in New York City.^[17] He graduated from Cornell University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Hotel Administration.^[10] After graduation, he briefly attended culinary school in northern Spain before beginning his restaurant career.^[17]

Early restaurant experience (2001–2006)

Guidara began his professional career in 2001 as dining room staff at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Beverly Hills.^[17] He returned to New York in 2002 to work for Union Square Hospitality Group, where he held various roles at Tabla, Café 2, and the Museum of Modern Art restaurants.^[17] From 2005 to 2006, he worked as an assistant general manager at Restaurant Associates, his father's former company, to learn corporate restaurant operations.^[17]

Eleven Madison Park transformation (2006–2019)

In 2006, Guidara joined Eleven Madison Park as general manager, partnering with chef Daniel Humm to transform what was then a struggling brasserie.^[4] The restaurant initially ranked last among New York's fine dining establishments, which Guidara later described as the motivation that "compelled the path that came next."^[1] After the restaurant ranked #50 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2010, Guidara wrote "We will be the No. 1 restaurant in the world" on a cocktail napkin.^[4]

Under Guidara's leadership, Eleven Madison Park earned a four-star review from The New York Times in 2009 and three Michelin stars in 2012.^[3] The restaurant won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2011 and Outstanding Service in 2016.^[3] In 2017, Eleven Madison Park was named the world's #1 restaurant by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.^[1]

Make It Nice Hospitality Group (2011–2019)

Guidara co-founded Make It Nice Hospitality Group in 2011 with Daniel Humm, expanding beyond Eleven Madison Park to operate NoMad restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, as well as NoMad Bar and the fast-casual concept Made Nice.^[4] The hospitality group employed approximately 1,000 people across its portfolio at its peak.^[3]

In 2019, Guidara sold his shares in all restaurants to Daniel Humm, ending their 13-year partnership.^[4] The dissolution allowed Humm to maintain full creative control while Guidara pursued other ventures in hospitality consulting and writing.^[4]

Author and consultant (2019–present)

Following his exit from restaurant operations, Guidara published "Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect" in 2022.^[16] The book became a bestseller and established him as a sought-after speaker on hospitality and leadership topics.^[14] He currently commands speaking fees between $56,000 and $100,000 per engagement.^[14]

Guidara has appeared on major platforms including Oprah's podcast and serves as a hospitality consultant for restaurants and hotels worldwide.^[2] He regularly speaks at industry conferences and has been featured at events including the Ojai Food & Wine Festival and various university programs.^[7][9]

Guidara was inducted into the Cornell Hotel Society's Hotelie Hall of Fame in 2024, recognizing his contributions to the hospitality industry.^[10] He shared the UMass Amherst HTM Lifetime Achievement Award with his father Frank Guidara in 2024.^[11] Earlier in his career, he was named to Crain's New York Business 40 Under 40 list and received the WSJ Magazine Innovator Award.^[3]

Under his leadership, Eleven Madison Park accumulated seven James Beard Awards and maintained three Michelin stars for seven consecutive years.^[3] The restaurant's 2017 designation as the world's #1 restaurant by The World's 50 Best Restaurants marked the culmination of his hospitality philosophy.^[1]

Guidara married Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar and former MasterChef judge, on July 30, 2016.^[11] The couple has a daughter named Francis "Frankie" Ray Guidara.^[11] He continues to reside in New York City and maintains close ties to the hospitality industry through his consulting work and speaking engagements.^[6]