Will Guidara is an American restaurateur, author, and hospitality visionary renowned for co-owning Eleven Madison Park (EMP), which was named the world’s best restaurant in 2017. Will Guidara started working in restaurants at age 13 and later graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. His early career included stints at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.

Guidara became general manager of EMP in 2006 and, alongside chef Daniel Humm, purchased the restaurant in 2011. Together, they transformed it into a global fine dining destination, earning three Michelin stars and multiple James Beard Awards. Their approach emphasized not just culinary excellence but also a radical rethinking of service, which Guidara later termed “unreasonable hospitality.” This philosophy—delivering personalized, over-the-top guest experiences—was detailed in his 2022 best-selling book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect.

After parting ways with Humm in 2019, Guidara launched new ventures, including plans to convert a historic New York castle into a luxury hotel and dining destination. He also co-founded the Welcome Conference, an annual event focused on hospitality leadership, and serves as a consultant and speaker across industries, advocating for the transformative power of genuine human connection in business.