Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer - Audiobooks on Google Play
Danny Meyer Setting the Table Ebook Download
If you are looking for a book that will inspire you to transform your business or organization with a powerful philosophy of hospitality, then you should read Setting the Table by Danny Meyer. In this book, Meyer shares his story of how he became one of the most successful restaurateurs in the world, and how he developed his unique approach to customer service, leadership, and management. He calls it Enlightened Hospitality, and it is based on putting your employees first, and then, in descending order of priority, to the guests, community, suppliers, and investors. In this article, we will give you an overview of what the book is about, who is Danny Meyer, what is Enlightened Hospitality, and how you can download the ebook from different sources and platforms.
danny meyer setting the table ebook download
Who is Danny Meyer?
Danny Meyer is a native of St. Louis who moved to New York City in 1984 with a passion for food and hospitality. He opened his first restaurant, Union Square Cafe, in 1985 when he was only 27 years old. Since then, he has founded the Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), which includes some of New York's most acclaimed restaurants such as Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, North End Grill, Blue Smoke, and Shake Shack. He has also expanded his business to catering, events, consulting, education, and philanthropy. He has won numerous awards for his achievements in the industry, including 28 James Beard Awards. He is also a best-selling author of two books: Setting the Table (2006) and The Union Square Cafe Cookbook (1994), co-authored with his business partner Chef Michael Romano.
What is Enlightened Hospitality?
Enlightened Hospitality is the core philosophy that guides Meyer's business decisions and actions. It is based on the idea that hospitality is not only about serving your customers well, but also about creating a positive and lasting impact on everyone who is connected to your business. Meyer defines hospitality as "the foundation of my business philosophy. Virtually nothing else is as important as how one is made to feel in any business transaction. Hospitality exists when you believe that the other person is on your side."
To practice Enlightened Hospitality, Meyer suggests that you should prioritize your stakeholders in this order: employees, guests, community, suppliers, and investors. He explains that by taking care of your employees first, you will create a culture of trust, respect, and excellence that will motivate them to take care of your guests. By delighting your guests, you will build loyalty and word-of-mouth that will attract more customers and revenue. By serving your community, you will contribute to the social and environmental well-being of your surroundings and earn their support and recognition. By partnering with your suppliers, you will establish mutually beneficial relationships with your vendors and producers that will ensure the quality and sustainability of your products and services. By rewarding your investors, you will generate sustainable profits and growth for your stakeholders and yourself.
How to Download the Ebook?
If you are interested in reading Setting the Table by Danny Meyer, you have several options to download the ebook. Here are some of them:
Google Play Books: You can buy the ebook from Google Play Books for $14.49 (as of June 6, 2023) and read it on your PC, Android, or iOS devices. You can also get a free sample of the book before buying it. To buy the ebook from Google Play Books, go to this link: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Setting_the_Table_The_Transforming_Power_of_Hospit?id=epnumt9tRsAC&gl=US
Amazon Kindle: You can buy the ebook from Amazon Kindle for $14.49 (as of June 6, 2023) and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. You can also use the Kindle app to read the ebook on other devices. To buy the ebook from Amazon Kindle, go to this link: https://www.amazon.com/Setting-Table-Transforming-Hospitality-Business-ebook/dp/B000OI0FCQ
The Rabbit Hole: You can download a PDF summary of the book from The Rabbit Hole website for free. The summary is about 10 pages long and covers the main points and takeaways from the book. To download the PDF summary from The Rabbit Hole, go to this link: https://blas.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Setting-the-Table-by-Danny-Meyer.pdf
Key Takeaways from the Book
In this section, we will highlight some of the most important lessons and insights from Setting the Table by Danny Meyer. These are not meant to be exhaustive or comprehensive, but rather to give you a taste of what you can learn from reading the book.
Put Your Employees First
Meyer believes that the key to creating a successful business is to put your employees first, before anything else. He says that "the way we lead our staff is probably 80 percent of what ultimately leads to our guests' satisfaction." He argues that by treating your employees well, you will create a positive work environment where they feel valued, respected, and motivated. This will in turn make them more productive, loyal, and happy. They will also treat your guests well, because they will reflect the same attitude and values that you show them.
To put your employees first, Meyer suggests that you should do the following:
Hire people who share your vision and passion for hospitality. Look for people who have what he calls "the hospitality gene", which is "a strong emotional skills set" that enables them to connect with others and make them feel good.
Train your employees well and empower them to make decisions. Provide them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools to do their jobs well. Give them autonomy and authority to solve problems and handle situations on their own.
Recognize and reward your employees for their performance and contributions. Show them appreciation and gratitude for their work. Celebrate their achievements and milestones. Provide them with fair compensation and benefits.
Communicate with your employees regularly and transparently. Share your vision, goals, expectations, and feedback with them. Listen to their opinions, suggestions, and concerns. Involve them in decision-making processes.
Delight Your Guests
Meyer believes that the ultimate goal of hospitality is to delight your guests and make them feel special. He says that "hospitality is present when something happens for you. It is absent when something happens to you. Those two simple prepositionsfor and toexpress it all." He argues that by delighting your guests, you will create memorable experiences that will make them want to come back and recommend you to others.
To delight your guests, Meyer suggests that you should do the following:
Know your guests and anticipate their needs. Learn their names, preferences, allergies, occasions, and expectations. Use this information to customize your service and surprise them with thoughtful gestures.
Exceed your guests' expectations and deliver more than what they asked for. Go above and beyond the standard service and offer something extra that they didn't expect. For example, give them a complimentary dessert, a free upgrade, or a personal note.
Handle mistakes and complaints with grace and generosity. Apologize sincerely and take responsibility for any errors or issues that occur. Offer a solution or compensation that will make up for the inconvenience or disappointment. Follow up with the guest to ensure their satisfaction.
Make your guests feel welcome and comfortable. Greet them warmly and sincerely. Smile and make eye contact. Use positive and polite language. Show interest and attention. Thank them for their visit and invite them to return.
Create a unique and distinctive atmosphere. Design your space and ambiance to reflect your brand identity and personality. Use music, lighting, colors, aromas, and decor to create a mood and vibe that suits your concept and clientele.
Serve Your Community
Meyer believes that hospitality is not only about serving your guests, but also about serving your community. He says that "the excellence of any business or organization can never exceed the quality of its community." He argues that by serving your community, you will create a positive and lasting impact on the people and places around you, and earn their respect and trust.
To serve your community, Meyer suggests that you should do the following:
Support local causes and organizations that align with your values and mission. Donate money, time, or resources to charities, schools, or groups that are making a difference in your area. Participate in events or initiatives that promote social or environmental causes.
Engage with local media and influencers who can help you spread the word about your business or organization. Build relationships with journalists, bloggers, podcasters, or celebrities who can feature you in their stories or platforms. Provide them with interesting and relevant information or content that will appeal to their audiences.
Partner with local businesses and organizations that can complement or enhance your service or product. Collaborate with other entrepreneurs, artists, or professionals who can offer something valuable or unique to your guests. Create cross-promotions or referrals that will benefit both parties.
Respect local laws and regulations that affect your business or organization. Comply with the rules and standards that govern your industry or sector. Pay your taxes and fees on time. Follow the health and safety protocols that protect your employees and guests.
Respect local culture and traditions that shape your community. Learn about the history, customs, values, and beliefs of the people who live in your area. Incorporate elements of their culture into your service or product. Celebrate their festivals and holidays.
Partner with Your Suppliers
Meyer believes that hospitality is not only about serving your guests and community, but also about serving your suppliers. He says that "the quality of our relationships with our suppliers has an enormous impact on our ability to achieve excellence." He argues that by partnering with your suppliers, you will create mutually beneficial relationships that will ensure the quality and sustainability of your products and services.
To partner with your suppliers, Meyer suggests that you should do the following:
Select suppliers who share your vision and passion for hospitality. Look for suppliers who have what he calls "the excellence reflex", which is "a natural reaction to fix something that isn't right, or to improve something that could be better." Choose suppliers who offer high-quality products or services that match your standards and expectations.
Negotiate fair prices and terms with your suppliers. Pay them what they deserve for their products or services. Don't try to squeeze them for lower prices or faster delivery times at the expense of their quality or profitability. Honor your agreements and pay your bills on time.
Communicate with your suppliers regularly and transparently. Share your feedback, suggestions, and concerns with them. Listen to their opinions, ideas, and issues. Involve them in decision-making processes that affect your mutual interests.
Support your suppliers in their growth and development. Help them improve their products or services by providing them with constructive criticism, advice, or resources. Promote their products or services to your guests or other potential customers. Recognize and reward their achievements and milestones.
Care for your suppliers as partners and friends. Show them respect, trust, compassion, and empathy. Support them in their personal and professional challenges. Foster a sense of collaboration and camaraderie.
Reward Your Investors
Meyer believes that hospitality is not only about serving your guests, community, suppliers, but also about serving your investors. He says that "the ultimate goal of any business is to create value for the people who have invested in it." He argues that by rewarding your investors, you will create sustainable profits and growth for your business or organization, and for yourself.
To reward your investors, Meyer suggests that you should do the following:
Know your investors and understand their needs. Learn their names, backgrounds, motivations, and expectations. Use this information to customize your communication and reporting with them.
Exceed your investors' expectations and deliver more than what they asked for. Go above and beyond the financial targets and metrics that they set for you. Provide them with extra value or benefits that they didn't expect. For example, give them access to exclusive events, perks, or opportunities.
Handle mistakes and setbacks with honesty and accountability. Apologize sincerely and take responsibility for any errors or issues that occur. Offer a solution or plan that will fix the problem and prevent it from happening again. Follow up with the investor to ensure their satisfaction.
Make your investors feel appreciated and valued. Thank them for their trust and support. Smile and make eye contact. Use positive and polite language. Show interest and attention. Invite them to visit your business or organization and meet your team.
Create a unique and distinctive identity. Design your brand and image to reflect your personality and values. Use music, logos, colors, slogans, and stories to create a mood and vibe that suits your concept and clientele.
Conclusion and FAQs
In conclusion, Setting the Table by Danny Meyer is a book that will teach you how to transform your business or organization with a powerful philosophy of hospitality. It will show you how to put your employees first, delight your guests, serve your community, partner with your suppliers, and reward your investors. By doing so, you will create a positive and lasting impact on everyone who is connected to your business or organization, and achieve excellence in everything you do.
If you want to read this book, you can download the ebook from different sources and platforms such as Google Play Books, Amazon Kindle, or The Rabbit Hole. You can also get a free sample of the book before buying it.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new from it. If you have any questions or comments about the book or the article, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you.
FAQs
What is the difference between service and hospitality?
Service is what you do for someone; hospitality is how you make them feel while you are doing it.
What are some examples of Enlightened Hospitality in action?
Some examples of Enlightened Hospitality in action are: giving a guest a free dessert on their birthday; sending a handwritten thank-you note to an employee who did a great job; donating food to a local food bank; buying coffee beans from a fair-trade farmer; giving a shareholder a tour of your kitchen.
How can I apply Enlightened Hospitality to my own business or organization?
You can apply Enlightened Hospitality to your own business or organization by following these steps: 1) Define your vision and mission; 2) Identify your stakeholders; 3) Prioritize your stakeholders in this order: employees, guests, community, suppliers, investors; 4) Implement the best practices for each stakeholder group as described in the book; 5) Measure your results and adjust accordingly.
Where can I learn more about Danny Meyer and his restaurants?
You can learn more about Danny Meyer and his restaurants by visiting his website: https://www.dannymeyer.com/
What are some other books that are similar to Setting the Table?
Some other books that are similar to Setting the Table are: The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath; The Customer Rules by Lee Cockerell; Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh; The New Gold Standard by Joseph Michelli; The Starbucks Experience by Joseph Michelli.
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