What Danny Meyer has said about Enlightened hospitality

Meyer contrasts the traditional golden rule with a golden rule of hospitality based on what others would want.

“the golden rule of hospitality is, is do unto others as you believe they would want done unto them”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 708: Danny Meyer - How You Make People Feel: The Founder of Shake Shack & Union Square Hospitality Group on Culture as Soil, the 49/51 Hiring Formula, and Leading With Generosity (Sep 27, 2026) · Listen from 35:05

Meyer says a Gramercy Tavern guest complaint taught him that leaders must articulate values in words to teach them.

“If you don't have language, you cannot teach. And I did not have language and I was not teaching”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 708: Danny Meyer - How You Make People Feel: The Founder of Shake Shack & Union Square Hospitality Group on Culture as Soil, the 49/51 Hiring Formula, and Leading With Generosity (Sep 27, 2026) · Listen from 37:23

Meyer describes enlightened hospitality as prioritizing employees first, then guests, community and suppliers, and finally investors.

“from now on, the first customer we have here is you. The way you treat each other with a generous spirit and with a charitable assumption”

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: 708: Danny Meyer - How You Make People Feel: The Founder of Shake Shack & Union Square Hospitality Group on Culture as Soil, the 49/51 Hiring Formula, and Leading With Generosity (Sep 27, 2026) · Listen from 38:25