Give Hospitality: A Hopeful Story of What Happens When We Live, Work, and Love from a Place of Generosity

Scott (Lead with Hospitality), who has worked for a variety of resorts including Disney and Wynn, shares what his 20 years in the hospitality industry have taught him in this dissatisfying business manual. Scott presents a narrative focused on a character named Summer Grace, a new hire at Hawaii’s fictional Kauwela Resort who once visited and was impressed by the staff’s kindness and leadership. She found that their values “reflected who she wanted to become in her life and career,” so she left her “toxic” job, applied to work at Kauwela, and accepted a position as a front desk manager. Scott’s business guidance comes in the form of lessons Summer and the other new staffers learn during the last five days of their two-week orientation. These tips include the golden rule, the importance of inclusivity, the idea that leaders should validate worker’s contributions, and the assertion that it’s essential for workers to open up and be vulnerable. Unfortunately, Scott’s conclusions are often trite, and his narrative chops aren’t sophisticated enough to sustain an entire book. This one aims high but falls short. (July)