Will Guidara, author of ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ and executive producer of ‘The Bear,’ will be keynote speaker at Wednesday’s event
Henderson native Brooks Reitz learned many lessons during his 18 years growing up in his hometown, and the 24 years away since then have been filled with many successful business ventures—and many more lessons.
As one of the four speakers at Wednesday’s first ever Henderson Hospitality Summit, Reitz said he’s going to speak about both what he learned here at home and away from home and combine those teachings for what he thinks can make Henderson one of the, if not the, most hospitable towns on the planet.
That’s the goal of the Henderson Hospitality Summit, a combined effort from the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Henderson County Public Library, Henderson Economic Development and Henderson Tourist Commission.
And Wednesday’s summit is the first step in going after that goal. To that end, the event is centered around Will Guidara, the best-selling author of “Unreasonable Hospitality” and executive producer of the television series “The Bear.” Guidara will be the keynote speaker.
Hendersonians, though, will also be keen to hear from Reitz, who grew up on Larue Road in a home that has been in his family for 103 years and where his parents, Scott and Shelly, still live. Reitz, now living in Charleston, S.C., says he gets back home several times each year.
So, Henderson is still thick in his blood, and it’s a town that he gives some credit to the success he’s had. It’s also a place that already holds a great deal of hospitality, he said.
The level of hospitality already here paired with the goal of this event is intriguing to Reitz. Most often, he said, when people think of hospitality, they think of restaurants, bars and hotels. But what is hospitality to a city? he asked.
“It’s not just the bars and restaurants,” he said.
It’s having trees for shade, benches to sit on, trash cans to throw away rubbish, water fountains to drink from on a hot day, he said.
It’s also the interactions we have with each other.
“It’s how community members speak to one another,” he said, adding that he sees it when he comes home and goes to the YMCA and the library and other places.
Now the goal is to take Henderson to the next level, he said.
Reitz, with his resume, no doubt has a good idea of what hospitality means to him and his businesses. He founded Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., a business named after his great-grandfather who lived on Second Street across from Holy Name School.
Reitz has also opened and owns four restaurants—Leon’s Oyster Shop, Little Jack’s Tavern and Melfi’s in Charleston, and The Bell in New Orleans. And he and his wife, Erin, own shirting brand, E.M. Reitz, which he describes as high-end shirts for men and women. (The Reitzes also have two sons, a 17-year-old and a six-year-old.)
Reitz will be in good company Wednesday. In addition to Guidara, the summit will feature Kentucky poet laureate Kathleen Driskell, who will talk about storytelling and drawing inspiration from the environment, said Clay Gillham, the chamber’s executive director.
Additionally, Brent Bruner, an architect with Champlin | EOP, will talk about space, textures and colors in creating spaces for people to gather and what that means regard hospitality, Gillham said.
Finally, Guidara will have a lot of creative freedom to talk about what he wants to talk about, but Gillham said he’ll pull on themes of how hospitality applies to every industry, she said.
And all attendees will receive a copy of his new book, “The Field Guide to Unreasonable Hospitality,” Gillham said.
Among Guidara’s many accolades is his restaurant Eleven Madison Park, which in 2017 was named the world’s best restaurant. Guidara says that the United States’ economy is currently 75% service industry but points out that service and hospitality are not the same thing. He says service—in his industry—is getting the right plate to the right table at the right time; whereas hospitality is how you make people feel when you are doing that.
According to the chamber, Guidara’s perspective on service, leadership and human connection sets the tone for a summit built around intention and care.
“This summit is an opportunity to strengthen our culture of kindness, sharpen our sense of welcome and celebrate the simple but powerful ways hospitality shapes a community,” said a social media post from the chamber.
The Henderson Hospitality Summit will be 9:30 a.m.-12 noon on Wednesday at the Preston Arts Center on the campus of Henderson Community College. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Tickets will be available until early next week. For ticket information: https://bit.ly/HospitalitySummitTickets
For more information: https://bit.ly/HospitalitySummitInfo
