Hospitality is among the most rewarding industries in the world - but independent business owners have to work harder than most to thrive in this competitive sector. Stand Out Hospitality offers a grounded, proven framework to help you lead with purpose, reconnect with your team and customers, and build a business that inspires lasting staff and customer loyalty. This book will help you to: Set high standards that reflect your values and improve performance without burnout Stand out by owning your difference and rising above the crowd Define your identity and build a business that works for you - not just because of you Build deep emotional connections among your teams and customers Use your personal story to lead, market, and grow with confidence
Cassie Davison is a hospitality leader, business coach, and the founder of Kith & Kin, a movement for independent hospitality professionals and their wider community. As a multi-award-winning operator with over thirty years' experience in the industry, she's built, led, and rebuilt venues from the ground up. Her mission is to help independent operators build stand-out businesses that feel as good to run as they do to visit.
Contents Introduction - Part One: Where We Belong - 1 Why Hospitality Will Always Matter - 2 Core Challenges And Customers - 3 The Team That Holds It All Together - 4 Overwhelm: The Weight We Carry - Part Two: The Five Pillars: A Framework For Stand Out Hospitality - 5 Set High Standards - 6 Stand Out - 7 Define Your Identity - 8 Build Belonging - 9 Tell A Great Story - Part Three: Make It Last - 10 Sustainable By Design - Conclusion - Next Steps - Notes - Further Reading - Resources - Acknowledgements - The Author
'I recognised so much in this book from my own experience. The approaches are practical, grounded, and real. A thoughtful, credible read for anyone who's been in the industry a while.' - Martin Traynor OBE, FIH, Chair, Institute of Hospitality 'Cassie Davison captures the beating heart of hospitality - the people, the purpose, and the promise of belonging. Stand Out Hospitality is essential reading for anyone serious about leading with care and creating places people never want to leave. This book is one our industry has been waiting for. A thoughtful, actionable framework that reconnects leadership to empathy and excellence. Every independent operator should have a copy.' - Kris Hall MIH, CEO and Founder, The Burnt Chef Project 'Cassie's belief in the power of hospitality to transform lives is like fuel for those who need to believe it too.' - Josh Shirtcliffe, Manager, Cafe Fifty Five 'Part history lesson, part business advice, part love letter to hospitality, this book is a must read to remind us why we do what we do and help us to do it better!' - Katy Moses, Founder and Managing Director, KAM Insight 'I was hooked from start to finish. Stand Out Hospitality is insightful, thought-provoking, and refreshingly practical. I took away so many ideas I can apply straight to our Airbnbs.' - Victoria Wood, Fractional Marketing Manager, Her AI Edge 'Bold, honest, and full of heart. It felt like sitting down for a proper chat with someone who just gets it. The personal stories hit hard, and the way Cassie names burnout, doubt, and the messy bits no one else talks about is genuinely powerful.' - Gareth Hazad, Co-founder, Why Hospitality 'Sometimes the universe brings you the people bearing the kind message you need to hear at just the right moment.' - Kieron Bailey, Founder, People on Purpose
