ISADORE SHARP

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

I’ve never met Isadore Sharp, but his influence on how I think about hospitality runs deep.

Most people know him as the founder of the Four Seasons. I know him as the person who expanded my view of what service really is. His book Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy changed how I understood the industry—not just restaurants or hotels—but anywhere people are looking for something from you.

That sentence hit home.

Because that’s what hospitality is at its core: anticipating needs, meeting them with grace, and creating comfort where none was expected.

Sharp had a breakthrough idea early on.

He imagined a hotel that didn’t just offer luxury—it offered belonging. A home away from home. Not just five-star design and amenities—but a five-star feeling.

But here’s the brilliance: he knew that vision wouldn’t work unless everyone believed in it.

From managers to housekeepers, servers to bellmen—every person mattered. Every detail mattered. The guest experience didn’t hinge on a chandelier; it hinged on the people.

That kind of thinking reshaped the hotel industry. And it reshaped my understanding of leadership.

Isadore Sharp didn’t just build a company—he built a culture. One where service wasn’t an act; it was a belief. A shared purpose.

That’s why he’s one of my heroes.

Because he proved that world-class hospitality isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. It’s about creating an environment where care is felt, not just delivered.

And even though I’ve spent most of my time in restaurants, that mindset carries over into everything I do. It reminds me that no matter what kind of space you work in—if people walk through the door looking for something from you, then you’re in hospitality.