Emily LaRuffa has scaled the dizzy heights of Manhattan hospitality business, from bartending to managing and being a GM at every kind of NY joint from rock 'n' roll bars in Hell's Kitchen to the five-star luxury of Loews Hotel, The Baccarat, Major Food Group (and cheerful pirate Brian Miller)'s The Polynesian, and Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group's Manhatta bar-restaurant.
She's now founded an innovative consultancy, Oracle Hospitality Consultants, to share her knowledge with owners and managers who lack the time or experience to stop working in their business so they can work on their business, so it was time for us to catch up.
We had a great chat about everything, the state of the industry, why bar owner GoFundMe pages make our blood boil, the joy of managing union staff, why owners will drop $50k on a bar system but $0 on buying in far more lucrative knowledge, and a bunch more.
Enjoy!

Emily's Favorite Books (click to buy from independent bookstores)
Trust & Inspire - Stephen Covey. Buy: https://bookshop.org/p/books/trust-and-inspire-how-truly-great-leaders-unleash-greatness-in-others-stephen-m-r-covey/17380308?ean=9781982143756

Unreasonable Hospitality - Will Guidara. Buy: https://bookshop.org/p/books/unreasonable-hospitality-the-remarkable-power-of-giving-people-more-than-they-expect-will-guidara/17927785?ean=9780593418574

Traction - Gino Wickman. Buy: https://bookshop.org/p/books/traction-get-a-grip-on-your-business-gino-wickman/8408027?ean=9781936661831

Fierce Conversations - Susan Scott. Buy: https://bookshop.org/p/books/fierce-conversations-revised-and-updated-achieving-success-at-work-and-in-life-one-conversation-at-a-time-susan-scott/7706050?ean=9780425193372

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Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

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