Nowadays the hospitality industry is one major source of revenue for countries. But do you know that hoteling or hospitality was never really a business up until late middle age. Today the global market size of the hospitality industry is more than 600 billion dollars. Hospitality is considered one of the main components of tourism. Hospitality service is a relationship between the guest and host. If you want to learn about the hospitality business we have made a list of the best hospitality books.

Best Hospitality Books

Ranking Books has compiled a list of some of the best books about hospitality. This list is based on the content, length of the book, reviews, ratings and available version. So let’s start off with our list.

1. Be Our Guest

Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service is written by Theodore Kinni in collaboration with The Disney Institute. Be Our Guest is one of the best hospitality and customer service books. Be Our Guest will help the businesses in taking care of their customers by following Disney footsteps.

Be Our Guest has 6 Chapters. The book was published in 2001 by Disney Book Group, currently an updated and revised version is available which was published in 2011. The length of the book is 225 Pages. It is available in several formats.

Length: 225 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD

Latest Version: Revised & Updated Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


2. Becoming Trader Joe

Becoming Trader Joe: How I Did Business My Way and Still Beat the Big Guys is written by Joe Coulombe and co-authored by Patty Civalleri. The main author Joe Coulombe is an American entrepreneur and founder of grocery store chain Trader Joe. The book is about the shopping experience from the lens of a customer. It will help readers from the experiences of Joe on how to improve customer services and shopping experience.

Becoming Trader Joe consists of 3 Chapters mainly which are further divided into 24 articles. This book was published in 2021 by HarperCollins Leadership publishers. The length of this book is 288 Pages and it is available in a few formats.

Length: 288 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Audio CD

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4 out of 5


3. Setting the Table

Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business is a New York Times bestseller book. It is authored by Danny Meyer, who is the CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group and deals in restaurant business. Setting the Table is a good hospitality book. This book will enlighten you on how you can excel in the hospitality business by being hospitable to your customers/guests, staff and other stakeholders.

Setting the Table comprises 13 Chapters. This book was originally published in 2001 by Ecco publishers. The length of this book is 336 Pages and it is available in a variety of formats.

Length: 336 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


4. Restaurant Success by the Numbers

Restaurant Success by the Numbers: A Money-Guy’s Guide to Opening the Next New Hot Spot is written by Roger Fields. Roger Fields is a certified accountant and restaurant owner in New York. This book is one of the best books for hoteliers. This book teaches you the very basics of a restaurant business like restaurant theme, location, utilizing investment, assembling menu, setting the table, designing the kitchen, staffing and much more. This book has a lot to offer.

Restaurant Success by the Numbers is composed of 15 Chapters which are divided into 3 Parts. This book was originally published in 2007 and later a revised edition was published in 2014 by Ten Speed Press publishers. The length of this book is 320 Pages. It is available in 4 formats at the moment.

Length: 320 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback, Audio CD

Latest Version: 2nd Edition

Rating: 4.6 out of 5


5. How to Start, Run & Grow a Successful Restaurant Business

How to Start, Run & Grow a Successful Restaurant Business: A Lean Startup Guide is written by Tim Hoffman. Tom Hoffman is a Chef and a former restaurateur. This book is a genuine guide for restaurant owners. Through this book you will learn the tips and tricks that are essential to run a restaurant. Tom gave advice on restaurant business which he himself learned over a period of 2 decades.

How to Start, Run & Grow a Successful Restaurant Business has around 17 Chapters. This book was originally published by Ecco publishers in 2017. The length of this book is 270 Pages and it is available in limited formats.

Length: 270 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Paperback

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.3 out of 5


6. Introduction to Hospitality

Introduction to Hospitality is a hospitality textbook by John Walker. Dr. John R. Walker is professor of Hotel and Restaurant Management. This book covers a vast array of topics like hospitality and lodging, services management and a lot of other stuff related to hospitality business.

Introduction to Hospitality has 5 Parts and 18 Chapters. The first version of this book was published in 1995 by Pearson Education publishers. The latest version was published in 2019. The length of the book is 432 Pages. This book is available in 2 formats.

Length: 432 Pages

Available Formats: Hardcover, eTextbook

Latest Version: 8th Edition

Rating: 4.3 out of 5


7. Revenue Management for the Hospitality Industry

Revenue Management for the Hospitality Industry a book by David K. Hayes and Allisha Miller. Both David and Allisha have worked in the hospitality industry and provided consultancy to clients. The book is specific to managing the revenue in the hospitality business. Readers will learn about the revenue management principles, revenue management for hoteliers and food service operators and lastly readers will learn about revenue management in action/practice.

Revenue Management for the Hospitality Industry has 4 Parts divided into 13 Chapters. The book was published in 2010 by Wiley publishers. The length of the book is 528 Pages. This book is available in 2 formats.

Length: 528 Pages

Available Formats: Paperback, eTextbook

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.4 out of 5


8. Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Law

Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Law is written by Karen Morris, Norman Cournoyer and Anthony Marshall. Karen Morris and Norman Cournoyer are lawyers whereas Anthony Marshall is the dean of hospitality management at Florida International University. This book is recommended for students and hospitality professionals alike. This book addresses the legal challenges faced by hoteliers and its stakeholders.

Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Law consist of 16 Chapters. The book was originally published in 1978. The most recent version was published in 2017 by Kendall Hunt Publishing. The length of the book is 903 Pages. This book is available in limited formats.

Length: 903 Pages

Available Formats: Paperback, Hardcover

Latest Version: 8th Edition

Rating: 4.4 out of 5


9. Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality & Events

Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality & Events: A Global & Digital Approach, a book by Simon Hudson and Louise Hudson. The book covers the marketing perspective of the hospitality business. This book will clarify the concepts through case studies.

Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality & Events: A Global & Digital Approach consists of 12 Chapters. The book was published in 2017 by SAGE Publications. The length of the book is 384 Pages. This book is available in several formats.

Length: 384 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.9 out of 5


10. Hotel Operations Management

Hotel Operations Management is authored by David Hayes, Jack Ninemeier and Allisha Miller. This book is for hotel managers who want to learn about running the hotel operations efficiently and effectively. 

Hotel Operations Management has 15 Chapters. The book was originally published in 2003 by Pearson. The length of the book is 624 Pages. This book is available in one format.

Length: 624 Pages

Available Formats: Hardcover

Latest Version: 3rd Edition

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

These are some of the best hospitality books. We hope ranking books have made your selection easy. Let us know which one you have read and which you have not?