974: Doug Zeif Founder & CEO of Next Hospitality Advisors

Doug Zeif is the Founder and CEO of Next! Hospitality Advisors. Doug grew up in Queens, NY and began as an amusement park cook and eventually worked as a bagel baker. He was hired as the Assistant General Manager at a steakhouse in 1980. Soon after, he began working for The Cheesecake Factory and took the restaurant from 2 to 31 locations. He has since helped and advised many companies, including Hilton, Doubletree, Waldorf: Astoria, Conrad Hotels, Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, Fairmont Hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons.

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Show notes…

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Favorite success quote/mantra:

• "If you keep doing what you've been doing, you're going to keep getting what you've been getting."

In this episode with Doug Zeif we will discuss:

• Hotels
• Controlling profit and cost
• Partners
• Accountability

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Knowledge bombs

1. Which “it factor” habit, trait, or characteristic you believe most contributes to your success?
   • Perseverance
2. What is your biggest weakness?
   • Impatients
3. What's one thing you ask or look for when interviewing/growing your team?
   • What can I count on you for?
4. What's a current challenge? How are you dealing with it?
   • People
5. Share one code of conduct or behavior you teach your team.
   • Be able to say you're sorry
6. What is one uncommon standard of service you teach your staff?
   • Ask people for great Google reviews
7. What's one book we must read to become a better person or restaurant owner?
   • Principle-Centered Leadership by Stephen R. Covey
   • Good to Great by Jim Collins
   • GET THIS BOOK FOR FREE AT AUDIBLE.COM 
8. What's one piece of technology you've adopted within your restaurant walls and how has it influence operations?
   • Restaurant365
9. What is one thing you feel restaurateurs don't do well enough or often enough?
   • Don't take care of their people
10. If you got the news that you'd be leaving this world tomorrow and all memories of you, your work, and your restaurants would be lost with your departure with the exception of 3 pieces of wisdom you could leave behind for the good of humanity, what would they be?
    • Work hard
    • Don't look back
    • Look forward

Contact:

Email: [e-mail]

Thanks for listening!

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Huge thanks to Doug Zeif for joining me for another awesome episode. Until next time!

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