Founder, Shake Shack and Union Square Hospitality Group
Danny Meyer: Biography at a Glance
- Danny Meyer is a managing partner and former CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, the company behind multiple award-winning restaurants including Gramercy Tavern, Shake Shack, The Modern, and Union Square Cafe.
- He is the best-selling author of Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business.
- USHG restaurants and chefs have earned an unprecedented 28 James Beard awards.
- Meyer diversified USHG by launching the full-service catering and hospitality business Union Square Events and the learning and consultant business Quotient.
Videos
Biography
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Danny Meyer grew up in a family that relished great food and hospitality. Thanks to his father’s travel business, which designed custom European trips, Danny spent much of his childhood eating, visiting near and far-off places, and sowing the seeds for his future passion. In 1985, at the age of 27, Danny opened his first restaurant, Union Square Cafe, launching what would become a lifelong career in hospitality.
Thirty years later, Danny’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) comprises some of New York’s most beloved and acclaimed restaurants, including Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, and more. Danny and USHG founded Shake Shack, the modern-day “roadside” burger restaurant, which became a public company in 2015. USHG also offers large-scale event services, foodservice solutions for public and private institutions, industry consulting, and educational programming.
Under Danny’s leadership, USHG is renowned not only for its acclaimed restaurants but also for its distinctive and celebrated culture of Enlightened Hospitality. This guiding principle of prioritizing employees first and foremost has driven and shaped USHG’s ongoing evolution from a small group of restaurants into a multi-faceted hospitality organization.
Danny and USHG’s diverse ventures have added to the hospitality dialogue in many contexts including dining options in museums, sports arenas, and cultural institutions, as well as prescient investments in burgeoning neighborhoods. USHG launched a pioneering initiative to eliminate tipping throughout its New York restaurants. This new way of business, called Hospitality Included, is designed to compensate the restaurant team more equitably and professionally while providing clear paths for professional advancement.
Danny’s groundbreaking business book, Setting the Table, a New York Times Bestseller, articulates a set of signature business and life principles that translate to a wide range of industries. A celebrated speaker and educator, Danny has set industry standards in areas such as hiring practices, innovative leadership, and corporate responsibility and addresses a wide range of audiences on such topics around the country.
Danny has been generously recognized for his leadership, business achievements, and humanitarianism, including the Julia Child Award, the TIME 100 “Most Influential People” list, the Aspen Institute Preston Robert Tisch Award in Civic Leadership, the NYU Lewis Rudin Award for Exemplary Service to New York City, and the IFMA Gold Plate Award. Together, Danny and USHG’s restaurants and individuals have won an unprecedented 28 James Beard Awards, including Outstanding Restaurateur and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America.
Danny and his wife, Audrey, live in New York City and have four children.
Topics
Enlightened Hospitality
Under Danny Meyer’s leadership, USHG is renowned not only for its acclaimed restaurants but also for its distinctive and celebrated culture of Enlightened Hospitality. This guiding principle of prioritizing employees first and foremost has driven and shaped USHG’s ongoing evolution from a small group of restaurants into a multi-faceted hospitality organization. Businesses that prioritize their employee experience see greater returns for all of their stakeholders, from customer experience to community enrichment and beyond.
Service vs. Hospitality
Maya Angelou said: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Danny addresses the critical difference between service—the technical delivery of a product—and hospitality—the way the interaction makes you feel—drawing on examples from the restaurant industry to illustrate the powerful impact that hospitality can have on employee engagement, customer loyalty, and sales. And in any organization, hiring the right people, training them for excellence, and giving them room to grow is of the utmost importance. Danny shares his philosophy of the 51%er, a framework for hiring employees who lead with the emotional intelligence that underlies great hospitality.
Innovation and Leadership—The Hospitality Included Case Study
Central to Danny’s business philosophy is the question: “Whoever wrote the rule?” Union Square Hospitality Group’s innovative spirit has taken the company to new frontiers that transcend the restaurant industry. Danny shares stories from his entrepreneurial roots and case studies from throughout his career (including Hospitality Included, a recent initiative to eliminate tipping) to illuminate the power of risk-taking and the value of a mistake well handled.
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FAQs
How do I book Danny Meyer for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Danny Meyer to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
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As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Danny Meyer's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Danny Meyer’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Danny Meyer in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Danny Meyer's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Danny Meyer's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Danny Meyer, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Danny Meyer's speaking fee?
Danny Meyer's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Danny Meyer's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Danny Meyer's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Danny Meyer as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Danny Meyer as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Danny Meyer's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
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Email speakers@caa.com for Danny Meyer's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Danny Meyer for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Danny Meyer speaking engagements.
Official contact for Danny Meyer bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/danny-meyer
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Danny Meyer.
Is Danny Meyer available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Danny Meyer speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Danny Meyer's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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Contact CAA Speakers for Danny Meyer's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Danny Meyer for?
Book Danny Meyer for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Danny Meyer customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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Danny Meyer engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Danny Meyer can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Danny Meyer booking information and availability
Check Danny Meyer's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Danny Meyer for your preferred event date.
Book Danny Meyer keynote speaker through CAA
Book Danny Meyer through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Danny Meyer, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Danny Meyer's calendar
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Danny Meyer for your next event.
Will Danny Meyer speak at private events?
Yes, Danny Meyer speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Danny Meyer's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Danny Meyer?
CAA Speakers responds to Danny Meyer booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Danny Meyer?
Book Danny Meyer 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Danny Meyer pricing information?
Get Danny Meyer pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.