Stand Out Hospitality
A book for the people who keep this industry going

By Cassie Davison — coming Nov 2025

A love letter to independent hospitality — and a roadmap to what’s next

This book isn’t about theory. It’s about the emotional and operational reality of running a hospitality business when you care deeply and the pressure never stops.

Cassie wrote Stand Out Hospitality to help leaders reconnect with their purpose, rebuild their confidence, and create businesses that work for them — not just because of them.

It’s part memoir, part manifesto, part practical framework — and entirely built on lived experience.

What Readers Are Saying

“Bold, honest, and full of heart. It felt like sitting down for a proper chat with someone who just gets it. The personal stories hit hard — and the way Cassie names burnout, doubt, and the messy bits no one else talks about is genuinely powerful.”
— Gareth Hazad, Co-founder, Why Hospitality

“I recognised so much from my own experience. The approaches are practical, grounded, and real. A thoughtful, credible read for anyone who’s been in the industry a while.”
— Martin Traynor OBE, Chair, Institute of Hospitality

“This book totally fired me up. It’s not just for people in hospitality — it’s a book about humans, told through the lens of the industry. It reminded me of things I’d forgotten and taught me things I didn’t know. Everyone should read it, no matter what side of the bar they’re on.”
— Dana Hunter, Independent Operator

What you’ll find inside

This isn’t just a book about how hospitality feels.
It’s a book about how to lead a business that stands out — with strategy, with purpose, and without losing yourself along the way.

Real Talk

Burnout, identity loss, team challenges, rising costs, disappearing customers — and the emotional pressure of leading through it all. This book names the reality, without judgement.

Stories That Stick

Candid stories from Cassie’s own journey and from operators across the industry. Moments you’ll recognise. Insights you’ll remember.

A Clear Framework

The Five Pillars of Stand Out Hospitality — a practical, values-led strategy to help your business grow without burning out.

Emotional Strategy

Not just what to do, but how to think — with tools to help you regain clarity, energy, and direction. This is strategy with soul.

Belonging v Burnout

Hospitality is built on people — and yet, too many leaders feel isolated. This book reconnects you with why you started, and shows you you’re not alone.

The five pillars of Stand Out Hospitality

This is more than a structure — it’s the foundation behind every Kith & Kin conversation, strategy, and story.

These Five Pillars are at the heart of how Cassie helps independent hospitality businesses grow — not just bigger, but braver, clearer, and more connected.

“This framework is the product of 30 years in the trenches — building standout hospitality businesses, falling flat, and figuring out what actually works.”
— Cassie

1. Set High Standards

Lead with excellence and hold strong standards for yourself and others — not perfection, but pride. This is about culture, consistency, and care.

2. Stand Out

Turn down the noise and own what makes you different. Clarity is your competitive edge.

3. Define Your Identity

Know who you are, who you serve, and what you stand for. Build from the inside out.

4. Build Belonging

Create emotional loyalty with your customers, your team, and yourself. This is the human part of hospitality.

5. Tell a Great Story

Share what you believe and why it matters. Stories build connection, visibility, and meaning.

This book is for you if...

  • You’re an independent hospitality owner or senior leader

  • You feel stuck, stretched, or on the edge of burnout

  • You care deeply — about your customers, your team, and your work

  • You want to grow with clarity and confidence, not just urgency

  • You want strategy that feels human — not just profitable

  • You’re ready to reconnect with your purpose and lead from it

  • You work in the hospitality ecosystem and want to truly support independent operators — and understand the real truth of their day-to-day challenges

“This isn’t a book about surviving hospitality. It’s about building something worth staying for.”

Ready to read?

The book launches in 2025 — but the movement has already begun.

You don’t have to wait to start reconnecting with your purpose, your people, and your potential. You can download the first chapter now, join the Kith & Kin community, or follow along as we grow — together.

Want to be the first to read it?

The book waitlist is open.
Join to get updates, bonus content, and a personal message from Cassie when the book is ready.