I've Got a Guy: Stories, Thoughts, and a Few Confessions from a Hospitality Rebel

by Michael Albanese

Hospitality is a strange kind of rebellion. You give everything—and somehow become yourself in the process.

In I’ve Got a Guy, Michael Albanese offers a hilarious, heartfelt, and sharply observant memoir about what it truly means to serve. From navigating post-9/11 hotel chaos to pulling off billionaire requests that defy logic, these stories and insights from the front lines of hospitality are as outrageous as they are deeply human. Drawn from decades at the heart of the experience economy—where humanity, absurd expectations, and quiet acts of grace collide—each chapter is a raw, revealing, and often unforgettable. But more than insights, they’re an invitation to rethink the value of service and hospitality. With wit, grit, and surprising tenderness, Albanese explores the tensions between performance and purpose, philosophy and execution, humility and leadership.

This isn’t just a book for hospitality insiders. It’s for anyone who’s ever stayed at a hotel, led a team, worked a thankless shift, or wondered if their work could mean something more.

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2025

About the author

Michael Albanese was born in New York City and raised in Marietta, GA.

He loves writing, coffee, basketball and all forms of art.

Michael lives in Atlanta with his wife Wynn, their two daughters and two cats.

Reviews

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who spent the first half of my career in the restaurant and wine world, I’ve Got a Guy spoke straight to my heart. I’ve long believed that everyone should be required to work in the service industry, and this book speaks to exactly why.

While I absolutely loved Albanese's sharp wit and hilarious stories (which genuinely had me laughing out loud throughout the book!), what resonated the most were his reflections on humanity, vulnerability, and the unglamorous courage it takes to keep showing up for others. In a time when automation and artificial intelligence threaten to replace real connection, Albanese makes a powerful case for the enduring value of relationships, service, and presence.

But this isn’t just a book about the hospitality industry. Even if you've never worked in customer service, there's so much to take away about leadership, humility, resilience, and the search for meaning in our work. Albanese doesn’t gloss over the messiness of building a career or the reality of entrepreneurship, and I appreciated how honest he was about the setbacks, doubts, and moments of uncertainty he experienced along the way.

At its core, this is a book about people. It’s about how we treat each other, what it means to serve with intention, and how small, everyday moments can leave a lasting impact. I picked it up expecting a fun and entertaining hospitality memoir, but I finished it feeling unexpectedly moved and inspired. Highly recommend.

[Blessing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found "I’ve Got a Guy " to be a thoughtful, quietly funny collection of stories about hospitality, work, and paying attention to people. It really stuck with me! Michael Albanese writes from decades of experience in restaurants, hotels, and high-end concierge work ( the hospitalityscenein general), yet the book never feels like a résumé. How fascinating is that? It reads more like someone telling you stories over a late meal, reflecting on what stuck and what mattered. I throughly and deeply enjoyed it!

Some chapters are genuinely funny, while others slow down and land with more weight. The perfect balance! If you’ve ever worked a service job, love good food and great hotels, or just want to be a better human who shows up for others, this book is definitely for you. I finished it with a better and deeper appreciation for the people behind the scenes and a reminder that the smallest gestures often carry the most weight. Micheal outdid himself!

[Wendi Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! Michael Albanese brings some of the best and worst of people together in a hilarious way.

This is a memoir that will make you laugh and think about the really hard work people put in to bring you that “one of a kind” experience. The one that makes you smile when you think about it. Hotel work isn’t for the weak, but with a good outlook, it’s so rewarding.

The writing in this is great. You can feel like you’re there with him, but you’re also the one sitting there watching all this happen with a friend.

I recommend this to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful coaster ride!

Just read it and nourish in the prose. Michael is a great human as well as a splendid storyteller that brings life to life.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traversing Marietta, Georgia to New York, the west coast and back, “I’ve Got a Guy” allows readers to witness a storied career. From author Michael Albanese’s first job as a valet, crashing the executive chef’s prized car to the innerworkings of New York’s hospitality scene, “I’ve Got a Guy” is a blend of insights and confessions inside the industry.

Crafted into four distinct sections, Albanese first begins with the making of his career in hospitality, shifting to the world of luxury, the philosophy of success within the industry, and finally the business side of it all. Delivering incredible stories and confessions, like the envelope that was sure to have been life changing to the private chef’s experience curated for a client, and the legendary concert hot dog he re-created stateside; Albanese has surely led an interesting life.

But it’s the third section, “The Philosophy of Hospitality” where readers are introduced to Coffee Jack, then Refugee Jack, and other stories of interesting people that really makes this read a standout. From those we meet to those we learn from, it’s the people along the way that make life memorable and Michael Albanese is one such notable individual that will forever stand out after reading this work. Discussing how he went from working for one company to suddenly creating his own, and the catalyst that led to it all, was an eye-opening example of the hospitality that runs through Albanese’s veins.

Readers are delighted with stories of physically hitting a hotel guest and the inner workings of the restaurant industry, but we are also enlightened with learning the language of the industry and understanding the experience that those within craft for customers. “In the weeds” and “mise en place,” “lagniappe” and the various phrases Albanese himself rightfully abhors, “I’ve Got a Guy” is so much more than a hospitality book, and Michael Albanese is so much more than an author and industry guru.

A fascinating life, a business of trial and error, and an eye-opening experience within the hospitality industry awaits readers among the pages of “I’ve Got a Guy.”

[Jason Philip Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve worked in the service/hospitality industry most of my professional life, and each one of Michael’s stories resinates heavy with me. I enjoyed and related to each one in my own way. But beyond an amazing life filled with adventures, “I’ve Got A Guy” is a book full of Michael’s wisdom, gained from a lifetime of hard work and service to others. I gleaned so many ideas and new ways of looking at my own business while reading each page. I feel more equipped to do my work having read this wonderful book. I highly recommend this book to everyone in the hospitality industry, and anyone who wants to hear how to better serve your fellow human.

[Valerie Albanese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a joy to read! It spoke directly to the Hospitality side of my spirit and lived experience in a way that helped me feel both affirmed and understood. Having worked nearly every role imaginable in the restaurant world, I know firsthand how demanding, exhausting and often thankless the Hospitality industry can be. And yet, those of us who have lived it understand something sacred about it which is, as Michael writes, that “Hospitality is not what I do, it’s who I am.” I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons!

[peppkorn_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and a Goodreads Giveaway win for me. It’s a memoir from inside the service industry, full of confessions, humor, and behind the scenes stories. The author definitely has a talent for storytelling, and the book gives some wild glimpses into the lives of billionaires and the ridiculous things rich people spend their money on.

I also enjoyed learning more about what hospitality is really about. The author shares industry lingo, debunks some myths, and offers wisdom from his own experiences and others in the field. Overall, it’s a funny and insightful look at life in hospitality.

[Matty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 - As someone in the industry, I love books like these. I wish the stories went more in depth and weren't just small highlights.

[Schuyler Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put this down & ended up finishing it within a day. Great book by a great guy who knows what it’s like to be a service worker and the trials that come with it. :)