Sirio Maccioni, the founder of the iconic Le Cirque in New York City, passed away yesterday.  Maccioni was a real innovator in the restaurant hotel business.  In these difficult times, his leadership and longevity reminds us what is great and resilient in this industry.    From the New York Times obituary:

“Give the people what they want,” he said in the autobiography. “If they want a whole fish, grilled, then give it to them. Don’t give away the best table, so that it’s there when you need it. Give the early people the center tables, so they think they are important. Never have an empty table in the room. Do the impossible. Never say no.”

As successful as he was in the hospitality business, Maccioni never lost sight of what really make the business great: the basic respect for hard work and service.

“You know, when I die, I hope that is all they say about me: that I made it respectable to be a waiter.”

Read the full New York Times obituary:  https://nyti.ms/3eABTn9