Ryan Minton
About Ryan Minton
With over 20 years of experience leading world-class hospitality brands, Ryan Minton is a Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and an influential voice in creating exceptional customer and employee experiences. As a senior executive representing hospitality giants like Hilton, Marriott, and IHG, Ryan has a proven track record of driving record revenues, profits, and engagement through his keen eye for operational excellence and talent for fostering dynamic teams.
Regarded as a top speaker and social media influencer in customer and employee experience, Ryan brings a unique blend of strategic vision and on-the-ground leadership. He has been internationally recognized as one of the World's Best Speakers in two separate categories – Hospitality and Customer Experience – by Global Gurus for his ability to inspire audiences through storytelling and actionable insights. Ryan also sits on the Forbes Business Council and holds an expert panel position with Newsweek.
Watch Ryan Minton
Speaking Topics
In this heartfelt and humor-filled keynote, hospitality leader Ryan Minton reveals the profound connection between employee fulfillment and exceptional guest experiences. Drawing from real-world successes with leading brands and independent operations, Minton shares engaging stories and actionable strategies that show leaders how to create environments where employees thrive and customers feel truly cared for. This high-impact session demonstrates how authentic leadership and genuine employee appreciation transform into memorable customer experiences across every location. Perfect for General Managers, District Leaders, and Multi-Unit Operators, including those in franchise systems, who understand that their most powerful competitive advantage is a team that feels valued, supported, and inspired to make every guest interaction count.
Key Concepts & Takeaways:
- The direct link between employee experience and customer experience
- Why frontline employees are the most powerful driver of brand perception
- Understanding the true cost of poor service and disengaged teams
- First Impressions Matter – setting expectations from day one (for employees and customers)
- "You Are the Experience" – how every interaction shapes the brand
- Hospitality as a universal principle: caring for people in any industry
- Kindness as a Strategic Advantage – why leadership behavior defines culture
- Blow People Away (BPA) – creating memorable moments that drive loyalty
In today's competitive business environment, exceptional performance starts with leadership that shows up positive. Hospitality expert Ryan Minton reveals how leaders can transform their operations by building cultures where teams consistently deliver their best. Perfect for General Managers, business owners, and location leaders – whether in franchise systems or independent operations – this presentation delivers practical strategies for creating energized teams that drive growth and guest satisfaction in your business.
Key Concepts & Takeaways:
- Why leadership energy sets the tone for performance and consistency
- The impact of frontline teams on operational success
- First Impressions Matter – reinforcing standards daily through leadership presence
- "You Are the Experience" – leadership visibility and influence in every moment
- Applying hospitality principles to drive operational results
- Kindness as a leadership strategy that builds trust and accountability
- Creating a culture where people consistently bring their best
- Blow People Away (BPA) as a driver of performance and customer satisfaction
- Simple, practical ways to elevate team mindset and execution
Discover how successful leaders unlock extraordinary guest experiences by empowering their frontline teams. In this dynamic presentation tailored for location managers and business leaders, Ryan Minton reveals proven strategies for implementing BPA (Blowing People Away) while maintaining service consistency. Through real-world examples from both franchise and independent operations, managers learn how to transform hourly employees into passionate brand champions and create a culture of exceptional service within their businesses.
Key Concepts & Takeaways:
- The shift from task management to experience leadership
- Why frontline employees define and differentiate the customer experience
- First Impressions Matter – for both team members and customers
- Establishing clear, simple service expectations teams can execute
- "You Are the Experience" – ownership at every level of the operation
- Hospitality in action: moving from transactional to relational service
- Kindness as a competitive advantage in delivering service
- Blow People Away (BPA) – creating moments customers remember and share
- Empowering teams to consistently deliver standout experiences
Transform your leadership impact with the Power of Positive Leadership Workshop, delivered by Ryan Minton, a certified trainer partnered with Jon Gordon. Based on Jon Gordon's Wall Street Journal bestseller, this dynamic 3.5-hour session empowers leaders to create lasting positive change in their organizations and teams.
Learn proven strategies for:
- Building and sustaining positive cultures that drive results
- Leading with optimism and unwavering belief
- Transforming negativity into opportunity
- Creating meaningful connections and high-performing teams
- Pursuing excellence through love and accountability
Through interactive exercises, powerful storytelling, and practical application, participants develop the mindset and tools to inspire their teams, drive positive change, and leave a lasting legacy. Perfect for leaders at all levels who want to harness the competitive advantage of positive leadership.
Transform your frontline leadership into exceptional customer experiences with our "Inspiring Memorable Service" workshop. This dynamic 90-minute session empowers managers and supervisors to create memorable "Blow People Away" (BPA) moments that turn ordinary interactions into lasting customer connections.
Participants learn proven strategies for:
- Building and inspiring high-performing service teams
- Creating a culture of exceptional customer experiences
- Using empowerment effectively in fast-paced environments
- Turning service challenges into opportunities to wow customers
Through interactive role-play, real-world scenarios, and practical exercises, leaders develop the skills to anticipate customer needs, implement simple acts of generosity, and empower their teams to deliver outstanding service. Perfect for new and experienced managers who want to take their leadership and customer service to the next level.
Testimonials
You should know that we are still talking about you here at the Bell. The feedback has been fantastic. They were touched by your story and it made an impact they're taking back to their restaurants.
Chief Operating Officer – Taco Bell, Yum Brands
Ryan was fantastic!! This was no surprise, however, given the preparation he put into his effort by visiting with multiple franchisees in advance to better understand the business and the challenges they face. He customized his content to address these issues. In addition, he left our team with straightforward, common sense action steps to take back to their restaurants. He has a great presentation style that is relatable, friendly, and funny. His experience in hospitality gave him immediate credibility with our team. I had numerous franchisees tell me privately that they thought Ryan was the best speaker we've ever had for this event!
Chief Operating Officer – Wings and Rings
What a thrill to have Ryan Minton speak to our General Managers. His story was compelling, and the simplistic notion of taking care of your People and the Customer is spot on. Our team is still talking about his keynote weeks later. Ryan's presentation not only engaged our leadership team but has created lasting impact that continues to resonate. If you're considering bringing in a speaker who delivers practical wisdom with genuine passion, Ryan will exceed your expectations and help grow your team.
President – IHOP Sunshine Restaurant Partners
Ryan is truly one of a kind, his story is inspirational, and his background in hospitality makes him a great fit for all audiences. One of the reasons we selected him is because hospital associations, like KHA, are always eager to hear from leaders outside of health care who can draw parallels and offer fresh ideas. The hospitality industry, in particular, provides clear connections to improving the patient and employee experience, and Ryan captured that perfectly.
Director of Education – Kansas Hospital Association
I researched a lot of different speakers for our franchise conference, and Ryan was a clear choice even before I discovered how great he is to work with. His attention to detail and care in tailoring the keynote to our group made everyone feel special, and we've heard nothing but great feedback from our attendees. Ryan's ability to elevate our event, combined with his personal connection to our brand, made him the perfect choice – he was a big part of why our event was so awesome!
Vice President of Marketing – Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken
Our franchisees walked away highly energized and motivated, and more importantly equipped with very real and tangible strategies and tactics that will immediately benefit their business. Ryan's keynote was "spot on" with messaging, and his engaging and entertaining style captured the audience from beginning to end. Ryan's presentation exceeded our expectations (which were high), and I highly recommend him for anyone in the service business. Home run!
President & CEO – The Maids International