hospitality services
Defining the hospitality
The hospitality field, by definition, is a service industry. Its task is to create shareholder wealth by servicing and satisfying guests. Industry segments include, among others: hotels, restaurants, private clubs, managed food service, event planning, tourism related businesses, and travel providers.
More often than not, the product purchased is either intangible or the perceived quality of the product purchased is impacted by the service method in which it was received.
Langhorn (2004) noted that in hospitality, the service provider is “part of the product itself”. For guests to be satisfied, they not only must believe that they have received a valuable service for their dollar but also feel valued and respected by the workers providing the service (Kernbach & Schutte, 2005; Langhorn, 2004; Varca,2004; Winsted, 2000).
Sheila A. Scott-Halsell, Shane C. Blum & Lynn Huffman (2008): A
Study of Emotional Intelligence Levels in Hospitality Industry Professionals, Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, Vol. 7(2), 135-152
Hospitality is:
– the act of kindness in welcoming and looking after the basic needs of guests or strangers, mainly in relation to food, drink and accommodation;
– refers to the relationship process between a guest and a host;
– the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers with liberality and goodwill (Oxford English Dictionary);
– derived from the Latin word hospitare
The hospitality industry
The hospitality and tourism industry (H&T industry) meets the needs of people with kindness and goodwill while they are away from their homes.
The H&T industry has four service sectors: food and beverage, lodging, recreation, and travel and tourism.
hospitality services
