Hospitality - Characteristics, Nature And Sectors

Hospitality - Characteristics, Nature And Sectors

The word Hospitality is derived from the Hospice; a medieval 'Home of Rest '. The literal meaning of Hospitality is looking after guest well which includes showing respect to the guest, providing their needs and generous treatment of guests. The basic needs of a stranger or customer are looked mainly related to food, drinks and accommodation. In simple language, it is friendly & welcoming behaviour towards guests.  Hospitality is a positive relationship between guest and host and provided a pleasant atmosphere to guests. It is the process of making the guest feel 'Home away from home". It is friendly and generous treatment of guests!

The hospitality industry consists of hotels, and other leisure and recreation activities closely linked to travel and tourism i.e Hotel industry & Travel and Tourism industry. The main product of the Hospitality Industry is service so, it is also known as service-oriented industry as our primary product is service. Our main mantra in hospitality industry is "Athiti Devo vawa"

Characteristics and Nature of Hospitality 

Hospitality service is primarily focused on customer satisfaction and includes all establishment involved in providing service to guests such as hotel, lodges restaurant travel agencies. Some nature and characteristics of Hospitality are:-

1. Intangibility: As service is our primary product in Hospitality, service is intangible that is it cannot be seen, touched or tasted before purchase. The services are not known till taken. Service can only be imagine.

2. Perishability- Service cannot be stored for later sale and cannot be stored for the future. Unused service lost revenue for that day. Example, a room that is not sold today lost revenue for that day. 

3. Ownership: Hospitality ownership cannot be owned. The service can only be hired for a period. The ownership cannot be transferred. Example, a hotel room can be used but it cannot be owned after paying 

4. Service is a process: service takes time to deliver and time to receive and consume.

5. Unstable Demand: The demand for Hospitality service is unstable as it is always influenced by seasons, economy, politics. The demand is sometimes higher and sometimes lower.  

6. Heterogeneous: Hospitality service is heterogeneous. All individuals vary and the same individual may not perform the same service every time. The same service cannot be provided for all. 

7. Hospitality service cannot be delivered without a customer. Customer is our source of revenue. 

8. There should be the right interaction between customer and service provider for productivity.

9. The customer should be present to receive the facility and services. Services cannot be transferred as one needs to be present to receive it. 

Sectors of Hospitality

The Hospitality Industry is a multi-billion industry with which mainly can be divided into:

1. Private sector: Industries is owned by a group of individuals which may include franchise also are private sectors. The private sectors include Hotel, entertainment product, Travel and Tourism e.t.c

2. Public and Government sector: Industries owned by the government or public association are public and Government sector.it includes planning and development, immigration, custom and exercise.

Also, the sectors of the Hospitality Industry can be classified in the base of Hospitality service provider which includes:-

1. Accommodation - This sector features a hotel, motels, suites, resort and other facilities that offer to lodge, flooding when people travel. 

2. Food and beverage - The food and beverage can range from fast food restaurant to fine dining restaurant. It can be either a quick-service establishment, catering business or full-service restaurant.

3. Travel and Tourism - It includes Travel agency, airlines, cruise ship. The Hospitality Industry cannot grow without Travel and Tourism.

They are the backbone of the Hospitality Industry to promotes.