ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyzes the many drivers and key players of the hospitality industry, including hotel and accommodation providers and restaurant and food service operators, from historical, industrial, and technological perspectives. It addresses what is meant by the international hospitality business and whether this concept is shared across geographic locations, especially in regard to training and mentoring the next generation of hospitality practitioners. The book then discusses the European paradigm of hospitality and how it differs from the North American paradigm of hospitality. It also discusses the relationship between globalization and the lodging-shared economy. The book compares the traditional and nontraditional hospitality sector and offers a contemporary discussion regarding the expansion of the lodging-shared economy, as well as its advantages and disadvantages. It then focuses on branding and brand extension, which are becoming major trends in the global hospitality market.
