ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces origins and history of the concept of hospitality and the on-going debate in academia on the meaning of hospitality. It utilizes the lessons that can be learnt from this to define hospitality experiences and explains approach towards managing hospitality experiences. If someone comments on a hotel or restaurant, for instance on a customer reviews site on the internet, in terms of ‘hospitality seems to be something unknown to them’ or ‘they lack the basics of hospitality’, student would probably think twice before booking a stay or dinner. Hospitality can be seen as a key concept in the way a newcomer tried to claim membership of a group. In offering the food that he has hunted down, a newcomer hopes to establish a relationship with a group so that they will share their food in return. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
