Hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. The word 'hospitality' is derived from the Latin word 'hospes', meaning host, guest, or stranger. Hospitality can also be defined as taking care of your guests and anticipating their needs. The service industry, in a broad sense, includes any industry providing the concept of hospitality such as tourism, entertainment, transportation or lodging including hotels, cruise liners, airlines, railways, car rental companies and tour operators. It is also an industry made up of businesses that provide lodging, food and other services to travellers. The main components of this industry are hotels, motels, inns, resorts and restaurants. Today, the hotel industry is the largest sector of the service industry, offering this concept of hospitality. Hence, the hotel industry is commonly referred to as the hospitality industry.
The hotel industry is one of the oldest industries in the world. It has developed and progressed with the travel and tourism industry. In early days, traders, explorers, missionaries and pilgrims needed a break in their journeys requiring food, shelter and rest. People opened their homes and kitchens to these weary travellers, and an industry was born. Although accommodation today is varied and their services have changed and expanded over the ages, one thing about the hospitality industry has remained the same - guests are always welcome. From a friendly greeting at the door, room service, breakfast, to a host of facilities the hospitality industry offers travellers'a home away from home'.
The hotel industry is an industry where hospitality is not free, but is paid for, and where the payment depends on the comforts and services provided for. A hotel can be defined as an establishment which provides a person with accommodation, food and beverages, services and facilities, provided the person is ready to pay for it and also that the person must be in a fit and orderly state to receive whatever the hotel provides. Hotels often provide a number of additional guest services such as restaurants, laundry, a swimming pool, health spas, fitness centres,childcare etc