Features of the Hospitality Industry

Question

What is the business context of hospitality industry? And what are the features of labor working in this business context?

Answer

The hospitality industry covers a wide classification of fields, which fall under the service sector. The categories of this service industry include lodging, cruise, cuisine, event planning, and theme parks as well as tourism. According to Lee-Ross and Lashley (2010, p. 27), the industry works under a broad spectrum of facilities and direct operations for daily customer attendance such as housekeeping, management, marketing, advertising, and human resources. The hospitality industry has a diverse labour workforce that covers four broad areas, including food and beverage, recreation facilities, lodging services, and travel and tourism. According to Lashley & Morrison (2000, p. 23), the food and beverage sector is an endeavour that entails preparing food for clients. The lodging or accommodation facility offers a place where consumers can spend a night or more out while on business or leisure. There are provisions for fancy hotels, youth, and elder hostels, and motels to facilitate customer experience. Additionally, the industry’s labour force covers recreation facilities, which are aimed at offering relaxation and enjoyment to clients (Lashley & Morrison 2000, p. 56). Recreation offers entertainment, attractions, spectator and participatory sports to enhance the consumer experience. Finally, the tourism enhances the movement of people from one place to an other for holidays. Businesses in this service sector avail planes, passenger trains, buses, cabs, and boats to facilitate tour operators. Hospitality is a multi-billion service sector, which depends on the attainability of leisure-time as well as the ability of clients to access a disposable income. Within this industry, customer experience is paramount, and the consumer confidence is only guaranteed when there is effective housekeeping, management, advertising, marketing, and human resources facilitation. These departments coherently work together towards delightful customer service as the ultimate business goal.

References

Lashley, C., and Morrison, A. 2000. Franchising Hospitality Services: Hospitality, leisure and tourism series. Routledge. Lee-Ross, D., and Lashley, C 2010. Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management in the Hospitality Industry. Routledge.