Kinds of hospitality and the guest cycle

Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host: a friendly, generous welcome, and services given with warmth: a place to stay, food, entertainment and comfort.

Kinds of establishments:

• Hotel: lodging, meals and other services.
• Motel: parking near the room, for travellers by road.
• Lodge: rented sleeping rooms, perhaps without food.
• Resort: leisure, sports and activities.
• Furnished apartments, and furnished camps (for hikers and adventure).

Hospitality also serves conventions, weddings, theme parks, cruises, hospitals and hostels. Its sectors: accommodation (the front office), food and beverage service, meetings and events, entertainment and recreation, and tourism.

The guest cycle has four stages:

• Pre-arrival: quoting rates, taking reservations (bookings).
• Arrival: registration, or check-in.
• Occupancy: services, security, coordination; a satisfied guest becomes a loyal customer.
• Departure: check-out. A 'guest history' records the stay and the guest's feedback.