* «The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers * Relating to or denoting the business of entertaining clients, conference delegates, or other official visitors * “The relationship between the guest and the host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. This includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.”
Grecan Hospitality
“Hospitality was a way of honoring the gods, which was so essential, so fundamental to civilized life, that its patron was the god of gods (as mentioned in Homer, Odyssey, 9:270–71).”
Plato, in his Laws (12:952d–953e) detailed four types of stranger/guest from abroad who are to be welcomed but treated differently, according to their purpose, rank and station. These may be summarized as: * merchant on trade or business * cultural visitor to view artistic achievements * civic dignitary on public business * occasional high-status cultural visitor.
Roman Hospitality
“In Metamorphoses, Ovid (43 BC–AD 17) told the story of the gods Jupiter and Mercury who came to earth in human form and travelled around looking for a place to rest (8:987ff) But they were rejected from all the houses but one and after they had punished the ones who rejected them and flooded the village and for those who let them in the gods created a temple of the host’s house and rewarded them.”
Commercial Hospitality
“These commercial hospitality businesses existed for travellers, merchants, and sailors who came to trade and sell, or those who were stop- ping overnight along the way to other destinations.”
Domestic Hospitality
“Honorable duty to receive distinguished guests into the house.”
Private Hospitality
“Private hospitality was also established between individuals by giving each other presents, or by the mediation of a third person, and hallowed by religion.”
Dimensions of Hospitality 1. Honorable Tradition 2.