What is hospitality?

One of the key questions at the start of the book “Unreasonable Hospitality - the Field Guide” is around defining what the word hospitality means.

It is one of those words where you know what it means until you actually have to define it and explain it.

The author, Will Guidara, talks about how he has refined his definition of the word over the years and how there are many nuances to it. He gives some examples in the book:

Hospitality is:

• making people feel truly seen
• giving people a sense of belonging
• setting expectations
• caring more and trying harder
• making people feel welcome

And it is all of these, and more.

My current working definition is

Hospitality is triggering a positive reaction in someone by going beyond expectations.

Is it perfect? No. Will I change it? Yes. (I’ve already changed it twice today). However I think it is a good starting point.

How would you define hospitality?