Chapter 7 Careers in Hospitality
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meal times, the pace can be fast and grueling.
However, the work is creative, detailed, reward-
ing, and often provides a sense of community.
Lodging
Playwright George Bernard Shaw once said,
“I have always said the great advantage of a hotel
is that it’s a refuge from home life” (“George
Bernard Shaw,” 2007). People traveling for busi-
ness or leisure reasons look for a “home away
from home” when they travel. A good meal, a
comfortable bed, and attentive staff can go a
long way toward making travelers feel at home.
Lodging employees work at all kinds of
establishments. Lodging can take many forms
that vary from hotels, motels, lodges, camps,
inns, and bed-and-breakfasts to ranches, resorts,
disasters can deter tourist travel,
cause unexpected delays, or
require refunds or extra services.
In the worst cases, lives are
lost, facilities are destroyed, and
lawsuits prevent further business
ventures. Natural disasters
always cause unexpected costs,
but in the tourism industry,
service providers must work
with guests who are displaced
from their homes and familiar
resources.
Political Unrest
Political unrest may be
easier to forecast than crime
or natural disasters. Certainly
political events can take
hospitality enterprises by
surprise, but more often, the
political climate dictates events
that affect tourist business.
In the United States, the
Department of State issues
travel warnings and public
announcements. They can be
obtained in both written and
electronic form. Travel warnings
are issued when the Department
of State recommends deferral of
travel by United States citizens
Terrorist acts occur at
random, making it impossible
for hospitality service providers
to fully protect their guests and
their businesses. Hospitality
service providers establish
precautions that provide some
degree of protection and serve
as deterrents to would-be
terrorists. In the United States,
the Department of State (travel.
state.gov) provides emergency
warnings regarding known or
suspected terrorist activity.
Safety and security issues
will always be present. Safety
and security issues can range
from poor sanitation procedures
in a local restaurant to large-
scale natural disasters. For
example, if customers hear that
a local food establishment may
present health concerns, the
business may lose its customer
base even if the rumors are
unfounded. Fear and concern,
whether based on reality or
perception, can devastate
a business. The financial
ramifications of these events
continue to be of concern to
hospitality service providers.
to a country with which the
United States has no diplomatic
relations or when there is civil
unrest, dangerous conditions,
or known terrorist activity
and, therefore, the United
States government cannot
assist travelers in need. Public
announcements are used to get
information to travelers early and
quickly about immediate safety
or security threats. Foreign
embassies or consulates in the
United States can also provide
current information on countries.
Security Risks/Terrorism
The threat of terrorist
activity is not new. However,
for Americans, terrorism
has become much more of
a perceived threat following
9/11. Many service providers
within the hospitality industry
suffered financial setbacks
from increased fear of travel,
especially to international
destinations. New security
procedures at airports, hotels,
and other locations have made
travel more cumbersome and
less carefree.