Chapter 1 Th e World of Hospitality 7
U.S. Travel Association
1-2
The money that tourists spend supports the economy.
When something is diverse, it includes many
different elements. The hospitality industry is very
diverse. Some businesses in the hospitality indus-
try are small; some are large. Some provide food,
while others provide a place to sleep. Yet others
provide entertainment or transportation.
Think about the times you have used a hos-
pitality business. Possibilities could include eating
lunch at a restaurant, staying at a hotel, seeing a
movie, and taking a plane to visit relatives. Res-
taurants, hotels, movie theaters, and airplanes are
all hospitality businesses. Other kinds of businesses
in the hospitality industry include cruise ships, casi-
nos, and theme parks, 1-3.
The people who use hospitality businesses
are also diverse. A hospitality business may serve
Industry Diversity
guests from throughout the United States and the
world. Consequently, these guests represent many
ages, cultures, and religions. Some guests may
have disabilities and need special help.
Hospitality employees are also diverse. They
may come from different countries and have dif-
ferent languages, religions, abilities, levels of edu-
cation, and interests. Many new immigrants to the
United States fi nd their fi rst jobs in the hospitality
industry. Hospitality workers also vary in age—
from high school students on their fi rst jobs to re-
tired persons working part-time.
Complex, another word used to describe the
hospitality industry, means made of two or more
Industry Complexity