Introduction
Understanding the roots of hospitality provides insight on the current state of the industry today. In Ancient Greece, a great emphasis on hospitality was necessary as a visitor could a deity, capable of passing judgment or giving good tidings depending on their treatment. Hospitality as explained by O’Gorman (2007), at the time, was a way of honoring the Gods with Zeus considered as the deity who is the protector of suppliers and guests. For hospitality to be meaningful, it entailed more than giving, as it had to be genuine and provide a sense of meaning. In an analysis of Homer’s Odyssey, the stories provide insight on the rewards associated with hospitality with some of them involve getting preferential treatment from the gods. In this sense, hospitality is an extension of friendship to strangers and people in need of help, characterized by the provision of food or accommodation to make an individual feel at ease. Today, the hospitality industry aims at providing specialized services to customers with the aim being to make them feel better. This idea tracing from Greek mythology sheds light on the importance of encouraging a sense of satisfaction and appreciation of others through the provision of services.
The nature of Greek society played an integral role in supporting the growth of the hospitality industry. The society is one that is cohesive with ‘ Xenia ’ (hospitality) playing an important part in encouraging a sense of togetherness. Another characteristic such a society is the focus on moral principles that center on hospitality being a good trait rewarded by the gods. The majority of Greeks exercised hospitality as governed by a moral code that insisted on the favorable treatment of strangers and guests.
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The Odyssey by Homer provides various examples on the applicability of hospitality. For example, the description of the wandering man who has to rely on xenia for food and shelter for the major part of the journey shed light on the importance of hospitality. As explained by Rudd (2013), the Odyssey takes the form of a parable aiming to inspire Mycenaean’s on the importance of showing hospitality. The text equally illustrates the importance of being a good host, with book nine pleading the importance of generosity by laying emphasis on the benefits associated with good hospitality. Telemachus for instance, who had not seen Odysseus for a long time is an example of an ideal host.
Hospitality was essential to the extent that if abused, there were consequences. A word Greeks had for such people are xenodaites referring to one who mistreats guests. Violations of hospitality had links to bringing about the wrath of the gods. In the writings of Homer, reception centers on the home with the owner of the house having to establish allegiances with other owners to encourage hospitality. An important component of this practice equally relates to hospitality being hereditary. Parents handed down tokens from one generation to another. An unusual form of hospitality that highly appreciated is public hospitality. In this sense, there were varied forms of guests who have to receive some kind of treatment. This explains how the growth of the hospitality industry begun.
Conclusion
From the understanding Greek mythology, it is clear that hospitality provides various benefits including a sense of fulfillment and comfort. By offering guests a specialized kind of treatment, they feel good about themselves and encourage a sense of cohesiveness between the guest and the host. With such an understanding, we can therefore, understand the hospitality industry as one that aims at making people feel happy and enjoy themselves.
References
Homer. (2012).The Odyssey Trans. Stanley Lombardo Norton Anthology of World Literature Ed. Martin Puchner.3 Ed New York: W.W Norton & Company 332-622. Print
O'Gorman, K. D. (2005). Modern Hospitality: Lessons from the past. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management , 12 (2), 141-151.
Urban, Amanda,. (2013).What Pains are Fated to Fill Your Cup: The Role of Food, Drink, and Xenia in the Homeric Epics. Scholars' Day Review 1 Web http://web.monroecc.edu/scholarsday/SDRhome
