Expanding the domain of hospitality research: the hospitality virtue scale

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to put forth the proposition that the concept of hospitality is broader than what is often acknowledged in academic research. Specifically, this paper establishes hospitality as a fundamental human virtue. Accordingly, all people are proposed to exhibit daily actions associated with this virtue – albeit to varying degrees. A conceptual and operational definition of hospitality virtue is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

Churchill’s (1979) construct development process is used to operationalize the hospitality virtue construct. Item generation, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis are used to establish an operational definition for the construct.

Findings

The results indicate that hospitality virtue is a second-order construct consisting of three dimensions: empathy, execution and embrace. This specification is referred to as the E³ hospitality virtue scale. As evidence of the nomological validity of this scale, the construct is demonstrated to have a positive impact on human flourishing.

Research limitations/implications

To date, the vast majority of hospitality research has been conducted at the industry level. This research has the potential to break down the industry barriers that have constrained the broader impact of hospitality research and practice at the human and societal levels.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to empirically consider hospitality not as an industry-level phenomenon, but as a fundamental part of the human condition. While there is evidence for this idea throughout the history of philosophy, this paper is the first to lend an operational structure to this concept.