Hotel Costing vs. Accounting Costing System

Purpose: This study contrasts the costing process applied in four-star hotels in Bogota with the traditional costing systems identified and used in academic training processes.   Theoretical Framework: From the different definitions of cost, reference is always made to the necessary capital expenditures in the company, directly associated with the product or good that is produced, which must be easily identifiable and must also be recoverable at the time of sale of a product.At this point it is important to clarify that the term “cost” is understood as a measure of the consumption of resources related to the demand of the work and activities to be performed, while “expense” is a measure of consumption related to the capacity provided to perform the work, activity and/or process (Mejía & Salazar, 2015, p. 51). In a similar context, Rodriguez (2008) refers to expenditure as the cash outflow within a hotel related to sales and administration departments, and supports the relationship of the cost for manufacturing the product.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The focus of the research process was mixed, given the combination of quantitative data collected, as well as the analysis of opinions, facts and contrasts obtained in the process of collecting information that constitute qualitative notes on the latest experiences lived by the group of experts in the development of their functions within the hotels. The variables shown in Figure 3 were present in this information gathering and evaluation process.   Findings: Within the results presented, a costing system is differentiated from a costing process showing the relevant variables necessary to be called a “system”.   Research, Practical & Social Implications: The pandemic generated by Covid-19 was a limiting factor for reaching this group of hotels and caused the closure of establishments and the cessation of operations in most of the lodging companies. The research group mitigated this fact by convening a group of 17 people to a focus group, as experts, validating them through their work experience since they have held positions in hotels as accountants, cost managers and controllers.   Originality/Value: A sample of 43.3% of the four-star hotels in the city of Bogotá D.C. was used, where instruments were applied to present the results that were analyzed with context analysis matrices.