A Perceptions of Tourism & Hospitality Students Toward a Hospitable Service Mindset: A Preliminary Investigation

Purpose: The study aims to examine the perceptions of tourism and hospitality students regarding a hospitable service mindset, investigate how experiential learning opportunities shape students' perceptions and attitudes towards hospitality, and distinguish between genuine hospitableness and hospitable service mindset. Design/methodology/approach: The research design employed a purposive sampling method to select 942 undergraduate hospitality students. An online questionnaire was distributed via Google Forms for seven days. The questionnaire had three sections and used a 7-point scale. The response rate was 20% from 231 returned and accurately filled questionnaires. The data was analyzed using SPSS for descriptive analysis. Findings: The study found that students enjoy serving guests during internships, valuing respect for guests (6.46). They need more training in creating a heart-soothing atmosphere (5.99). Overall, students have a positive understanding of the Hospitable Service Mindset (6.26). The findings suggest that hospitality and hospitable service mindset are distinct concepts, with hospitality being more formally taught and studied, while hospitable is more informally learned through social interactions and personal experiences. Research limitations/implications: The study found that students enjoy serving guests during internships, valuing respect for guests (6.46). They need more training in creating a heart-soothing atmosphere (5.99). Overall, students have a positive understanding of the Hospitable Service Mindset (6.26). The findings suggest that hospitality and hospitable service mindset are distinct concepts, with hospitality being more formally taught and studied, while hospitable is more informally learned through social interactions and personal experiences. Originality/value: The originality of the study lies in its focus on the specific impact of experiential learning opportunities on the development of a hospitable service mindset. The value of the study lies in its potential to inform the design and implementation of effective experiential learning initiatives, equipping students with the requisite mindset and skills needed to excel in the hospitality industry.