'Last hospitality' as an overlooked dimension in contemporary hospitality theory and practice. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Filimonau, Viachaslau; Brown, Lorraine
• Is Part Of: International journal of hospitality management. Volume 74(2018)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 74
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Hospitality realm -- 'dark' hospitality -- 'last' hospitality -- 'final destination' -- Funeral care -- Funeral director; Hotel management -- Periodicals; Restaurant management -- Periodicals; Food service management -- Periodicals; Hôtels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Restaurants -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Services alimentaires -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Food service management; Hotel management; Restaurant management; Periodicals; 647.94
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.02.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-4319

Abstract

Highlights: Revisits the traditional vision of hospitality as a social and commercial phenomenon. Elaborates on the importance of hospitability in funeral care provision. Introduces the notion of 'last hospitality'. Advocates the need to include funeral care into traditional understandings of hospitality. Discusses the implications for hospitality theory, practice and research. Abstract: This paper contributes to the on-going debate on how hospitality should be defined and what constitutes hospitality as a social and commercial phenomenon. The paper takes a conceptual approach, reviewing the literature relevant to hospitality and funeral care provision, and proposing a reclassification of hospitality. The paper reveals that funeral care holds a number of core attributes that have long been associated with (more) conventional hospitality services. The paper articulates these similarities and introduces the notion of 'last hospitality', which is conceptualised as the hospitality services provided by funeral directors to the deceased and their families and friends. The paper argues that 'last hospitality' alongside the related services of funeral directors should be subsumed into traditional notions of hospitality. The paper discusses the implications of this inclusion for hospitality research, theory and practice.