Difference between Hospitality and Hostility

Key Difference: Hospitality refers to the relationship between a host and a guest. It is the practice of treating guests well, i.e. the practice of being hospitable. Hostility, on the other hand, is completely different. Instead of treating others well, hostility refers to ill-will that one harbors towards another.

The two terms ‘hospitality’ and ‘hostility’ look and sound similar but could not be further away from each other. In fact, one could go as far as to say that they are in fact opposites, antonyms, and mean completely different than each other.

Hospitality refers to the relationship between a host and a guest. It is the practice of treating guests well, i.e. the practice of being hospitable. A hospitable host welcomes the guests into his home, provides them with good food and drinks, and a safe place to rest for the night. He should also provide entertainment for his guests.

Hospitality also refers to the multi-billion dollar hospitality industry, whose entire purpose is to host guests. This industry incorporates a broad category of fields within the service industry. It includes hotels, motels, event planning, restaurants, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and similar fields.

Hostility, on the other hand, is completely different. Instead of treating others well, hostility refers to ill-will that one harbors towards another. This ill-will is rooted in anger and resentment that one feels towards someone or something else. For example: if a teacher made you look like a fool in front of your classmates, then chances are you are going to hate that teacher for what he did for the rest of the year, and maybe even for the rest of your life. You will definitely not inviting him over and hosting him at you home.

Hospitality Hostility is basically the state of being hostile, of having enmity, antagonism, unfriendliness, and general ill will towards someone. However, the term is also often used in a political and military aspect. Here, the term ‘hostility’ refers to acts of fighting that take place during times of wars; any act of war, i.e. any military action.
Hence, it can be said that the two terms hospitality and hostility are in fact basically antonyms. Hostility means not friendly, warm, or generous; not hospitable, but instead focuses on ill will and resentment. While, hospitality is friendly, warm, and generous; it aims to take care of people without any ill will and resentment.

Comparison between Hospitality and Hostility:

	Hospitality	Hostility
Definition (Merriam-Webster)	Generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests : hospitable treatment The activity of providing food, drinks, etc. for people who are the guests or customers of an organization	An unfriendly or hostile state, attitude, or action Hostilities : acts of fighting in a war
Description	Hospitality is the relationship between the guest and the host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. This includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.	Aggression refers to any word said or action taken with the purpose of being hurtful, harmful, and with the intention of inflicting damage or other unpleasantness upon someone.
Purpose	Pleasantry, to host guests, to be a good host, etc.	Anger, to be angry towards someone or something, to despise someone or something, etc.
Also in reference in	Also refers to the hospitality industry, which is a road category within the service industry including lodging, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry.	In military, hostility mainly refers to acts of fighting that take place during times of wars; any act of war, i.e. military action can be described as hostility.