Receiving and entertaining guests or strangers in a friendly and generous manner.
Usually there is an audience toward whom hospitality is directed: colleagues in a movement, or members of the same family, tribe, nationality or profession. Food, lodging and recreation are often provided.
The benefits of being hospitable range from strengthening the bonds of a scattered community creating a favourable image, to creating lasting friendships between individuals and nations.
Hospitality is an open invitation to criminals to violate the donors and their property or to vagabonds, idlers and heretics to continue in their ways.