US, May 1 -- From the earliest chapters of human history, hospitality has shaped how societies define themselves. In the Book of Genesis, Abraham's generosity toward strangers stands in stark contrast to the inhospitable reputation of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some interpretations even suggest that the moral failure of those cities was rooted less in sensational wrongdoing and more in their refusal to welcome and care for others. Whether one accepts that view or not, the lesson is enduring: how we treat strangers reflects who we are.

That same principle carries forward into the modern hospitality and tourism industry. The very word "hospitality" shares its linguistic roots with "hotel" and "hospital," all derived from the Latin hospes, meaning...