The sociological analysis of hospitality labour and the neglect of accommodation workers

There has been little sociological analysis of ‘accommodation work’ in hotels. The majority of occupational studies have instead focused on food-service jobs, and in particular, waiting-at-table. This paper reviews the literature on accommodation labour. In so doing, it is contended that research into the nature, content and experience of accommodation work does little to encourage confidence in the theoretical conventions that currently dominate and inform sociological research into hotel labour.