Introduction to Hospitality, Global Edition, 9th edition
Published by Pearson (December 13, 2024) © 2025
John R. Walker

Title overview

For introductory courses in hospitality.

An engaging introduction to hospitality, for tomorrow's leaders

Introduction to Hospitality is a lively, comprehensive survey of the world's largest industry: hospitality. Students explore the vibrant inner workings of each hospitality segment, including lodging, restaurants, tourism, recreation, attractions, clubs and managerial areas. A core goal is to help students advance their hospitality career. In that spirit, Walker offers lively material and interesting features to facilitate learning.

The 9th Edition maintains its five-part organization, and features an all-new chapter on cruising. All chapters are updated to include COVID-19 implications, as well as What do you think? critical-thinking discussion questions.

Hallmark features of this title

Exposure to all areas of hospitality

  • Introducing... and A Day in the Life of... features introduce the real people of hospitality management and describe their experiences on the job.
  • Corporate profiles discuss the practices, growth and scope of leading organizations.
  • Current issues section in each chapter examines the factors shaping the future of various segments of the hospitality industry.

Practical applications

  • Case Studies test students' skills and knowledge as they address and recommend appropriate actions in each situation
  • Apply Your Knowledge questions challenge students to apply chapter concepts to real-life industry topics.
  • Check Your Knowledge questions at the end of each Learning Objectives section reinforces the material students have just read.

New and updated features of this title

Revised organization and areas of focus

  • REVISED: The 9th Edition has been divided into five parts, beginning with introductory material; progressing through lodging, restaurants, tourism and recreation, and events; and ending with managerial areas of the hospitality industry.
  • NEW: Chapter 12 on cruising is new to this edition.
  • NEW: The implications of COVID-19 in all segments of hospitality are woven throughout. Additional new and expanded topics include ghost kitchens, senior living, sustainability, gaming technology, and social medial planning, among others.

Critical-thinking tools

  • NEW: What do you think? critical-thinking questions are new to this edition.
  • EXPANDED: A new case study per chapter has been added to this edition. Based on industry scenarios, these cases challenge students to test their skills and recommend appropriate actions.
  • EXPANDED: New Corporate Profiles, Introducing..., and Focus On features give students new insight into the experiences and perspectives of hospitality professionals across the industry.

Key features

Features of Revel for the 9th Edition

  • Full-chapter audio allows students to listen and learn in an alternative format.
  • Interactive exercises such as multiple-choice questions and fill-in-the blank are integrated throughout the narrative so students can self-check their understanding at regular intervals before moving on.
  • Simulations are available for select chapters. Based on real examples, these interactive exercises allow students to experience the hospitality industry firsthand.
  • Flashcards and study tools provide practice with all the important key terms.
  • Learning objective quizzes and chapter quizzes test students' knowledge. They are graded instantly for immediate feedback, and scores are tracked in the instructor dashboard.

Table of contents

PART I: INTRODUCING HOSPITALITY AND LODGING

  1. Introducing Hospitality
  2. The Hotel Business
  3. Rooms Division
  4. Hotel Food and Beverage

PART II: BEVERAGES, RESTAURANTS, AND MANAGED SERVICES

  1. Beverages
  2. The Restaurant Business
  3. Restaurant Management
  4. Managed Services

PART III: TOURISM, RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, CLUBS, AND GAMING

  1. Tourism
  2. Recreation, Attractions, and Clubs
  3. Gaming Entertainment
  4. Cruising

PART IV: ASSEMBLIES, EVENTS, ATTRACTIONS, LEADERSHIP, AND MANAGEMENT

  1. Meetings, Conventions, and Expositions
  2. Events
  3. Leadership, Management, and Marketing

PART V: MANAGERIAL AREAS OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

  1. Planning
  2. Organizing
  3. Communication and Decision-Making
  4. Control

Author bios

About our author

Dr. John R. Walker, DBA, FMP, CHA, is the McKibbon Professor of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of South Florida and a Fulbright Senior Specialist. John's years of industry experience began with management training at the Savoy Hotel London. This was followed by terms as food and beverage manager, assistant rooms division manager, catering manager, and general manager with Grand Metropolitan Hotels, Selsdon Park Hotel, Rank Hotels, Inter-Continental Hotels and the Coral Reef Resort, Barbados, West Indies.

John has taught at two- and four-year schools in Canada and the United States. In addition to being a hospitality management consultant and text author, he has been published in The Cornell Hotel Restaurant Administration Quarterly, The Hospitality Educators Journal, and the New York Times. He is a 10-time recipient of the President's Award for teaching, scholarship and service, and he has received the Patnubay Award for exemplary professional performance through teaching and authorship of tourism and hospitality publications.

John is an editorial advisory board member for Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research. He is a past president of the Pacific Chapter of the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE). He is a certified hotel administrator (CHA) and a certified foodservice management professional (FMP).

John is married to Josielyn T. Walker, and they have twins, Christopher and Selina. The Walkers live in Sarasota, Florida.

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