Culture Eats Hospitality for Breakfast: Why Europe and North America Are Falling Behind

The essence of travel lies not only in the destinations we visit but in the authentic experiences that linger in our hearts long after we return home.

A genuine smile, an unhurried moment of connection, or the warmth of a simple act of kindness - these are the hallmarks of destinations with a deeply rooted guest-welcoming culture.

However, Europe and North America, once bastions of hospitality, are increasingly losing ground to countries and regions where hospitality is inherent to cultural behavior, such as East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Costa Rica - and to some extent, the Middle East, India, and Puerto Rico.

This shift is not just about service quality but about something far deeper - cultural empathy and the intangible warmth that cannot be replicated through traditional workforce training.

Destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia shine in their ability to deliver memorable guest experiences, not because of elaborate systems or scripted interactions, but because hospitality is woven into the very fabric of their societies.

From the taxi driver to the street vendor, there’s a consist