Does the guest stink of fish after 8 hours onboard? - Rediscovering the obligations of guests in a private hospitality setting

This paper examines the hosts’ perceptions on the guests’ roles and obligations in an extended service experience encounter in proximity. The hospitality context is big-game fishing in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. In particular, this study focuses on relationality, and how fishermen bring honour and status to the captains. The
research is explanatory case wise and exploratory in rediscovering guests’ roles and obligations in perspective. The research is supported by qualitative primary data collected with experienced captains. The author’s contribution is to highlight hosts’ perception of guests’ roles, behaviours, and obligations in a not yet
investigated hospitality setting. This study finds honouring the host, the vessel, and nature are intertwined and highly valued by the hosts. Moreover, reciprocal hospitality, relationality, and friendship between the guest and the host during and after the fishing trip is appreciated by the hosts.