hospedantes

Hospedante is a person who receives or hosts travelers and guests, especially in lodging settings. The term is used in Spanish-speaking countries to refer to the operator of a lodging establishment or to a person who offers lodging in their own home.

Etymology: derived from hospedaje (lodging) and hospedar (to lodge). Historically, a hospedante provided shelter in inns, hostels, or private homes.

In practice, hospedantes may run inns, casas de huéspedes, bed-and-breakfasts, or guesthouses; in domestic settings a hospedante is the homeowner who takes in guests. Responsibilities include providing safe accommodation, basic amenities, sometimes meals, handling reservations, and managing payments, hygiene, and security.

Legal context: lodging operations are subject to local regulations on safety, health, and taxation, and may require licenses or registrations; consumer protection and hospitality standards apply.

Cultural notes: across Latin America and Spain, hospedantes have historically played a central role in travel networks, offering shelter to caravans and travelers; in modern times the term is often used more broadly or stylistically to emphasize hospitality rather than formal employment.

In contemporary usage, the word may be used more broadly to refer to hosts in hospitality, rather than strictly to paid innkeepers.