What is Untouchable Hospitality vs. Intentional Hospitality?

What is Untouchable Hospitality vs. Intentional Hospitality? When someone has opened up their home, they will approach hospitality in two different ways, Untouchable or Intentional. The hardest part of this is both are good because the host is trying to open up their home but has not yet figured out the best way to go about it. Also, pride sometimes gets in the way of hosting which causes the atmosphere in the home to be not as welcoming. In this article, we are going to chat about what is untouchable hospitality vs intentional hospitality. We will figure out together how we can make our homes a place of refuge.

What is Untouchable Hospitality vs. Intentional Hospitality?

Untouchable Hospitality

Did you know Untouchable Hospitality is cold culture hospitality? What do I mean by cold culture? Cold culture is where you are reserved and guarded when meeting others. Untouchable hospitality takes on this culture. Merriam Webster describes Untouchable through synonyms as inaccessible, unapproachable, inconvenient, unattainable, unavailable, & unreachable.

Wow, that list of words is hard to read. I think many times, hosts believe they are doing their “duty” or doing what is right by just opening their home and inviting people in. Most of these words pertain to being approachable. That is the number one attribute to hosting. You are not just opening your home when you invite others in, you are inviting them into your life as well.

Untouchable hospitality vs Intentional hospitality has a very different outcome with relationships. When you choose to be untouchable to the guest you invite in they will leave not feeling loved and known.

Intentional Hospitality

Intentional Hospitality is warm culture of hospitality. When exercising Intentional Hospitality it is kind & sensitive to others’ needs. It focuses on what guests want, so they feel at home rather than just providing a place for them to come without any regard.

Intentional hospitality welcomes the guest into your home and welcomes them into your life. It might not be an open book the first time your guest walks into your home. But you are welcoming, approachable, available, and reachable, which makes a big difference. Guest will know they can talk with you. Your guest will also feel like you are part of their tribe and can identify with them on some level.

Being intentional with your guest creates an atmosphere that will nurture your guest and make them feel like they belong. It will also create a culture that they feel comfortable coming back to your home again.

Ways to have Intentional Hospitality

• Get to know your guest even before they walk through your door. This way you have something to talk about when they arrive.
• Make your home welcoming with a place to sit and talk.
• Learn the names of their family members.
• Talk about them more than yourself.
• Ask questions. Don’t be drilling with your questions, but ask questions to learn about your guest.
• Find out ahead of time a food item that they love and try to have that prepared for them.
• Give them a hug or some type of physical touch as they are leaving. Maybe it is just a handshake with a pat on the shoulder. Any type of gentle physical touch will connect you with your guest.
• Let your guest know you were so excited to have them over and they are welcome back anytime.

What type of Hosptiality do we want to be known for?

When others reflect on their time in your home, do you want them to have warm, nurturing, and fulfilled thoughts of them being in your home? I am sure you don’t want them to be wondering if they were loved or even liked. Untouchable hospitality can leave a guest wondering if they are accepted and make them feel like an outsider. This is not the goal of having a hospitable heart.

We all struggle at times with not wanting to have an open home. I know I do. It is ok to take time and renew but when it is time to open your door to others, be ready to be intentional with your relationships. With Untouchable Hospitality vs Intentional Hospitality, intentional hospitality should be winning every time.

Here is an article I wrote about Hospitality being a lifestyle. I truly believe that it is a mindset as well as how you live your life. It is not an event, a book study, or a quarterly women’s social. It is an ongoing relationship with people that have been put in your path.

I can’t wait to hear from you, hear how you are intentional with your hospitality. Also, where you struggle, like me in being untouchable sometimes and how you overcome that. Be sure to leave a comment to where were we can all learn from each other.