The Art of Mimesis in Hospitality: Crafting Authentic Guest Experiences Through the Lens of Aristotelian Mimesis

ABSTRACT While authenticity is a strategic concern in hospitality, prior research often reduces it to staged performance and subjective guest perception. Less explored is how authenticity can be intentionally designed through symbolic, emotional, and cultural representation. Drawing on Aristotelian mimesis, this study explores how hospitality environments re‐present local meaning via spatial, narrative, and sensory cues. Guided by a constructivist‐interpretivist stance, the research employs qualitative methods—semi‐structured interviews, nonparticipant observation, and document analysis—across a purposive sample of culturally embedded hotels. Thematic analysis uncovers two interwoven themes: reflective immersion (cultural integration, design principles, guest engagement, and emotional responses) and narrative immersion (authenticity of experience, hospitality environments, and cultural experiences). Findings suggest that mimetic environments foster authenticity as an interpretive and affective experience. The study addresses a conceptual gap by rethinking mimesis as a generative lens for authenticity in hospitality design.