Bui, Anh MinhZhu, DanKim, Peter B2025-04-282025-04-282025-04-04International Journal of Hospitality Management, ISSN: 0278-4319 (Print), Elsevier BV, 129(J. Fam. Bus. Manag. 12 1 2022), 104209-104209. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.1042090278-4319http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19121Friendship is a fundamental pillar of human existence, shaping both personal and professional lives. While extensive research has highlighted these benefits across various industries, their implications within the hospitality sector remain unexamined. Furthermore, existing studies are fragmented and lack theoretical coherence and continuity, which limits their applicability for scholars and practitioners. This study systematically reviewed 112 empirical studies (including 38 focused on hospitality) sourced from six major academic databases. Findings reveal a strong regional bias in existing research, a scarcity of qualitative studies, and a predominant focus on the positive effects of workplace friendship, with limited attention to potential downsides such as favoritism, conflict, and emotional strain. By synthesizing insights across hospitality and non-hospitality contexts, this study proposes four strategic recommendations to guide future research and inform managerial practices, equipping hospitality organizations with evidence-based strategies to foster productive workplace relationships while mitigating risks.© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/3504 Commercial Services35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour1504 Commercial Services1505 Marketing1506 TourismSport, Leisure & Tourism3504 Commercial services3508 TourismJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1016/j.ijhm.2025.104209