In considering pay in tourism and hospitality the first point which is worth nothing is the enduring and prevailing existence of low pay in the sector. For example, Wood (1997 a: 69) notes how, 'the majority of academic evidence concurs in suggesting both that basic rates of pay in hotels and catering are inadequate and employers are frequently ruthless in pursuing low-pay strategies'. Thus tourism and hospitality, and particularly the hotel and catering sub-sector, is low paid, both in absolute terms (i.e. purchasing power) and relative terms (compared to most other worker) (see also HRM in practice 9.4)