A hotel is a managed building or establishment that offers accommodation, food and drinks to guests on a short-term basis in exchange for money. It can also provide other facilities like conference rooms and gyms. The exact type of accommodation and services offered vary from one hotel to another, with owners targeting a particular audience by pricing models or range of features. Some hotels have an eco-friendly focus, while others cater to the business traveller.
Inns and other accommodation for travellers feature in many early civilizations, with references to hostels dating back to ancient Persia. The invention of currency and wheels led to the development of modern hotels. The emergence of the European continent as a popular tourist destination in the 18th and 19th centuries gave a significant boost to this industry. Far-sighted entrepreneurs who spotted the potential of this trade established commercial lodgings for the benefit of travellers.
The hotel industry is a fast-moving one, and trends come and go at an incredible pace. The ability to keep up with the changes is crucial for success. This is particularly true for hotel managers, who need to ensure that they offer a level of comfort and service that reflects the current trends. Some of the most recent trends in hotel design, for instance, are toward more environmentally friendly buildings and increased use of technology in guest rooms.
Rooms are the main source of revenue for most hotels, and the way they are designed and marketed affects the overall perception of the brand. They can be divided into several categories: standard, deluxe, executive, suites, and a number of other variants. Some of these are more luxurious than others, with the price tag reflecting the additional features and ambiance that come with them.
The organization chart of a hotel determines how information flows between different departments and identifies the responsibilities of each person. In a large hotel, each department may have its own manager. The room division, for example, is headed by a manager to whom the front office and housekeeping report. The rooms are maintained and sold by the department, which is responsible for the hotel’s highest profit margin.
A hotel can have various types of rooms, including interconnected and adjoining rooms. These are ideal for families or crew members traveling together. A parlor room, on the other hand, has a sofa and chairs and is not used as a bedroom. A cabana is situated away from the main hotel building and is usually located close to a pool or the sea beach. This type of room does not have beds, but it has a separate shower and bathroom area. The controls department, which is also known as the control department, is a hotel department that carries out inventory controls on all items used by other departments. It is also responsible for preparing budgets, handling bank transactions and employee payroll data, generating statements, and other administrative functions.
