A hotel is an establishment that provides lodging facilities on a chargeable basis. Its customers are mostly travelers who are on a business trip or on vacation. Hotels offer a variety of hospitality services like food, beverages, recreation, and conference and training arrangements. They also provide additional guest services and facilities like retail shops, swimming pools, healthcare, and spaces for private parties like birthdays, weddings, and kitty parties.
A typical hotel room consists of basic facilities like bed, cupboard, a small table, a television set with cable channels, and weather control. It may or not have a bathroom. There is usually a mini-bar containing drinks and snacks (the consumption of which is added to the customer’s bill), and a tea and coffee making unit having a kettle, cups, spoons, sachets of instant coffee and tea bags, and creamer.
The rooms in a hotel are divided into several categories depending on their location and architecture. The rooms of a hotel are often connected by internal corridors and elevators. Interconnected rooms have a door that connects them. Such a room is suitable for families and crew members. Adjoining rooms have a common wall but are not connected by the doors. Such a room is ideal for couples traveling together. Parlor rooms are large living rooms that do not have beds and are not used as bedrooms. Room service is available at many hotels and varies in its quality and price.
Hotel staff is usually high in number and possesses unique skills. Hotel managers have the responsibility of maintaining a safe environment for their guests and employees. They are also responsible for maximizing revenue. This is achieved by ensuring that customers are provided with the right level of hospitality and comfort that they expect.
Unlike motels, hotels are usually bigger and offer more amenities than inns. Hotels can also have one-of-a-kind spaces that make them stand out from competitors. For example, boutique hotels have a unique design and feature themed amenities such as fairy gardens or sunset viewing points that are not found at other hotels.
While most people use the term ‘hotel’ to refer to all hospitality establishments that provide accommodations, it is important to understand the difference between a hotel and a motel. Hostels and motels offer different types of accommodations and have specific target audiences. For instance, hostels are more social and have cheap prices but may not offer privacy to their guests. In contrast, motels are built for motor tourists and are located near roads where their car can be parked. A motel can also have a restaurant onsite while a hotel may not. They are also different in terms of the size and structure of their buildings. Hotels have multiple floors with a lot of rooms whereas motels only have two or three floors with fewer rooms. Hotel staff are generally higher in numbers and include receptionists, housekeepers, chefs, and bellhops. Motels usually have a lower staff and sometimes have receptionists double up as housekeepers.
