A hotel is a building where guests can stay temporarily. It is typically part of a larger hospitality business, such as a restaurant or a casino. Hotels may be upscale, middle-market or budget, and offer a variety of room types such as standard rooms, suites, family rooms and handicap accessible rooms. They may also have a range of amenities such as restaurants, bars, pools and spas. Many countries have laws and regulations governing the minimum standards that a hotel must meet in order to be designated as such.
A large and varied group of people rely on hotels, especially those that travel for work or vacation. As such, hotel staff members need to be able to provide a high level of service to satisfy their clients. This is particularly true in luxury hotels, where clients are more likely to be accustomed to exceptional levels of service.
The word hotel has several synonyms, including tavern, inn and guesthouse. In modern usage, the term hotel often carries a more positive connotation than the other two; it suggests an establishment with up-to-date furnishings and appointments, whereas tavern and inn have more of a down-home feel and less of a focus on comfort. The term hotel may also be used for establishments that cater to groups rather than individual travelers, such as conference centers, cruise ships and theme parks.
Traditionally, the hotel was a center of social activity; it was not uncommon for locals to visit hotels and pubs for music and dance. In the 19th century, hotels proliferated in Europe and North America. They often included ballrooms and dining rooms where meals were served. These were sometimes staffed by a head chef, as well as a maître d’ and a chief waiter.
Hotel staff are responsible for many aspects of the hotel operation, from cleaning and maintaining rooms to arranging meetings and events. The size and scope of a hotel’s operations will determine how many employees it needs and what type of training they receive. Some countries have specific laws regulating the number of hotel employees needed in each position.
The Telegraph’s destination expert writers review and rate the world’s best hotels, from boutique boltholes that will be treasured for years to opulent five-star palaces that genuinely deserve their price tags. In addition, the Telegraph’s Hotel Awards are an annual celebration of the very best in the business.
Fiona Duncan has been reviewing mainly British hotels for The Telegraph for 25 years and covers the newest openings in a monthly column. Lee Cobaj lives in Hong Kong and writes about Asia for a wide range of publications. Pippa de Bruyn has been writing about African travel for more than a decade and contributes to The Telegraph. Guests at her favourite hotel, a hilltop retreat in central Vietnam, are offered a choice of indigenous-inspired villas, a knockout spa and a private bay. The whole place feels like a picture-perfect dream.
