Text 4. Hotels

Hotels are commercial establishment that provide lodging, food, and other services to the public. The hotel business is an important industry in many countries, especially in those attracting a large tourist trade. Hotels can be classified according to location, facilities and services offered, and clientele served.

Hotels for Travellers

The hotel for travellers is usually located within city boundaries and caters to people travelling for business or pleasure. Motor hotels or motels cater to the same group of persons, but are often situated near or along major highways. Both hotels and motels provide numerous amenities in addition to sleeping accommodations, including maid service, radio and television, parking space for automobiles, recreational facilities, food services, and retail* shops.

Convention Facilities

Conventions are the most important source of income for some hotels and motels. In the U.S., for example, it is estimated that some 10 million people attend conventions each year. Conventions assure a steady income both from sleeping accommodations and from meeting rooms, which are used for conferences and lectures. Dining facilities are the source of additional revenue through the sale of food and drinks. Local residents also use the catering services, meeting rooms, and ballrooms for social functions and business meetings.

Resorts

Resort hotels and motels usually are located in seaside, lake, or mountain areas, and they cater to tourists and vacationers. Resorts provide all hotel services plus recreational and athletic activities. In recent years, the hotel industry has experienced tremendous growth as a result of the increase in tourism in resort areas such as the Caribbean islands, the Mediterranean region, and Hawaii. With the growing popularity of winter vacations, many resorts have become year-round institutions. In cold climates skiing and other winter sports are enjoyed by vacationers. Conventions help to assure off-season occupancy of resort properties.

Residential Hotels

The residential hotel caters to permanent residents rather than to travellers. These hotels are similar to apartment buildings except that they provide room service, and often have dining facilities. Lodgings are available on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.

Motels

By the late 1950s motels began to rival hotels by offering a broader range of services and facilities. Motels have increased greatly in number during the last 30 years, and the number of hotels has decreased somewhat. Today the motor hotel, offering the convenience of the motel and the service of the hotel, is becoming popular. More efficient transportation and the growing importance of air travel have reduced the need for accommodations along highways. Motor hotels are now being built within the boundaries of large cities and near airports. To deal with stiffer competition, a growing trend has been for hotels and motels to offer greater conveniences, such as faxing and photocopying for business travellers. Low hotel occupancy rates in the 1970s led to the development of budget motels, with cheaper lodging and fewer amenities. Country inns and bed-and-breakfasts have also grown in popularity since the 1970s; often located in rural areas, they offer a homey atmosphere and personal service.

Note on the Text

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