What Is a Hotel?
A hotel is an establishment that offers paid lodging for a short period of time. This type of accommodation includes everything from modest-quality mattresses in small rooms to large suites that include kitchen facilities, upholstered chairs, televisions and en-suite bathrooms. Some hotels also offer guest services such as a swimming pool, business center with computers and printers, childcare, conference and event facilities, tennis or basketball courts, gymnasium and restaurants. A hotel may also be a motel, hostel or apartment hotel.The hotel industry has been among the hardest hit sectors by the coronavirus pandemic, with millions of business trips and holidays canceled or put on hold. As a result, hotels have experienced huge losses in revenue and have struggled to balance their books. The impact of the pandemic has led to some hotels having to close down completely. Others have reverted to their old rates, or even lower, in order to stay afloat.Some hotels have rebranded themselves as resorts in an effort to attract customers. While these hotels do have more amenities than a regular hotel, they still are not as luxurious as a true resort. In addition, they often focus on a specific type of customer, such as business travelers or families.The first hotels were established in the 16th and 17th centuries. Over the years, they have grown in size and range of amenities. Today, hotels can be found throughout the world and offer a wide variety of guest services and facilities. Most hotels have at least one restaurant, which is usually open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many also have coffee shops, bars and lounges. The average hotel room is about 300 square feet, although the largest hotels have rooms that are over 1,000 square feet.In the 1920s, motels began to appear. These were designed to meet the needs of road travelers, including motorists on family vacations and workers who travel for their jobs (traveling salespeople and truck drivers). Motels are smaller than hotels and have fewer amenities. They are typically located along highways or freeways, and room doors are accessed directly from the car parking area.Some hotels are promoted as "resorts" because of their unique environment and ambience. These hotels are sometimes located at seaside or in the mountains, and they feature leisure and recreational amenities. These types of hotels tend to be more expensive than traditional hotels. Some hotels are built specifically as destinations in themselves, such as casinos and holiday resorts. Many hotels have also started offering a range of new types of accommodations, such as condo hotels and airstream hotels.