Traveling and Hotels

Traveling and hotels are interlinked industries; most travellers will require accommodation at some point during a journey, whether it be overnight or more. There are many types of hotels to suit different budgets and purposes; some even act as venues for events such as wedding receptions or company anniversaries.

Generally all hotels feature some level of service for their guests; ranging from a simple bed in a room with en suite bathroom to luxury suites with round-the-clock staff and facilities. Hotel prices are often influenced by season, with rates being higher in popular holiday destinations when demand is greater.

Some hotels offer extra services such as laundry or shuttle bus transportation to airports, which may increase the price of a stay; while others operate restaurants or bars offering breakfast, dinner and other meals. Some hotels also feature spa and wellness centres or swimming pools.

Many hotels are rated according to a star system, reflecting their supposed standard; this may be regulated by government or a hotel association and sometimes is reasonably objective, though other ratings systems exist such as letters or specific names. Some hotel ratings are also subjective and may depend on a particular hotel’s marketing strategy; e.g., some hotels claim to be the best of a certain type based on the amenities they offer or customer satisfaction surveys.

The hotel industry is fragmented; it is common for a hospitality group to operate hotels under different brands in order to target different markets; for example, a chain that usually operates full-service hotels may launch a separate brand with economy limited service offerings, such as a Days Inn or Knights Inn. It is also possible for a company to provide the branding for a hotel but not own or operate it; this is called a franchise arrangement.