The hotel industry is a sector of business that revolves around providing accommodations for travelers. Success in this industry relies on catering to the needs of the targeted clientele, creating a desirable atmosphere, and providing a wide variety of services and amenities. Managing hotels has grown from its modest roots in providing the bare essentials of lodging into a large, multi-faceted, and diverse industry.
The foundation of the hotel industry is, of course, the business of providing lodging. Travelers depend on hotels to supply a secure, pleasant place for a temporary stay. Whether the guests are business people on the road for work, families on vacation, or groups of tourists, they all need comfortable accommodations, and they hotel industry is where they turn to find them. Most hotel rooms are designed for a short stay, and come equipped with a bed, bathroom, linens, and basic features such as a phone and television.
Quality is perhaps the most variable feature of the hotel industry. Modest hotels charge minimal fees and provide only the most essential amenities, whereas luxury hotels geared toward wealthy travelers can be extremely expensive. The most basic hotels might offer small, one-bedroom units, but pricier hotels come equipped with vast suites. Both extremes on this spectrum have clients, a fact which serves to emphasize the massive reach of the hotel industry. As long as the rooms are filled and the customers receive the services they anticipate, a hotel, no matter how big, small, affordable or luxurious, can consider itself successful.
Generally, there is much more than renting rooms woven into this industry. Many hotels have in-house bars and restaurants that require their own staff. A critically acclaimed restaurant can earn money for a hotel even if its patrons are not room-renting guests. It is also common for hotels to have pools, fitness facilities, or activity centers available for guests seeking recreation. Some companies even offer valet and laundering services, Internet access, and child care.
Featuring all of these additional perks is a two-fold strategy within the hotel industry. The convenience or luxury of special amenities makes a hotel seem more appealing to guests, and by including them the management is hoping to make their location appear superior to competitors. Also, by providing a wide variety of services in-house, the hotel management stands to benefit financially.
Hotels are certainly necessary all over the world, wherever there are travelers who need lodging. Hotspots for the hotel industry, however, are popular tourist locations. For example, savvy proprietors know that a hotel in close proximity to a heavily visited city, monument, stadium, or theme park will benefit from meeting the demands of large influxes of travelers.