The hotel industry is a large and important global industry that offers an array of services to travelers. As a service industry, hotels must differentiate themselves from other options and offer a unique experience that makes them stand out to consumers. This is particularly important in the age of the Internet when hotel consumers are often able to view images and reviews from other customers.
The primary purpose of a hotel is to provide travelers with shelter, food, refreshment and similar services and goods that are customarily furnished within households but unavailable to people traveling away from home. Historically, hotels have also served as centers of social exchange and sociability, decorative showcases, political headquarters, vacation spots, and permanent residences.
While hotel development began with luxury urban establishments, more affordable variants quickly emerged. Resort hotels capitalized on scenic rural landscapes, commercial hotels built for the burgeoning ranks of merchants and salesmen who were unable to afford private housing in expensive urban real estate markets, and frontier hotel forms developed to serve new settlements where travel and lumber were plentiful but capital was scarce.
Throughout history, hotels have expanded to accommodate the ever-changing needs of consumers and the evolving habits of travel. For example, the operation of a chain hotel became a feature of modern hotelkeeping in the decades after World War II, as management techniques improved and the automobile encouraged a drive for standardization that was mirrored in the construction and management of hotels.
Today, a successful hotel must have an attractive online presence, as the vast majority of consumer research about potential accommodations is done via the Internet. The most effective way to attract guests is to have an outstanding website that reflects the hotel’s brand, amenities and values. A website should be easy to navigate, searchable and feature high-quality photographs and videos that captivate consumers.
In addition, a hotel’s website should be updated regularly. This will help ensure that all information is current and accurate, which is important for a visitor’s decision-making process. A hotel’s site should be accessible to all visitors, including those using mobile devices.
Hotel reviews are also an important factor in a traveler’s decision-making process, and the tone used in these reviews is key. It’s best to use positive language in describing the hotel, as well as avoid putting down competitors.
It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the dates of the hotel’s latest updates and renovations, as this can tell you a lot about the quality of its amenities and services. For instance, if a hotel hasn’t been renovated in four or more years, you can expect the decor to be somewhat dated and the room to feel rundown. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but it’s something to consider when making your final decision. Similarly, if the majority of reviews mention issues such as noise or Wi-Fi problems, these are things that you should take into account before booking a stay.
