6.1 Introduction
Accommodations refer to lodging facilities that provide overnight guest rooms and services for travelers. This hospitality sector represents a core component of tourism infrastructure worldwide. Accommodations enable visitors to enjoy destinations by having comfortable, convenient places to sleep and store belongings while away from home.
Hotels, motels, resorts, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and vacation rentals are common forms of accommodation and exist as good examples. Accommodations range from modest to luxurious in terms of amenities, services, and pricing. What they share is the basic provision of guest rooms along with features like front desk service, housekeeping, parking, and often dining or other facilities.
Hotels are one type of accommodation. These properties typically offer a full range of guest services and amenities. Motels are another type of accommodation. These properties grew up along highways but are not necessarily located along highways and interstates any longer. Motels are mostly differentiated from hotels in that rooms are accessed from exterior walkways, with doors often but not always facing parking lots. Resorts are yet another type of popular form of accommodation that hospitality and tourism students choose to build their careers at. These properties normally provide recreation as an amenity including golf, spas, entertainment, and expansive grounds. Hostels offer budget dorm-style lodging for backpackers. Bed and breakfasts are small, intimate homestays, usually with included breakfast. Campgrounds provide outdoor overnight accommodations through tent sites, RV hookups and rustic cabins. Vacation rentals include privately owned homes, apartments, and condominiums rented short-term. There are many other types of accommodations beyond those listed above. This chapter will explain most forms of accommodation.
Key customer markets include travelers such as those on business, leisure tourists, groups, or extended stay guests. These traveler types are groups by things such as segmentation. Segmentation could be by price point, location, amenities, and/or purpose. These are often called market segments.
Another way professionals in this industry delineate is by hotel type. For example, budget hotels and midscale hotels cater to value-driven travelers, while upscale hotels and luxury hotels target premium guests. Boutique hotels provide intimate, stylish ambience.
Yet another way to delineate property type is by emphasizing the purpose for the hotel and style of operations. Examples include airport hotels which emphasize convenience for transient air travelers, Convention hotels to host meetings and events, or destination resorts which create an all-encompassing leisure experience.
Behind the scenes, accommodations require extensive facilities/property management, housekeeping, maintenance, accounting, marketing, human resources, security, and customer service staff. Food and beverage, event planning, transportation, recreation, and other support services are often provided. Digital technologies assist operations, communication, guest interactions, and back-of-house management.
Ownership and management arrangements represent another facet of accommodations. Major chains own and operate properties worldwide. Franchising enables global brands to expand via local owner-operators. Management companies contract to operate independent properties on behalf of owners. Timeshares sell fractional unit ownership for vacation use. Condo-hotels feature privately owned units with rental pools.
Trends shaping accommodations include rising guest expectations, mobile and self-service options, sustainability, personalized service, boutique concepts, mixed-use developments, social lodging, home and apartment rentals, and aura of community. Looking ahead, accommodations must continuously innovate to serve evolving guest needs across diverse market segments. By providing welcoming, memorable guest experiences, accommodations uphold their vital role in tourism and hospitality.
Hotels are establishments that provide accommodation, meals, and other services for travelers and guests in exchange for payment. Hotels vary in size, quality, and amenities, ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts.
Resorts are vacation destinations typically located in scenic or recreational areas, offering various amenities and recreational activities to guests. Resorts often feature lodging, restaurants, bars, spas, recreational facilities (such as pools, golf courses, or ski slopes), and other attractions designed to provide guests with a comprehensive leisure experience.
Budget-friendly lodging options catering to backpackers, solo travelers, or budget-conscious tourists, offering shared or dormitory-style accommodations and communal facilities.
Small lodging establishments offering overnight accommodations and breakfast services, often operated by local hosts or innkeepers, known for their cozy and personalized guest experiences.
Outdoor recreational facilities or sites providing spaces for camping, tenting, or RV parking, equipped with amenities such as toilets, showers, and picnic areas, often located in natural or rural settings.
Self-catering accommodations, such as apartments, houses, or cottages, rented out to travelers or vacationers for short-term stays, providing a home-like environment and flexibility.
The department responsible for cleaning and maintaining guest rooms, public areas, and facilities within hospitality establishments to ensure cleanliness, hygiene, and guest satisfaction.
Services and amenities provided to guests during their stay at hospitality establishments, including concierge services, room service, transportation assistance, and recreational activities.
supplementary features, services, or facilities provided to enhance the comfort, convenience, and enjoyment of guests or customers, including in accommodations, transportation, and leisure venues.
Accommodations designed for long-term stays, typically offering larger suites or apartment-style layouts with kitchenettes and laundry facilities, catering to business travelers, relocating professionals, or temporary residents.
The process of dividing markets or customer groups into distinct segments based on demographic, psychographic, behavioral, or geographic characteristics to tailor marketing strategies and services.
Distinct groups of consumers or travelers within a market, characterized by shared needs, preferences, or characteristics, targeted by businesses for marketing and service offerings.
Lodging establishments offering affordable accommodations and basic amenities targeted at budget-conscious travelers or tourists seeking value-oriented lodging options.
A hotel segment offering moderate-priced accommodations, amenities, and services targeting budget-conscious travelers and families, positioned between economy and upscale segments in terms of price and quality.
Higher-tier lodging establishments offering premium accommodations, amenities, and services targeted at discerning travelers seeking luxury, sophistication, and personalized experiences.
Prestigious and high-end lodging establishments offering exceptional accommodations, amenities, and services to affluent travelers seeking exclusivity, indulgence, and superior hospitality.
Small, intimate, and stylish lodging properties offering unique design, ambiance, and personalized service, often located in trendy or distinctive locations, catering to discerning travelers seeking boutique experiences.
Please look for related terms in the Glossary.
Hotels equipped with extensive meeting, conference, and event facilities, catering to business travelers, corporate events, conventions, and conferences, providing accommodations, meeting spaces, and support services.
Comprehensive leisure and vacation destinations offering a wide range of accommodations, amenities, and recreational activities, typically located in scenic or resort destinations, catering to leisure travelers and families.
The operational and administrative functions of hospitality establishments that occur behind the scenes, including staff management, inventory control, purchasing, and facilities maintenance.
Hospitality brands or companies operating multiple properties under a common brand name or umbrella, sharing standardized policies, procedures, and branding across their portfolio of hotels.
A business model where a franchisor grants the rights to operate its brand, business model, and intellectual property to a franchisee in exchange for fees and royalties, allowing for rapid expansion and market penetration.
Lodging establishments operated independently or privately owned, not affiliated with a larger brand or chain, offering unique experiences, character, and local charm to guests.
Vacation ownership arrangements where individuals or families purchase the right to use accommodations at a resort or property for a specific period each year, typically for a set number of years.
Mixed-use properties combining hotel-style accommodations with condominium units, allowing owners to use their units for personal stays or rental income while enjoying hotel amenities and services.
Lodging options emphasizing social interaction, community, and shared experiences among guests, such as hostels, co-living spaces, or communal accommodations, appealing to budget travelers and solo adventurers.