6.2 The History Of Accommodations As An Industry
The History Of Accomodations
The development of accommodations for travelers traces back thousands of years across cultures worldwide. Inns , hostels, caravansaries, and other lodging facilities arose to serve the needs of merchants, pilgrims, explorers and other wayfarers journeying far from home.
In ancient Greece, inns and taverns were established along major roadways to accommodate travelers. Greek and Roman texts referenced lodgings offering rooms, food and drink, and stabling for horses. During the Roman Empire’s peak from 100-500 AD, a vibrant network of inns and rest houses enabled trade, communications, and transportation across the vast territory.
Medieval Europe saw a resurgence of travel accommodations, especially for religious pilgrimages. Monasteries and abbeys opened their doors for pilgrim lodging. The Hospitality of Saint Thomas network in England offered guest houses to aid travelers. Coaching inns provided food, drink, rest and change of horses along stagecoach routes as overland travel expanded.
In the Islamic world, elaborately decorated caravansaries lining trade routes gave merchants space to sleep, eat, worship, conduct business, and tend animals. Distinctive courtyard designs integrated stables, shops, mosques, and ample guest rooms. Efficient waste and water systems supported these early roadside hotels.
Historical documents show lodging houses existing in ancient India, Cambodia, and China. In Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867), ryokan traditional inns offered overnight accommodation, hot springs baths, and regional cuisine for traveling samurai and merchants.
As global trade accelerated from 1500-1800, colonial empires expanded across new frontiers. Seeking trading posts and territories, explorers like Columbus and Magellan required onboard provisions and lodging during long risky journeys. Shipping technology advancements enabled reliable transoceanic travel and transport.
The European Grand Tour had catered to aristocrats, but railways now enabled middle-class vacations. Seaside resorts boomed as doctors recommended saltwater immersion for health, spurring coastal hotels. Switzerland’s mountain scenery and clean air attracted tourists, leading to alpine resorts and mountaintop hotels.
Britain passed an 1871 act granting workers vacation time (History Extra, 2019). New industries like paid holidays and excursion trains brought countryside and coastal getaways within reach. Buxton, Bath, and seaside towns expanded hotels, boarding houses, and amenities for Victorian holidaymakers.
Thomas Cook revolutionized tourism by organizing group train tours and packages. His trailblazing Cook’s Tours started in 1841 and included lodging vouchers (Newmeyer, 2008). Demand drove development of hotels aligned to rail lines and tourist interest, setting patterns for today’s hospitality infrastructure.
In the late 1800s, improving prosperity and transportation access expanded leisure travel, catalyzing new waves of hotel development worldwide. As tourism grew more democratic, hotels adapted to serve broader audiences seeking rejuvenation through nature, culture, adventure and novelty.
The Industrial Revolution brought improved roads and transportation options like trains and steamships. Business and leisure travel expanded in Victorian England as railways connected cities and country towns. Coaching inns evolved into railway hotels that met passenger needs. Resort hotels emerged in coastal and mountain destinations.
Late 1800s luxurious hotels became emblematic of advancing civilization and economic progress. Grand properties like the Langham Hotel in London (1865) and Palace Hotel in San Francisco (1875) boasted lavish decor, advanced amenities, and exceptional service for affluent clientele. Phrases like “built like a grand hotel” entered parlance to suggest splendor.
North America’s expanding rail network increased accessibility to natural wonders like Niagara Falls, Yellowstone and Yosemite. Grand railway hotels catered to elite travelers with lavish accommodations in scenic locations. Rustic lodges and camps served outdoorsy adventure seekers.
Back-to-nature concepts influenced architecture. Swiss chalet style emerged in Alpine resorts before spreading worldwide for its rustic charm. Arts and Crafts motifs evoked handmade simplicity, as seen in lodges in U.S. national parks and Canadian railway hotels. California’s redwood Park Gate Tree offered a novel drive-through experience.
Seaside holidays gained favor for purported health benefits. Clear air, sea bathing, promenades, amusement piers, and saltwater swimming attracted Victorian-era travelers. Coastal hotels featured large verandas, marine themes, and seaside pastimes. Proximity to beaches and waters defined early resorts.
Imperialism opened European access to exotic destinations like Egypt, Asia and the Americas. Luxury hotels catered to intrepid tourists, bringing familiar pampering to far-flung locales. Cairo’s Mena House Hotel overlooked pyramids for archeological tours. Raffles Hotel in Singapore offered colonial elegance.
Japan ended its isolationist policies in the 1850s. Seeking modernization and trade, Japan built Western-style hotels to attract foreign businessmen and dignitaries. Blending Japanese hospitality with Western amenities laid groundwork for its tourism industry.
Natural springs gained medicinal acclaim, spurring wellness resorts with plush spa hotels. Hydrotherapy resorts clustered in Germany’s Black Forest and along the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s Adriatic coast. Hotels provided therapeutic bathing, relaxation, and healthy cuisine.
Mexico became known for spectacular scenery and indigenous cultures. Resorts developed along rail lines leading south from the U.S., merging cosmopolitan amenities with regional art, architecture and activities.
Posh mountain getaways arose near eastern U.S. cities, starting with Catskill resorts and spreading westward. Summit hotels like New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Hotel captivated urbanites with cool climes and wide-open vistas. The Wild West beckoned at national park lodges like Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone.
Family summer vacations gained popularity, led by beachside destinations with amusement parks and child-friendly attractions. New York’s Coney Island and New Jersey’s Atlantic City pioneered family leisure tourism, inspiring seaside hotels nationwide.
Inns and hotels in Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East modernized and expanded through the early 20th century, blending local influences with Western hospitality models. Rail hotels in India like the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel combined regal ambience with efficiencies like electricity and elevators.
By the early 1900s, global tourism was booming. Hotels worldwide modernized and expanded as leisure travel became ingrained across cultures and classes. With growing demand across market segments, hotels solidified their enduring role in getaways for relaxation, enrichment and creating lasting memories. Furthermore, there were enormous transformations in ground and air transportation that revolutionized hotel development and guest expectations.
As automobile travel expanded, roadside motels evolved from modest motor courts to nationwide chains offering convenient drive-up rooms, parking, and amenities tailored to motorists. Brands like Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson fueled growth through chain expansion and standardization. The rise of roadtrips and improved highways allowed motels to displace downtown railway hotels in popularity. Further enhancing automobile travel, campgrounds enabled tent and RV camping.
Meanwhile, commercial aviation was taking flight, necessitating airport hotels. Proximity, speedy check-ins, meeting space and park and fly packages served air travelers’ needs. As onboard meals declined, hotel dining gained importance. Easy reservations and guaranteed rooms also suited jetsetters.
The postwar economic boom expanded business and leisure air travel. Resort hotels in destinations like Las Vegas, Miami and Disney World blended hospitality with entertainment, recreation and amenities. Convention hotels offered extensive meeting facilities near major airports. Brands multiplied rapidly through franchising, with over one million guest rooms operating under brands like Best Western by the 1970s (Meyer, 2018).
Globalization and international air travel allowed hotel chains to spread worldwide. Opportunities grew through deregulation, while boutique hotels emerged to provide unique lifestyle experiences. More than ever, hotel design and amenities became crucial brand differentiators.
Technology evolution continues transforming hospitality. Online booking disrupted traditional distribution channels. Smart hotels integrate mobile apps, customization, virtual assistants, and responsive service models. Experiential travel and unique accommodations like tiny homes adapt to modern guests.
Today’s accommodations industry balances heritage with innovation. Blending world-class comfort, convenience, and individuality, hotels retain their timeless role of renewing travelers far from home.
Attributions
- Figure 6.1: Marina Bay at Night by . Ray in Manila is released under CC BY 2.0
- Figure 6.2: Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments, 2019 by Our World in Data is released under CC BY 4.0
Traditional lodging establishments offering accommodations, dining, and hospitality services, often located in historic buildings, rural settings, or quaint towns, providing personalized and intimate guest experiences.
Historic roadside inns or lodging facilities found along trade routes, offering accommodations, stabling, and amenities for travelers and merchants during ancient times, facilitating trade and cultural exchange.
Social gathering places offering food, drinks, and accommodations for travelers and locals, historically found along roadsides, in towns, or at crossroads, providing hospitality and entertainment services.
A pioneering figure in the travel industry, Thomas Cook was a British businessman who founded one of the first travel agencies and organized the first package tours, contributing to the development of modern tourism.
Please look for related terms in the Glossary.
Travel and transportation utilizing automobiles or cars for mobility, exploration, and leisure, revolutionizing tourism and transportation accessibility in the 20th century.
Special hotel packages or deals offering overnight accommodations and parking services for travelers flying out of nearby airports, providing convenience and cost savings for airport travelers.
The removal or relaxation of government regulations and restrictions on industries or markets, allowing for increased competition, innovation, and efficiency, as seen in the airline industry deregulation in the United States.