Origins of the term:

The word hotel derives from the French hôtel, which referred to a French version of a townhouse, not a

place offering accommodation (in contemporary usage, hôtel has the meaning of "hotel", and hôtel

particulier is used for the old meaning). The French spelling (with the circumflex) was once also used in

English, but is now rare. The circumflex replaces the 's' once preceding the 't' in the earlier hostel

spelling, which over time received a new, but closely related meaning. 

The hotels may be classified as follows -

Size of hotel:

By this we mean by assessing the number of rooms available for use and may be ranged as

(a) Less than 100 = small(b) Between 100 - 300 = medium(c) Greater than - 300 = largeCommercial Hotel:

Location: In the heart of the cities, busy commercial areas and urban areas.

Type of Guest: Businessmen, company executives or tourists.

Length of stay: Short weekend, business duration between 2-7 days.

Facilities: Almost all facilities of a five star hotel, is most five star hotels are situated in commercial areas. It includes business centres, health club, swimming pool, 24 hours coffee shop, 24 hours room service, 2-3 restaurant Bar, Disco, recreational facilities etc.

Transit:

Location: Near the port of entry e.g. sea port, air port, bus stand and railway station.

Type of Guest:

(a) Transit passengers: on route to another destination.(b) Lay: Over Passengers: Those who have been accommodated in a hotel at the expense of the airline due to delay of the flight for some or the other reason attributed to the airline.(c) Air Line Crew:(d) Businessmen or Tourists:

Length of Stay: 1 or 2 days or even few hours.

Facilities: Like commercial hotels many facilities of high standard.

Resort:Location: In resort areas, where people go for relaxation to enjoy themselves to get away from hectic city life or to pursue a specific interest or activity e.g. Beach resort, Hill resort and health resort etc.Type of Guest: Holiday makers, health fades to sportsmen etc. and conventional also.Length of stay: Long duration, from a week to a month or even longer.Seasonal Influence: There is a strong seasonal influence on the running of resort and they have a distinct on and off season. Thus the numbers of staff employed in these hotels differ and during the off season special packages are introduced to get more business.

It can be 5 stars, 5 stars deluxe, or similar.

Facilities: Have lesser facilities than commercial hotels like one dining hall, limited house room service and coffee shop and may be T.V. room as the only entertainment.

Emphasis is given on homely informal atmosphere and causal stress, more social contact between guest, distinctive from formal brisk and accurate service in commercial hotels, treasure hunts, fancy dress parties, film shows etc. as added entertainment Recreational facilities differ according to the location like Table Tennis room, badminton, golf, surfing, water sketing.etc.

Residential Hotels:Location: Like commercial hotels.Type of Guest: Long staying guest who are away from home for some reasons and make these hotels as their homes.Length of stay: Very long, 6 month to a year or more. Pent is paid either monthly or quarterly or even yearly but never on daily basis.Facilities: Less than commercial hotels and minimum of only. Shelter and meals may notMotels:Location: on the perimeter of cities and highways.Type of guest : Motorist, road travellers.Length of Stay: Short, usually overnight or even 4 to 6 hours.Facility: As like commercial hotels but also must have the following -(a) Parking space for each hotel room.(b) Garage and service station.(c) Repairing station and also rooms may be provided. With some cooking facilities.