Hotel

A hotel is a hotel and catering operation for guests on payment. It is a tourist, the hotel and catering industry zuzuordnendes companies. As an industry we speak of the hospitality industry.

• 7.1 Accommodation services ( Logement )
• 7.2 Food service
• 7.3 fringe benefits
• 7.4 line

Word origin

The 17th -century, borrowed from the French language word hôtel of Old French ho ( s) tel from the late Latin hospitale for " accommodation center" ( cf. Hospital). Hôtel designated in the French 17th -century town houses of the nobility. Because in the pre-revolutionary period, the city palace of the landlords was also the administrative building of its possessions, the name also refers to public buildings over (French Hôtel de ville is German "Rathaus "). Because of the grand - representative features of the palace of the expression goes on Guest Houses superior level in subsequent reclassification. The word was so in many languages ​​its way into the present-day use.

Demarcation of the hotel to other restaurants of the hotel industry

From the hotel industry in its own sense, all the facilities the hospitality industry can be distinguished, which offer similar services, but weigh one of the key offerings of different hotels, including in particular

• Pensions ( the reception is not occupied, mostly private framework: private accommodation )
• The Inns ( priority boarding establishments for walk-in customers with only of any overnight accommodation for guests)
• The residence ( often no service )
• The non-hotel accommodation (numerous small forms of hospitality, which usually operate on a fundamentally different basis to offer)
• And the entire non-economic accommodation and catering

. include

Types of hotel companies

In the hotel business for private and corporate segment can be distinguished. Private hotels are legally and economically independent individual hotels, hotel industry in the consolidated non-autonomous hotels a chain headed by a Group. Private hotel without cooperation among the individual hotels.

Occasionally, private hotels close to Hotel Chains in which all stakeholders Hotels try to boost their own benefit.

In addition, private hotels that belong under a franchise contract and the corresponding uniform brand identity to a hotel chain exist. But you always remain legally and economically independent, in contrast to Group companies. However, they must be followed as part of the vertical integration of the most strict guidelines of the franchisor. Brand-name hotels will always appear in the form of hotel groups or collaborations.

In Germany, private hotels are mostly run by the owners themselves. Addition, there are manager-led houses and tenant farms. Legal forms, in the case of the owners guide is usually the individual company or GmbH.

A demarcation within the private hotel is difficult because each private hotel has its own peculiarities. Private hotels differentiate themselves through their farm size, their standard offer different alternatives, facilities and operations management. In addition, can be distinguished with regard to the location between the city and private of private land or holiday hotels. Great hotel for a manager usually done and are used primarily as overnight or conference area. In general the residence time is short. Private land or resort hotels, however, are owner-managed. They are differentiated from each other by their different services. The target group are mostly, recreation, rest and sport interested guests.

In Europe, the private hotel is in terms of the number of farms characteristic, whereas the North American market is dominated almost exclusively by the chain hotels.

History of the hotel industry

The first hotel in the world with the name allegedly opened the hairdresser David Low in London's Covent Garden as " Grand Hotel " on 25 January 1774th Until then there were only furnished rooms or more on tasting oriented inns.

Its present importance was the hotel during the 19th century, especially during the Belle Epoque, where incurred in Gründerzeit building boom throughout Europe both in the cities showpiece in the bourgeois- business environment and in the spa industry, where the large, remote areas, often in erected monumental castle-like spa hotels in character enormous social significance won. The number of beds increased resistance; Record holder was a long time in 1927 in Chicago opened " Stevens". Starting from the United States emerged especially after the Second World War, hotel chains, which in part are hundreds of hotels worldwide distributed under a joint headquarters.

Facilities of a hotel

By far the most common hotel classification is the Hotel Star. This is handled differently nationally, while in Europe one to five stars are common. A German hotel in the Dehoga applying for a hotel star rating, so it is different in each of which have the word " superior" is possible between the five different levels of classification. These steps are usually distinguished by Room facilities and services and other facilities at the hotel.

A hotel has at least one reception (reception) and room for accommodation with bed, wardrobe, table and washing facilities and a restaurant that offers at least a breakfast.

Larger hotels have a reception and waiting area (lobby), at least one restaurant, a bar and, depending on the category, fitness area with swimming-pool, garage and other facilities. The equipment of the rooms varies. Often showers, occasionally also found bathtubs. Additional features can be a television, internet access and minibar.

Hotels have unlike pensions have a reception. For hotels in the deluxe category hotels (5 Stars ) must be staffed around the clock reception.

There are hotels in all price and comfort categories - depending on the country in their own classifications for a particular category hotel stars categorized. A globally consistent set of criteria does not exist. Basically, one star hotels are very basic, five-star hotels, however, are extremely luxurious, with different evaluation standards from country to country. In Germany, the stars are based on various performance and equipment and quality characteristics, as determined by the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA ).

The measured on the number of beds is the largest hotel in Germany Estrel in Berlin with 1,125 rooms, the largest of which is the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas with over 7,000 rooms worldwide. Probably the smallest hotel in Germany with only three rooms, the Hotel Sleep in Wolfsburg. The often mentioned as the most luxurious hotels in the world are the Burj al Arab in Dubai and the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Germany's oldest hotel is the Pilgrim Haus in Soest, founded in 1304. The oldest of Japan Ryokan Nishiyama Onsen is the Keiunkan founded, 705, and the second oldest in the Hōshi founded, 718

Property type

The hospitality industry covers a wide variety of guest needs. Hotels can be in addition to the quality and scope of the offer ( ie broken down by hotel stars ) even after several other criteria to classify:

Food, service and special services

• A key differentiator among the hotel is the food. Full-board includes a power accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Half-board next to the breakfast just another meal. Hotels that offer breakfast only, is called Inns.
• Regarding the purpose of residence, a distinction spa and wellness hotels ( Spa), vacation and sport hotels and business, convention and conference hotels (English for MICE Meetings, Incentives, Congress and Events ). A special form is the resorts dar. hotel casinos try to attract players; the largest in the world is the Venetian in Macau.

Target groups

• After the target group, a distinction children, cyclists and Non smoking hotels for example. Furthermore, there are pilgrims hotels ( hostels ). Woman Hotels are exclusively for women, many are operated exclusively by women. Frequently, traveling alone businesswomen and holidaymakers with small children they claim. So-called wellness hotels expand their offerings sometimes for pregnant women. A comparatively new listing are nursing hotels, a barrier-free holiday offer for care and / or mobility impaired people and their families or care partner.
• After the trip form, a distinction hotels for guests traveling individually, hotels for groups and coach, and hotels for business, conference and exhibition guests (MICE ) sector.

Type of residential units

An important distinguishing criterion is the size and features of the accommodation:

• Particularly widespread in North America are suites hotels ( eg Hilton Embassy Suites brand ) and apartment hotels (eg the Marriott Residence Inn brand ). Living and sleeping areas are separated here functional, often the bedroom is even a separate room. In suite hotels, accommodation units usually include a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker, in apartment hotels even a fully equipped kitchen.
• A capsule hotel is a relatively new, space-saving form of hotel in Japan. It is dispensed with guest rooms, but takes guests into honeycomb, stacked capsules - to use only lying. Bathrooms or toilets are available as a community facility. In most capsule hotels there is also communal areas for residence, similar to a TV room. Nevertheless, the capsules are usually also individually equipped with a TV at eye level in order to ensure a minimum level of accommodation comfort. Often use business or commuter capsule hotels, which mainly - are transportation hubs - like a motel.

Location

In addition, you typed hotels according to their location:

• After its transport links is referred to as Station hotels (eg InterCity Hotels in Germany ) and airport hotels or were referred in the past railway hotels. Motels are directly or in close proximity to all important roads and highways. Each guest room is at least one parking space, as well as 24 -hour check- in facilities. Motels are also increasingly chosen as of realization of seminars, conferences and meetings due to their traffic- favorable situation (MICE ) sector. The first motels originated at the beginning of the 20th century in the U.S. and there are the most widespread.
• After their environment, a distinction city hotels and country hotels and mountain hotels, Seehotel, beach hotels and Park Hotels near scenic particular situation.

Theme Hotels

Due to the nature of the building or the site some hotels are attractions of its own.

• Tree hotels are built in trees that serve as their support structure. Some examples include the Costa Rica Tree House in -Manzanillo Wildlife Nature Park, Costa Rica; the Treetops Hotel in Aberdare National Park, Kenya; the Ariau Towers near Manaus, Brazil; and Bayram 's Tree Houses in Olympos, Turkey.
• In Nax Mont -Noble, a Swiss village in the Valais Alps, was started in October 2011 with the construction of the first hotel made ​​of straw bales. The Maya Guesthouse was opened in October 2012 exactly one year later. The insulation value of the walls and ceiling so large that it needs no conventional heating, although the place of 1300 meters lies. The energy concept is designed so that the excess heat is stored and used to heat the shower water.
• The zero - star hotel in depths AR in Switzerland and the Concrete Mushrooms in Albania are former nuclear bunkers that have been converted into hotels.
• Some hotels accommodate their guests under water, such as Utter Inn in Lake Mälaren, near Västerås, Sweden. The Hydropolis, an underwater hotel project that was ultimately not implemented in Dubai, would have had his suites on the bottom of the Persian Gulf. In contrast, the Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo requires, Florida, USA, the diving license to get access to his rooms.
• The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, and the Hotel de Glace in Duschenay, Canada, melt every spring and are rebuilt in the following winter. The Mammut Snow Hotel in Finland is located within the walls of Snow Castle of Kemi. The Lainio Snow Hotel is part of the snow village near Yllas, Finland.
• A hotel that is set up in a former prison, called the prison hotel.
• There are also floating hotels, a term which is used for example for cruise ships and river vessels, and propelled hotels like sleeper and Rotel.
• There are like a hotel Sprenz in Oldenburg hotels also offer the individual several themed rooms.
• Theme Hotels, the upscale lifestyle criteria in terms of architecture, decor and service are often referred to as a design or boutique hotel.

Style

• Furthermore, a distinction Hotels by farm size. One counts from 20 to 70 beds in small businesses and 71-150 in medium-sized companies. With more than 150 beds, one speaks of a large company.
• Hotel rooms are usually rented by the day. In contrast, love hotels rooms are rented by the hour. They are usually used by people who wish to retire for intimate private or commercial relationships. A special form represent the Japanese love hotels that are part of modern popular culture there. In love hotels is not necessarily assume that there is also a range of food. Only a few hours hotels for example at airports contact travelers.

Powers and power points or areas

A Hotel guarantees by definition as the main benefits generally accommodation services and catering services to. We distinguish between four power points or areas:

• Logement (also Logis ( fr.), Rooms Division (English ) ) comprises reception, housekeeping and reservations.
• Restaurant and Food (also Economic Department or Food & Beverage ( F & B ) below) are counted kitchen, restaurant, bar, room service and banquet service.
• Logistics involves the purchasing office, product control, warehousing and the magazine.
• Ultimately, the Administrator will from management, bookkeeping / accounting, controlling, secretarial services, marketing / sales, human resources and workshop / maintenance together.

Accommodation services ( Logement )

The accommodation services include accommodation in the true sense, namely the accommodation in furnished rooms with beds and stay options. In this power range reception, check- in, check -out, information, communication, and concierge also be arranged.

Board performance

The central catering service is the breakfast. Depending on the category other catering services must be offered. One distinguishes kitchen or cellar services:

• The kitchen services include room menu ( under the room service), meals according to half or full board, meals a la carte, snacks, desserts and cakes as well as hot drinks such as coffee, tea and more.
• The cellar services is expected the range of wines, beers, spirits and other alcoholic beverages and other soft drinks.
• In addition, is also the bar service ( no service ) and the banquet service (Service closed events in the house, and increasingly outside the home ) important part

Fringe benefits

Besides these two main achievements hotels often offer many other additional services, such as phone / fax, internet access, TV, laundry, spa treatments, rental of meeting rooms, tobacco, underground garage parking, guest transfers, luggage transfers, animation programs, ticket agency, excursions, parasols and sun loungers, Shopping & boutiques, hairdresser, sports equipment rental, business center, parking, boat dock, Pay- TV, Pool, mini bar, fitness, bathrobes, toiletries, radio, safe / vault, videos, Room service, Wake-up Service, Shoe shine machines.

Line

The management of a hotel has a wide -ranging remit. These differ significantly from small and medium-sized or large chain hotels. The hotel manager has diverse talents bring: from marketing and business management controlling department to the guest relations dominate everything to run a profitable operation. A second, contributing to the relief management level is rarely available in smaller hotels. In every major hotel (from about 55 rooms) but there is still a wizard. He has the task to resolve the minor problems without the director. In large hotels (from about 100 rooms ), the Director normally has a deputy. He usually takes care of the staff, shopping and a large part of the administration. All major decisions still run over the table of the Hotel Director.

The hotelier must confirm any bookings, but enjoys freedom of contract. If a guest is not desired, it may refuse the recording, according to federal court; confirmed by the hotel owner a booking, he is bound to them.

There used to be - at least in upscale hotels - unwritten rules, what clothes wore the guests. This is no longer the case, at least in Germany; in other countries, there are still rules - partly unwritten, partly explicitly pronounced.

For example, " casual " in English speaking countries casual leisure style ( except open " flops ", sleeveless shirts and the like). "California casual" is virtually no limits. "Informal " means " without a tie ." " Formal " is in big houses (such as the " Mandarin Oriental Hotel " in Hong Kong ) for the Lord at least jacket / jacket (better a full suit) and tie.

Hotel booking

Today Germany far about half of the bookings and rising placed on-line, the corporate banking sector is of great importance. Alone, the market leader HRS has 25,000 corporate customers. This trend has helped that prices for years remained constant in a low-margin and certain of cutthroat industry, which weakens the profitability of the hotel. Here the price development in Germany is different than in comparable countries.

On the world market, the People's Republic of China is next to Eastern Europe as a growth market; already online 30 million customers in China.