Classifying hotels
Hotel Referral Groups
A collection of member hotels with similar standards and characteristics. The member hotels can be both independent or belong to a chain The association is a way to market the property to a specific market
Hotel Group
A corporation that has a portfolio of several different hotels and brands
Hotel Chain
A group of hotel operated under the same brand name
Ice hotel
An example of a themed hotel where everything is built with ice. The hotel creates an experience and serves as an attraction to bring people to an otherwise deserted area Building material is brought from the local river when it freezes in the winter
Bar(s) and Restaurant(s)
Common service facilities that are offered in most hotels from 3 stars (or equivalent)
Hotel size
Characterized by the number of rooms available at the hotel Sometimes depend on the physical location of the hotel and the structure of the building
Economy or budget hotels
Equivalent to two- or three stars hotels Offer a limited amount of facilities and services at a reasonable price Reception should be open for about 14 hours per day Usually offer breakfast, but limited other F&B outlets
Business groups
Groups of people traveling for work Often need conference rooms with audio-visual equipment The groups may stay at the hotel all day and require F&B service for coffee-breaks, lunch, and dinner
Small hotels
Hotels with only a few rooms, maybe up to 150 Can be found anywhere; resorts, suburbs, city centre Often offer a limited amount of services and facilities
Conference rooms
Facilities that must be present for a hotel that is categorized as a conference hotel. Targets business groups
Thermal baths
Facilities that must be present for a hotel to be categorized as a SPA hotel Targets adult leisure travelers
Resort Hotels
Located in rural areas, close to attractions and activities Targets people on holiday Offer a wide range of facilities and services like pools, playgrounds, and several F&B outlets
Level of Service
Often characterized by stars, diamonds, or a description like budget or luxury Official ratings started in the early 1900's by automobile associations Standards often differ from country to country, or even within the country Based on the number and type of services and facilities offered
Supervised playgrounds
Often offered at resort hotels Targets families with children on holiday
Individual business travelers
People that travel alone for work Often stay for a short period (1 or 2 days) These guests may need a work desk in their rooms, wi-fi, and printing options They often leave the hotel in the morning and come back in the evening
Individual leisure travelers
People that travel on their own for pleasure May be single, couples, families, friends etc. Travel mainly during weekends and vacation periods Could stay for a night or two, or one or two weeks
SMERF groups
Social, Military, Educational, Religious, Fraternal
Leisure groups
Several people that travel together for pleasure Depending on hotel, often book at least 5 rooms Could be tour groups traveling by bus, or coming together to celebrate an occasion
Conference Hotels
Sometimes located in city centers or close to business districts with enough space Offer meeting and conference space, and rooms to accommodate many people Targets business groups
5 Stars hotels
The highest number of stars that can be assigned a hotel Represents a very high standard of services and facilities Must offer 24-hrs reception and room service Staff must be at least bi-lingual Must offer uniformed (concierge) services
Hotel franchise contracts
The hotel is operated by the owner or a third party The operator is running the hotel under the brand name of a well-known company The owner of the brand name makes their revenue from a fee paid by the operator The operator reaps benefits from an already established client base and strong purchasing power
Hotel management contracts
The hotel property is owned and operated by separate companies All revenue and costs belong to the owners The operating company makes their revenue from a fee from the owner
Hotel location
The most important factor when deciding where to open a hotel Characterized by where the hotel is placed Often the most important factor when a guest decides where to stay
Themed hotels
Rooms and public areas follow a specific topic Hotels that aim to differentiate themselves from others Target guests with special interests who are looking for an experience
Concierge service
Uniformed service including Bell attendants, Door attendants, and Valet attendants A requirement at hotel with 5 stars, often also found at 4 stars hotels
