Hotel Classification

•  Location:

            e.g. city centre hotels, suburban hotels, airport hotels and highway hotels/motels

•  Function:

            e.g. commercial hotels and convention hotels

• Market segment:

             e.g. resorts, health spas, timeshares/vacation ownership and casino hotels

•  Distinctiveness of property:

             e.g. all-suite hotels, boutique hotels, extended-stay hotels, historic conversions and
             bed and breakfast inns

•  Price and staff/room ratio

•  Size:

               e.g. under 150 rooms, 151-300 rooms, 301-600 rooms, more than 600 rooms

• Rating (grading) :

            e.g. one-star to five-star or one-diamond to five-diamond

City center hotels -These hotels are located within the heart of a city. The type may vary
greatly from business, suites, residential, economy, mid-scale to
luxury.

Suburban hotels – Suburban hotels tend to be smaller properties which usually provide
full-service, and locate in suburban area.

Airport hotels – These hotels are designed especially to accommodate air travellers.
They offer a mix of facilities and amenities. The majority offer guests
transportation to and from the airport.

Highway hotels/Motels – They are designed for overnight stays for car travellers, often with very
basic facilities. The rooms usually have direct access to an open parking lot. They are often smaller than most hotels. They are located on the outskirts of towns and cities.

Convention hotels -These hotels can have 2000 rooms or more. In addition to accommodation, they provide extensive meeting and function space for holding conventions. There are banquet areas within and around the hotel complex. Most of them provide an in-house laundry, a business centre, airport shuttle service, and 24-hour room service. They are often in close proximity to convention centres and other convention hotels.

Commercial hotels -They are located in downtown areas. They tend to be smaller than
convention hotels. Meeting and function space are smaller, and there are fewer banquet areas.

Resort hotels -These hotels are located in picturesque, sometimes remote settings.
Guests travel long distance to resorts. Usually, they tend to stay longer.
Resorts typically provide a comprehensive array of recreational
amenities, as well as a variety of food & beverage outlets ranging from
informal to fine-dining restaurants.

Spa hotels -They are located in resort-type settings or as part of city spa hotels.
They provide accommodations, spa treatments, programs and cuisine.
Programs offered vary widely. They may include relaxation/stress
management, fitness, weight management, grief/life change and
pilates/yoga. Spas have professional staff that often include dieticians,
therapists, masseurs, exercise physiologists, and in some cases,
physicians.

Timeshares/Vacation ownership – This is a type of shared ownership where a buyer purchases the right to use the property for a portion of each year. In many cases, when the timeshare is purchased, the buyer receives a deed. This indicates that the buyer can use the property each year at the time specified for the number of years based on the deed and the purchase can be handed
down to the buyer’s heirs.

Casino hotels – They have gambling operations which are the major revenue centres.
They also provide live entertainment. A wide variety of luxury
amenities, hotel services including fine and casual dining and shopping
centres are typically available on site.

All-suite hotels – The guest rooms in these hotels are larger than normal hotel rooms, with separate areas for working, sleeping and relaxing. A living area or parlour is typically separated from the bedroom, and some properties offer a kitchen set-up in the rooms. The amenities and services can
vary widely. They can be found in various locations such as urban, suburban, or residential.

Boutique hotels – Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from traditional hotels and motels by providing personalized accommodation and services/facilities. They are sometimes known as “design hotels” or “lifestyle hotels”. The price varies greatly. They are very different in their “look and feel” from traditional lodging properties. They are more intimate, and, perhaps, more luxurious, and stand out as an individual. The amenities vary greatly depending on what the hotel’s environment and theme chosen. For example, a boutique hotel may not offer Wi-Fi Internet, air conditioning, or cable/pay TV if it is focus on comfort and solitude.

Extendedstay hotels/Serviced Apartments -These properties cater to guests who stay for an extended period. They usually offer full kitchen facilities, shopping services, business services and limited housekeeping services.

Historic conversion hotels – These properties have historic significance. They have been converted
into lodging establishments with retention of their historic character.

Bed and breakfast inns (B&Bs) – They are usually family-owned. They are private homes whose owner lives on or near the premises and rents out rooms to overnight guests. The paid accommodation typically includes breakfast. A popular term is “B&Bs” (i.e. bed and breakfast provided). The host often provides guests with assistance regarding directions, and information regarding the local area including sightseeing suggestions. It is usually located in rural areas and villages.

Guest houses – Guest houses are similar to bed and breakfast inns. They range from low-budget rooms to luxury apartments. They tend to be like small hotels in bigger cities. Though the facilities are limited, most rooms are air-conditioned with en-suite shower and toilet.

Hostels – They are very cheap accommodation. The sleeping arrangements are usually in dormitory style and there may also be self-catering facilities on site.

Cabins – They are bedrooms on a ship or train for passengers.

Villas/Chalets (usually found in skiing and beach resorts) – They are self-catering accommodation in a private bungalow, usually rented to prestigious or renowned guests. In many cases, it refers to a
small cottage with an overhanging roof in a seaside resort, e.g beach houses.
     

                       Refer by  Mr Murray Mackenzie and Dr Benny Chan’s Introduction to Hospitality