Traveling and hotels are an integral part of the tourism industry. Whether you’re travelling on business or pleasure, the comfort of your accommodation is key to a successful trip. While hotels are often the most expensive option, they also offer a variety of services that can make your stay enjoyable and convenient.
The number of services that a hotel provides is a major factor in its star rating and price, and the types of travellers that it attracts. Some hotels provide a range of amenities to ensure that all travellers have an enjoyable experience, from spa and wellness facilities (e.g., a fitness room and swimming pool) to business centres. Others offer a range of additional services, such as laundry and dry cleaning, currency exchange, fax machines, and even beauty salons.
Some hotels have their own internal star ratings, based on inspections and criteria, while others use external rating systems to rank their properties. Some chains also use different branding and labelling to enter multiple price categories, for example a Days Inn property that does not meet the standards for a full-service hotel can be marketed as a Knights Inn. Additionally, some hotel booking websites and package tour companies use their own star-like ratings to promote their properties.
While reading reviews of a hotel is a good way to gauge its quality, it is important to remember that not all opinions are created equal. Some reviewers may be biased or have unrealistic expectations for a hotel, and some hotels might be intentionally keeping information quiet about their shortcomings. However, it is still worth paying attention to general patterns and trends in the reviews.