The spelling of the word "hotel" may seem unusual, but it is actually quite logical. The first syllable is pronounced "ho," with an open-o sound like in "hot." The second syllable is pronounced "tel," with a closed-e sound like in "tell." Phonetically, this is transcribed as /hoʊˈtɛl/. The word comes from the French "hôtel," meaning a large townhouse or mansion. Over time, it took on the meaning of a place to stay for travelers, and the spelling remained the same.
A hotel is a commercial establishment that provides temporary overnight accommodation primarily to travelers and tourists, often with supplementary services, facilities, and amenities. It is usually comprised of individual guestrooms or suites, equipped with essential furnishings, such as comfortable beds, seating areas, and private bathrooms. These accommodations generally offer various levels of comfort and luxury, ranging from budget-friendly options to opulent high-end establishments.
Hotels commonly feature additional facilities like restaurants, bars, lounges, swimming pools, fitness centers, conference rooms, and event spaces, intended to enhance the guests' stay and meet their diverse needs. Some hotels may also provide concierge services, room service, laundry facilities, and transportation assistance for added convenience.
Hotels are typically categorized based on their size, location, target clientele, and affiliated amenities. They can include urban city hotels, resort hotels, boutique hotels, airport hotels, and others, each catering to specific demographics or preferences. Hotels aim to offer a comfortable and hospitable environment for their guests. Their primary goal is to provide a safe and pleasant stay, ensuring the well-being, relaxation, and satisfaction of their visitors.
Hotels play a significant role in the tourism industry, contributing to the economy by generating employment opportunities and attracting visitors from both domestic and international destinations. With their diverse range of accommodations and services, hotels serve as temporary homes for travelers, allowing them to explore new places while enjoying a variety of personalized comforts and experiences.
A superior house for entertaining strangers or travellers; an inn; a palace; a town mansion.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "hotel" originated from the French word "hôtel" which originally referred to a large townhouse or mansion. The term was derived from the Old French "ostel" or "hostel", meaning "house" or "lodging", which in turn came from the Latin word "hospitale" or "hospitium", meaning "hospitality" or "inn". Over time, the meaning of "hôtel" evolved to refer specifically to establishments offering accommodation and amenities for travelers. Eventually, the term "hotel" was adopted in various languages to denote such lodging establishments.