Accommodations within the hospitality industry primarily involve where guests will be staying as well a the amenities that they are provided with. From luxury properties to budget hotels and hostels, each location is intended to suit your discrete needs. It can be argued that accommodations represent the veritable backbone of the hospitality sector and as a result, management will place a great deal of emphasis upon what they have to offer.
Bed-and-breakfast establishments combine a sense of convenience with a down-home flavour that is attractive to many individuals; particularly those who are constantly in the room. These tend to be smaller boutique properties and yet, their presence within the sector cannot be understated due to how many locations currently exist.
Hotels (both franchises and boutiques) are the most well-known properties within the hospitality sector. From brand names such as Hilton and Radisson to smaller brick-and-mortar establishments, guests expect to be provided with services and amenities that are equal to the price that they paid for the room in question. Hotels contribute billions of pounds in revenue to this industry every year.
Hostels are often associated with student travellers and yet, they can be used by anyone who desires a room for the evening. They are generally rented on a 24-hour basis and most hostels are located close to city centres (to provide easy access to those who are not familiar with the location). Hostels are also known for their ability to offer rock-bottom prices.
Resorts fall into the high end of the hospitality sector spectrum. Yoga retreats, wellness centres and properties designed to provide unfettered views of nature all fall into this category. If you have been looking for a home away from home while enjoying a bespoke sense of luxury, modern resorts aim to please.
Serviced apartments are fully furnished properties that can be made available for both short- and long-term stays. Room service, daily housekeeping, access to fitness centres, and free wireless Internet connectivity are some of the hallmarks associated with these locations.
This type of accommodation will divide up the amount of time that guests are allowed to stay. Each customer is provided with an arrival and departure date. Time shares are often associated with extremely popular tourist locations such as the Costa del Sol in Spain or the Algarve region of Portugal.
The second hospitality sector is “Food and Drinks”. It is already a foregone conclusion that guests will need to be offered food and drink services during their stay. This is another cornerstone of hospitality in general, as the quality and availability of such items will often impact the overall customer experience and in turn the status of the hotel itself.
Restaurants represent a sizeable portion of the hospitality sector as a whole. These premises are often branded in accordance with the hotel and depending upon the amenities, some will even offer Michelin-starred service options. Guests will often base their overall experience around the quality of food that restaurants provide.
Hotels and resorts can often include catering services as a portion of their standard pricing plans. Larger properties will provide catering in order to address business luncheons, professional seminars and similar gatherings that restaurants might not be able to efficiently accommodate.
Bars and cafes are excellent places to grab a quick refreshment or a tasty meal. Furthermore, they are known for their laid-back social atmosphere; a notable difference when compared to many in-house restaurants. Most properties will offer such options due to the fact that they tend to draw a reliable number of clients.
Whether referring to a proprietary bistro or a third-party firm such as Starbucks which has rented out space, tea and coffee shops offer an additional sense of convenience to guests during their stay. Providing wireless access alongside on-the-go services, these smaller establishments have become increasingly popular.
It is obvious that individuals will need to be provided with a timely means to arrive at their destination. Trains, aeroplanes, cruise liners, and even car hire services are all encompassed by this category. In fact, without this hospitality sector, the hospitality industry as a whole would cease to exist without the presence of such options.
Travel agents essentially take on the role of intermediaries within the hospitality industry. They are often used by clients in order to expedite the process of booking a holiday and perhaps most importantly, finding the most appropriate levels of accommodations.
Tour operators are professionals or firms which solely specialise in the provision of package holiday deals. They are often utilised by those looking for specific arrangements such as all-inclusive cruises or family packages.
Online travel agencies are playing an increasingly important role within the hospitality sector due to their Internet presence. OTA’s are great options if you are looking to obtain amenable deals via online searches. There are also times when a free membership can offer additional benefits such as email alerts and substantial discounts if you book within a certain time frame.
Cruise liners are often paired with hotels due to the fact that ports of debarkation may be used by travellers for days at a time. In other words, it only makes sense that customers are provided with a quality property during their stay at various locations. Having said this, many franchised hotels have actually placed their properties on the ship itself.
A huge hospitality sector is “Car Rental”. Car hire services can be used in synergy with hotels by guests who are looking to avoid the hectic nature of public transportation. While these may be provided by travel agencies, they might also be able to be obtained directly at the property. There are times when the price of a care hire will be included within the overall holiday package.