The history of hotels in the world. The history of hotels. History of the hotel business in modern times

The history of the hotel business in Moscow goes back to the Middle Ages, to the era when Moscow from the center of the Moscow Principality turned into Moscow, the Mother See, not only the capital, but also a major shopping center of Rus'. Predecessors modern hotels there were inns - establishments that provided travelers with simple housing and food. Pilgrims who arrived in the capital for pilgrimages and church holidays were usually accommodated in monastery farmsteads. In the 16th century, with the development of trade and the expansion of international relations, guest houses appeared in Moscow, designed specifically for merchants. The first Gostiny Dvors were created back in the 12th century in Veliky Novgorod, which conducted brisk trade with foreigners. Unlike inns, these establishments had shopping arcades and warehouses; here it was possible to make deals and trade. Guest courtyards were often divided along “national” lines: for example, there were German, English, Greek and Armenian courtyards. On Varvarka, 3, the building of Gostiny Dvor, built in 1574 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, has survived to this day. The building was rebuilt several times, and in 1995 it was completely reconstructed.

The activities of hotel establishments in Moscow, as throughout Rus', were regulated by a set of special rules. This vault, called “skra”, was originally compiled for guest courtyards. The provisions of the secret contained almost everything: rules of residence, payment, internal regulations, fire safety, and even rules of behavior at the table. Without exaggeration, Skru can be called a kind of predecessor of the currently existing “Rules for the provision of hotel services in the Russian Federation.”

The era of Peter the Great and post-Petrine reforms was marked by a rapid growth in trade with foreign countries and, as a consequence, the development hotel industry. Although St. Petersburg had already become the capital of Russia at that time, Moscow still remained a major trading center of the country. In the mid-18th century, the first hotels of the European type opened in Moscow, and at the end of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century, 11 paired two-story hotels were built on the Boulevard Ring, near the Prechistinsky, Nikitsky, Sretensky and Pokrovsky Gates. One of these buildings of the same type - on Pokrovka - has survived to this day. The author of the project for these hotels was the then famous architect V. Stasov, who built many public buildings in different cities, primarily in St. Petersburg.

In the 19th century, the number of hotels in Moscow increased significantly. The monastery farmsteads located in the city center were converted into hotels. Some hotels built in the second half of the 19th century were also called farmsteads (“Kokorevskoye Compound”, “Chizhovskoye Compound”, “Trinity Compound”, “Starovavarinsky Compound”). If at the very beginning of the century there were only 7 hotels in Moscow, then by the middle of the century there were already several dozen. In the second half of the 19th century, furnished rooms appeared in Moscow - inexpensive hotels with board or half board, intended for people with average or low level income.

In 1910, there were 228 hotels operating in the city, not counting 77 inns. The largest hotels in Moscow at the beginning of the 20th century were the Grand Hotel (demolished in 1976 during the construction of the 2nd stage of the Moscow Hotel), Boyarsky Dvor (the building has survived to this day, it houses the Presidential Administration), Novomoskovskaya (today - “Baltschug Kempinski”), “Europe” (the building has not survived), “Slavic Bazaar” (closed after 1917), “Leipzig” (today there are offices in the hotel building). The National, Metropol, and Savoy hotels were very popular among visitors. Many hotels in Moscow (Slavic Bazaar, Alpine Rose) were famous throughout the capital for their restaurants.

After the October Revolution, all hotels in Moscow were nationalized, and many were closed. Some large hotels were turned into the so-called Houses of Soviets and Houses of Unions - a kind of hostels for representatives of the new government. For example, the National Hotel housed the Soviet government, and Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin and Nadezhda Krupskaya lived in room 107 of this hotel. In the 20s and 30s, construction of the first Soviet hotels began in the capital. Construction was carried out simultaneously with a large-scale reconstruction of the center of Moscow, during which the appearance of the ancient Kitay-Gorod dramatically changed. In 1930, Okhotny Ryad with its shopping arcades, small hotels, taverns and churches was demolished, and on the site of the Paraskeva Pyatnitsa Church the Moscow Hotel was built, which remained for a long time largest hotel capitals. In the 50s, the ranks of Moscow hotels were replenished by such hotels as “Altai”, “Vostok”, “Zarya”, “Golden Ear”, “Ostankino”, “Tourist”, “Yaroslavskaya”, as well as hotels “Ukraine” and “ Leningradskaya", whose high-rise buildings have become new landmarks of the capital. In subsequent years, new hotels in Moscow were built mainly outside Boulevard Ring– on Leninsky Prospekt (“Yuzhnaya”, “Salyut”), on Leningradsky Prospekt (“Aeroflot”), in Izmailovo (hotel complex “Izmailovo”). The reason was simple: the reconstruction of the center of Moscow had largely ended by that time, and, as a rule, there was nowhere to build on a large scale.

The hotels of Soviet Moscow, like the entire USSR, became famous for one property: they never had free seats. This feature of hotels invariably provided food for satire. A special atmosphere surrounded Intourist and other hotels where foreigners stayed. Both black marketeers and state security agencies showed increased attention to these hotels in Moscow.

The global changes brought former USSR perestroika also affected the hotel business. Hotels, which for many years were part of the planned socialist economy, have again become a profitable business. Foreign hotel chains have appeared on the Moscow market - Radisson, Marriott, Swissotel and others. Soon they were competing with Russian hotel brands - Heliopark, Katerina City. Five-star hotels in Moscow - Baltschug Kempinski, Ararat Park Hyatt, President Hotel - have become new symbols of comfort and luxury, confidently displacing the representatives of the past era familiar to every Muscovite - National, Metropol, Savoy. Recently, a large number of mini-hotels have been opening in Moscow, but three-star hotels are still the most popular, attracting tourists due to the ratio of service level to cost of living.

Being the administrative center of Russia, Moscow regularly becomes the venue for all types of business events - conferences, seminars, presentations, exhibitions. Based on this, a growing share of the range of hotel services is made up of various business services. Many Moscow hotels (Mezhdunarodnaya, Iris Congress, Cosmos) specialize in organizing business events, providing multifunctional conference rooms, modern equipment and a full range of related services.

New hotels appear in Moscow every year. In 2005 there were 170 of them, by mid-2006 -180, and by mid-2007 - 203. These numbers would look impressive if not for the data from 1910 cited above. In addition, new hotels are mainly expensive hotels and mini-hotels, but there are still not enough inexpensive and affordable tourist-class hotels in Moscow. According to the results of a study conducted by Business Travel International (BTI), the cost of living in Moscow hotels is an order of magnitude higher than in hotels in London, New York or Paris. Another study conducted international company Tri Hospitality Consulting found that Moscow ranks first in terms of profit per hotel room among the 10 largest tourist centers Europe. These disappointing statistics have long been a source of concern for the Moscow government. In April 2007, the “General Scheme for Hotel Accommodation in Moscow” was adopted. According to this scheme, at least 248 new hotels will appear in the capital by 2010. It is planned that these will be mainly three-star hotels. If the good intentions of the Moscow government are destined to come true, then by 2010 Moscow hotels will be able to accommodate up to 180-200 thousand visitors per day.

The Arbat Hotel is conveniently located in the historical center of Moscow, on Plotnikov Lane, a short walk from the Old and New Arbat streets, to which it owes its name. The six-story hotel building is surrounded by old mansions, museums, various foreign embassies.

The Baltschug Kempinski Hotel is located in the historical Zamoskvorechye, or rather, in that part of it called Baltschug. This ancient area between the Moscow River and the Vodootvodny Canal has been known since the 14th century. Its name comes from the Tatar word “balchekh” - mud, swamp. Once upon a time there were public baths here, then a tavern for...

The Zarya Hotel is located in the north-east of the capital, next to the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VVC, formerly VDNKh). This proximity is not accidental: Zarya was initially built specifically for business travelers and rural workers who came to VDNKh to exchange experiences. Two five-story buildings of the Zarya Hotel, erected in 1956...

In 1980, Moscow was to host the XXII Olympic Games. On the eve of this important event, active construction of various facilities, including Olympic ones, began. The Izmailovo Hotel began its history with the Moscow Olympics.

The Korston Hotel (formerly the Orlyonok Hotel) is located in the South-Western district of Moscow, in picturesque place- on Sparrow Hills. The twenty-story building of the Orlyonok Hotel was erected in 1976. Like many Moscow hotels, the Orlyonok Hotel was built on the eve of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, which were held in Moscow...

The Cosmos Hotel is located in the north-east of Moscow, opposite the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VVC, formerly VDNH). The hotel owes its name to the fact that next to it there is the Alley of Cosmonauts and the monument to the “Conquerors of Space”. The space theme is widely used in hotel interior design.

November 30th, 2012

Because the previous post about , gave me the idea to write about the history of “hotel construction” and the development of the most significant “hotel” cities, I guess it would be reasonable to start with a post about general history hospitality in the world and Russia.

The word "hotel" comes from the Latin "hostel", and from the Anglo-Saxon "hospitality", which means hospitality.
Later, this name was transformed into the more familiar one, which has French roots - “hotel”.

The history of the development of the hotel business is inextricably linked with travel. Traveling for various purposes and intentions (visiting holy places and temples, the Olympic Games, etc.), people needed shelter, food and rest. The oldest mentions of places to accommodate travelers can be found in the written sources of Ancient Egypt.

IN Ancient Greece communication between the cities was maintained by “hemerodromas” (daytime messengers). At a distance that a horse could travel without rest, there were special stations where one could get food and fresh horses.

During the heyday of Greek civilization, visiting yards and hotels appeared in cities and on the roads leading to them. The oldest inn mentioned in the sources was located on the island of Crete (around 1500 BC). Hotels, as places of rest for government envoys, appeared much later. Thus, in the ancient Greek city of Epidaurus (the cultural center of the god of healing) there was a hotel with 160 rooms with adjacent galleries with sculptures, a stadium and a theater with 17 thousand seats.

An extensive network of public and private hotels, money exchange offices, and travel intermediaries is emerging in Greece.

Travel became especially active after the conquest of Greece by the Romans. Moreover, the travel of the Romans began to acquire a health, educational, and entertainment character (visiting medical mineral springs, architectural landmarks, famous educational institutions, theaters, etc.). These trips required the organization of hotel business. Back in the 1st century. BC AD In the Roman Empire, state inns arose, located at a distance of a day's horse ride from each other. Inns were located in cities and on the main routes used by couriers and government officials from Rome. Already among the ancient Romans there was a certain classification of hotels. There were two types of “refuges” in the provinces and in Rome itself: some of them were appointed only for patricians, others for plebeians.

In connection with new conquests and the expansion of the territory of the Roman Empire, its customs, economic and organizational structures also found application in new provinces and conquered countries. The fact that Roman law provided for the special responsibility of such an institution for the guest’s belongings testifies to how deeply and comprehensively developed establishments were in ancient times that provided travelers with shelter, food and overnight accommodation. Thus, traditions were laid back in ancient Greece and Rome, and they are still followed in the modern hotel industry. For example, responsibility for the safety of the guest’s belongings, mandatory registration of residents, etc.

The decline and death of the ancient slave world led to a decrease in population mobility both within individual countries and between countries; construction of roads and hotels decreased. Only a few centuries later, in the early Middle Ages, the number of trips began to grow again. Massive travels of merchants, apprentices, apprentices, traveling actors, as well as numerous pilgrims and pilgrims contributed to the development of the most various forms granting asylum. Initially, this shelter was free, for the sake of love for one's neighbor, which was provided by monasteries, churches, princely courts, etc.

Significant development of the hotel business in Europe has been observed only since the 8th-9th centuries. after Charlemagne issued an edict, which obliged monasteries and churches to maintain “hospices” - houses that provided travelers and pilgrims with overnight accommodation, food, rest, and sometimes even medical procedures. “Hospice” became most widespread in Switzerland, which, thanks to old traditions, is now considered the most authoritative in the field of hotel management and hotel services.

In the XIII-XIV centuries. In connection with the growth and development of crafts and trade, the revival of domestic and international economic relations in Europe, the system of temporary accommodation for a fee in hotels became widespread. The first such hotels were private residential buildings (or separate rooms in them). Hotel owners often served as intermediaries in the affairs of their clients, acting as resellers and agents. Thus, prototypes of modern hotels appear. Around the same time, the first official attempt to classify them was made. In Berlin, which at that time had a population of about 130 thousand inhabitants, there were 9 inns of the first class, two of which were already called hotels, 10 inns of the second class and 13 inns of the third class.

With the advent railways, steamships expand the possibilities for tourism development. In new vehicles amenities are created, a high level of comfort is achieved: sleeping cars, dining cars, etc. appear. The hotel business is also rising to a higher level. The vast majority of tourists were aristocrats and bourgeoisie. They put forward increased demands on the level and quality of service, thereby encouraging hotel owners to take care of improving their establishments. Gradually, comfortable hotels began to appear in European capital cities, located in specially constructed buildings (like private residences) or in magnificent state mansions. This is where the French name "hotel" comes from, meaning the city palace of a magnate, the seat of government or city officials. These were luxury hotels with restaurants and a high level of service. So, in 1861, the Maurice Hotel in Paris had 700 rooms with water, an elevator, and a restaurant with 1,500 seats. Along with the creation of orderly hotels and luxurious restaurants, new means of entertainment began to operate: night clubs, cabarets, etc.

In Russia:
In Rus', inns, the predecessors of the first hotels, appeared in the 12th and 13th centuries. They rested and changed horses there. These inns - “pits”, as they were called, were located one from the other at a distance of a horse ride.
In the 15th century Numerous postal stations are created, which are in charge of the Yamskaya Prikaz. At the behest of the Yamsky order, new stations were opened, and the coachmen also obeyed him. At the same time, numerous living rooms and inns were built. Not only did they trade in the Gostiny Dvors, they lived in them and carried out commercial transactions.

In the 18th century hospitable courtyards were built with arches and columns open to the street (hospitable courtyards in St. Petersburg, Kaluga and other cities).
Gostiny dvors in Russian cities were built near shopping centers - “marketplaces”. Guests settled according to nationality. Thus, in Moscow there were English, Greek and Swedish, and in Novgorod there were German and Dutch hospitable courtyards.
In the XVI-first half of the XVII century. one of the main trading centers of Eastern Europe was Kyiv, through which merchant caravans passed from Poland, the Crimean Khanate, Turkey, Moldova, Greece, Hungary, and other countries Western Europe, which were heading towards the Moscow state.

Due to the growth of industrial production and the expansion of trade relations in the 18th -19th centuries. The population of cities is growing, new hotels are opening. In 1818, 7 hotels were operating in Moscow. In St. Petersburg in 1900 there were already 325 hotels. In 1910, there were 4,685 hotels in Russia, not counting inns and taverns with rooms. All of them belonged to private individuals and were purely commercial enterprises.
After the October Revolution, by decree of the Soviet government, all hotels were nationalized, and the hotel industry underwent a radical restructuring.

By 1940, hotels had been built in 669 cities. During the Great Patriotic War, enormous damage was caused to the entire national economy, including the hotel industry.
In the post-war years, extensive work was carried out on the restoration, reconstruction and construction of new hotels. By 1960, in 1364 cities of the Soviet Union, guests were served in 1476 hotels.
The further growth of the material and technical hotel base in the country was determined by the following factors: development existing cities and the emergence of new ones; the growth of industry, science, culture and art; increasing the material well-being of people. All this created the prerequisites for the development of domestic tourism, the exchange of delegations, and an increase in the number of business travelers and vacationers.

In 1980, on the eve of the Moscow Olympics, the USSR hotel industry consisted of 7,000 hotels with a total capacity of 700 thousand beds. Many large, comfortable hotels were built.

Based on materials from sites: , , , , , ,

About how ancient history of hotel business, can be seen from a short quotation from the Gospel: “The time has come for her to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger; there was no room for them in the inn.” It was then, more than 2000 years ago, in the East, in Ancient Rome and in Ancient Greece there already existed guest houses, in which envoys, government officials, merchants and other travelers could receive free shelter and food during their trips.

From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance

In the Middle Ages, this tradition was picked up by monasteries, which were obliged by church regulations to provide free shelter and food to countless pilgrims traveling to holy places. And only in 1530, after the decree of the English king Henry VIII on the transfer of church property to secular property, began true story hotel business like independent hospitality industry receiving money for services provided. During the Renaissance, the history of the development of the hotel business experienced rapid rise. At this time between major European cities And shopping centers a regular horse-drawn postal service appeared - the prototype public transport. At the intersections of the main routes and along postal routes, active construction of inns began, in which, in addition to traditional shelter, dinner and changing horses, warehouses, shops, shopping arcades and offices where traveling salesmen could conclude their deals appeared. In the 18th century in the history of the hotel business, for the first time the term "hotel" appeared. This is how in Paris they called houses with several floors, consisting of small separate apartments, which not only travelers, but also city residents could rent for any period of time. The idea and name appealed to American owners of inns and roadside taverns. Using the French word “Hotel”, enterprising Americans sought to emphasize the elitism of their establishment.

History of the hotel business in modern times

During the same period, the United States, thanks to the flows of emigrants rushing into the country, played a leading role in the history of the development of the hotel business, laying the foundation creation of large hotel corporations. In New York, at the turn of the century, the first City Hotel opened its doors to guests; in 1830, a luxurious luxury hotel, the Tremont, opened in Boston. Since then, prim Europe has been swept by the fashion for fashionable hotels, equipped with the most modern amenities for their time and being masterpieces of architecture. Rapid development industry, maritime and railway transport changed and appearance of hotel guests. Newly minted millionaires and aristocrats flocked to round the world travel and on luxury resorts, the hospitality industry created the highest class comfort for their holidays. Managers from Switzerland and the New World, Caesar Ritz and Elsword Statler, made a huge contribution to the history of the development of the hotel business in Europe and the world. For the first time, expensive crystal chandeliers, telephones in the rooms, huge mirrors, sconces at the head of the beds appeared in their hotels, and in restaurants they began to play live music. It was Statler who said the phrase “ The customer is always right", which became the main slogan of the service sector. Only after World War II did the first, but still thriving, chain of luxury hotels, Hilton, appear.

Hotel business in Russia

In Russia, the first inns appeared in the 12th-13th centuries, and in the 15th century, under the direction of the Yamsky Prikaz, postal pit stations began to be built, from which the domestic history of the hotel business began. As in Europe, Yamsky living rooms and inns They not only provided guests with overnight accommodation and a hearty dinner, but also served as a kind of shopping centers with warehouses, shopping arcades and premises for concluding commercial transactions. The rapid industrial 19th century and the expansion of trade relations with other countries, population growth major cities inhaled a fresh stream of development Russian hospitality industry. If at the beginning of the 19th century there were only 7 hotels in capital Moscow, then in St. Petersburg in 1900 about 230 hotel hotels received guests, and in 1910 in industrial, port and resort towns The Russian Empire had about 4,700 hotels owned by private owners. This number does not include many inns, lodging houses and taverns with rooms. After 1917 all hotels and hotels were nationalized, new ones were built in different cities, but then most of them were destroyed during the war. In 1960, only 1,480 hotels operated in all cities of the USSR; by the 1980 Olympic year, the country's hotel industry amounted to 7,000 hotels and inns accommodating up to 700 thousand guests. After the collapse of the USSR Russian history The development of the hotel business has entered a completely new orbit. The Iron Curtain collapsed and tourists, businessmen, students from near and far countries flocked to our country, and our fellow citizens also learned the beauty of travel. The domestic hospitality industry is now is developing in several directions: these are large ones network objects, and original private hotels, and apart-hotels in new modern residential complexes, and apartments, and affordable hostels for young people and students. Hoteliers are confident that the crisis, which has slowed down the development of large chains hotel complexes, is an excellent chance to replenish the Russian hotel industry with small and cozy mini-hotels and hostels, so popular in developed countries.

Modern tourism, and it is unthinkable without a developed hotel industry, is a highly profitable industry, comparable in terms of investment efficiency to the oil production and processing industries of the economic complex. In the field of tourism, the interests of culture and transport, security and international relations, ecology and employment, the hotel business and the resort complex are closely intertwined. Thus, betting on the development of tourism, and with it the hotel industry, is beneficial to any region of the country.

A hotel is an enterprise created to provide the general public with basic (provision of rooms for temporary use), additional paid (services of catering establishments, rental, medical diagnostics, etc.) and free (calling an emergency doctor, providing boiling water, threads, needles, etc.) services in accordance with current legislation. Thus, a hotel enterprise is an independent economic entity that supplies its product (services) to the service market on the basis of freely developing demand for these services from their consumers (users).

The main service, or accommodation service, is considered as a specific hotel product, which is purchased by the hotel clientele through exchange transactions that do not imply ownership, but only access to it and its use at a certain time and place.

Each hotel contains a complex, a system of premises and services that provide reception and accommodation for clients (especially tourists), their food, leisure activities and consumer services. Therefore, when speaking about a hotel, hotel industry, we most often mean that we are talking about a hotel complex, which includes residential and office premises, systems engineering support, as well as the area adjacent to hotel buildings and structures. All buildings of the hotel complex are organized in such a way as to make it easier to serve the clientele (consumers of services) and provide them with a variety of services high quality. This cannot be achieved without trained and comprehensively trained service personnel, selected in accordance with the standards developed by the hotels.

According to the current civil legislation, a hotel enterprise is recognized as a legal entity only after state registration in the prescribed manner and must have certain inherent characteristics, without which it cannot not only be recognized as a legal entity, but also engage in production activities, namely:

Have separate property in your ownership, economic management or operational management;

To answer with your property for the obligations that the enterprise has in relations with creditors, including in the event of failure to fulfill obligations to the budget;

Act in production and economic activities in the process of providing hotel services on its own behalf, i.e., enter into all types of civil contracts with business partners, consumers of the hotel product, suppliers of all factors of production (raw materials, materials, fuel, energy, components and etc.), with citizens and other legal entities and individuals;

Be a plaintiff, bring claims to the guilty party, and also be a defendant in court (arbitration court) in case of failure to fulfill obligations in accordance with current legislation and contracts;

Have an independent balance sheet or estimate, correctly keep records of costs for the production and sale of services, and provide timely reports to government agencies;

Have its own name containing an indication of its organizational and legal form.

According to the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, from January 1, 1995, can be created (formed) legal entities as commercial organizations only in the following organizational and legal forms:

State enterprises;

Municipal unitary enterprises;

Individual (family) private enterprises;

Producer cooperatives;

General partnerships;

Mixed partnerships;

Limited Liability Partnerships;

Joint stock companies of open (closed) type.

The quantitative growth of hotel chains, their mergers and consolidations create the erroneous opinion of a decrease in the variety of offers and recreation. However, in practice, the opposite trend is observed: the spread of chains (due to some impersonality and standardization of service) cannot satisfy all the various requirements of tourists, which prepares the ground for the development of small independent hotels that rely on uniqueness and originality. Experts considered these hotels to be the prototypes of hotels of the 21st century: comfortable, built in a rural style and offering services at a reasonable price, having everything necessary for work and leisure, without a restaurant (it is assumed that the restaurant is nearby), where clients can receive exquisite personalized service. It is the uniqueness small hotel is the main instrument of market policy.

As practice shows, the majority of small hotels are independent hotels that are in the free possession, disposal and use of the owner, who receives profit from such property. The presence of contractual obligations with other companies in matters of management and use of someone else's service mark does not entail a change in the status of the enterprise as independent in relation to other subjects of market relations.

Over the past few years, small hotels have become a leader in specialized programs and market research. What is this category of hotels and what is the reason for their popularity? To date, there are no strictly defined international or national standards classifying accommodation facilities by their volume. In practice, hotels are divided into four large categories: small hotels (up to 150 rooms), medium hotels (from 151 to 300 rooms), large hotels (from 301 to 600 rooms) and giant hotels (over 600 rooms). It should be noted that depending on the country, the numbers in brackets may vary significantly. Europe, with its tight borders and modest size, is a stark contrast to the megalomania of the United States, where no one will be surprised by the hotels with several thousand rooms crowded on the coast of Miami, Florida or Las Vegas.

A European small hotel, as a rule, has no more than 50 rooms, while its American counterpart with 150 rooms is also considered a very small establishment. In this regard, Russia is closer to Europe, although our country has also suffered from gigantomania in a pronounced form. According to the most general definition, a small hotel in Russia is an enterprise of a hotel complex where from one to fifty rooms are provided to the consumer.

But, although small hotels are the subject of numerous studies, their status still remains uncertain. Firstly, there is no consensus on what a small hotel is, and secondly, in terms of logistics, range of services and quality of service, a small hotel very often does not “fit” into the classification of hotels. For example, a small hotel with 15 rooms in a separate small building, even if it fully satisfies all the requirements for a four-star hotel in terms of technical equipment and comfort, will never be officially classified as four stars if it does not have a hairdresser, a business center and a meeting room. cultural events(which her 15 clients hardly need). And hotels located on one floor in a multi-story building are not at all provided for by the State Standard, since one of the mandatory requirements for the technical equipment of a hotel is the presence of a guest elevator.

Interest in small forms of hotel business organization is manifested not only in Russia. It is determined by changes in the behavior of the main consumers of hotel services, which, as we know, are tourists. Small hotels are easier to adapt to each client, creating an atmosphere of “home away from home”, which does not exclude the introduction of national flavor into the life of guests. This allows these forms of hotel business to gain a strong position in the market different countries, including in Russia. Thus, the emergence of small hotels is a response to the demand that has arisen among tourists for small forms and home comfort.

A distinctive feature and competitive advantage of any small hotel is an individual attitude towards each client. In huge hotels, customer service is streamlined. But not everyone likes it. Many people want to stay in a place where they can feel at home.

The main clients of small hotels are middle-class businessmen, whose stay in the city does not require the ambience of prestigious international chains. Typically, these clients want moderate comfort, good food, cleanliness and safety, all of which they find in small hotels. Added to this reasonable prices and a special atmosphere of comfort that is difficult to create in hotel giants. Small hotels have one more advantage over large hotels: tourists and businessmen really appreciate it when hotels are located not on the outskirts of the city, but closer to architectural monuments, administrative and business centers. Small hotels are easiest to build in such places - they can be built “spot” on small land plots, or convert old mansions for them.

Requirements for the comfort and attractiveness of a small hotel:

The hotel building must fit organically into the environment, without disturbing the features of the urban, rural or natural landscape.

The design of the building must take into account natural and climatic factors: air temperature and humidity, proximity to the sea and other bodies of water, wind speed and direction and other factors.

The layout of the hotel building should ensure economical operation with a rational combination of current and one-time costs.

The capacity and number of floors of a hotel building should depend on the purpose and mode of operation - year-round or seasonal.

The hotel interior should be comfortable and have aesthetic expressiveness.

The layout of hotels must take into account the needs of people with disabilities, providing them with specially equipped rooms, staircases, toilets, and bathrooms.

Hotel services must be equipped with automated booking and ticket reservation systems, and computer management systems. Customer safety must be ensured through various surveillance systems, in-room electronic safes, electronic locks and other security measures.

Small hotels operate in the same price range as medium and large hotels. Prices are dictated by the market, which is the same for both kids and giants. Prices depend only on the class of mini-hotels. However, a small number of rooms encourages small hotel owners to maximize the average sales price. However, this does not always contribute to business development. Indeed, in the hotel business it is very important to maintain the balance between cost and quality of service.

The rapid growth of tourism in the world has caused an active expansion of hotel offerings in all countries. Rising living standards and competition in tourism offer give rise to increasingly diverse services.
A significant recovery in the hotel services market is observed in almost all European countries. Numerous studies have reported impressive growth in profitability for European hotels. They confirm a strong trend in the European hotel industry: 21 of the 25 major European cities recorded double-digit growth in room yields local hotels. The same rapid increase in profitability hotel rooms observed in the USA. The secret to the significant increase in hotel business profitability lies in the development of the US economy - an increase in GDP and overall demand for goods and services.

The main trends in the development of hospitality industry enterprises that have developed in recent decades include:
deepening the specialization of hotel and restaurant offers;
formation of international hotel and restaurant chains;
network development hotel enterprises;
introduction of new computer technologies into the hospitality industry.

As an analysis of existing information shows, in almost all countries of the world there are “chains” of hotels belonging to world-famous companies, or to smaller owners. Especially great influence hotel chains observed in the USA. They believe that the modern concept of “standard in production” appeared in hotel chains. A rational idea that is born in one ring of the hotel chain is quickly introduced into others and immediately brings significant results.
Today there are more than 300 hotel chains in the world. The 13 largest of them account for 78% of the total room stock of hotel chains. Moreover, each of them covers many countries of the world.

But the spread of chains cannot satisfy all the varied demands of tourists due to some impersonality and standardization of service, creating the basis for the development of small independent hotels that rely on uniqueness and originality. Experts consider such hotels to be prototypes of the 21st century: comfortable, built in a rural style, offering services at a reasonable price and having everything necessary for work and leisure, where clients can receive exquisite personalized service. It is the uniqueness of such a hotel that is the main instrument of market policy.
In the struggle for clients, entire groups of hotel enterprises and each hotel separately are constantly expanding the range of services, bringing new original offers to the market.

The rapid development of information technologies and software in the hotel and tourism business is due to the effect that can be obtained when used correctly. Only a computer can provide the hotel owner with the services that are necessary for activities on modern market. Thanks to access to various databases of their proper use and management, hotel owners have a unique opportunity to attract a specific profile of guests and, as a result, provide their clients with more personalized services. Technologies also make it possible to enter global database networks and view international websites and Internet pages. Thanks to new technologies, to which small owners gain access largely through cooperation with large corporations within an autonomous enterprise, the ability to quickly communicate with potential clients of the global market is improved and the procedure for reserving cities in advance, processing pre-orders, etc. is simplified. And this gives the ability to send the right product to the right customer at the right time at the right price.

Today, the global hotel industry numbers about 350 thousand comfortable hotels with more than 14 million rooms (26 million beds). At the same time, the number of rooms over the past 20 years has increased annually by an average of 3-4%, which indicates a significant growth dynamics in tourist accommodation facilities. Moreover, the structure of the global hotel industry adequately reflects tourist flows on a regional basis: the more domestic tourists and foreign visitors in a particular region of the world, the more accommodation facilities this region has. Even though the numerical data in various sources do not coincide, the above approximate data speaks for itself: the enormity of the hotel industry, the stability of its position and growth over time put this industry at one of the first places today and in the future.

Taking into account current trends in development international trade and tourism, it is not difficult to imagine in which direction international hotel corporations will develop.
Therefore, in the future it will be possible to observe the development of both standard hotel chains and individual specialized hotels. Although, it seems that the specialization of hotels will be wider and more diverse, and therefore their share in the hotel services market will increase significantly.
After all, there are still so many unmet customer needs in various types of themed hotel complexes. These can be hotels for newlyweds, nostalgic hotels, and hotels near holy places of pilgrimage. The novelty of services is the result of creative search and, to some extent, commercial value. However, it must be remembered that the introduction of new services and the practical implementation of new ideas is always a risk, so they must be well calculated and thought out.

And although today there is a tendency to build exquisite, incredibly expensive hotels, the secret of hospitality lies not in luxury and splendor, but in responsiveness and the ability to guess the mood and desires of the client. How many cases does practice know when a person finds peace and comfort in a completely different place than where he is trying to find it? This is exactly what I would like to see worked on in the field of providing hotel services.
All the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the tough world of business and other troubles and experiences fall on a person, causing stress, nervous tension and mental disorders, which must be gotten rid of like physical disabilities. Therefore, a hotel for a person, no matter what type he is, should become one of those few places where a person could neutralize his negative emotions, find inner peace and feel happy. To implement such a plan, a complete rethinking of the approach to clients is necessary (which is already observed in many modern hotels). It would be ideal for service personnel who have direct contact with customers to have knowledge in the field of psychology. In the room, for example, you can place a punching bag (it’s clear why) or provide the opportunity for direct access to a helpline, or place in the room special literature about the possibility of overcoming stress, or add a qualified psychologist to the staff who would not communicate with clients in an intrusive manner.
If we work hard at this, many more tools can be found to help a person gain peace of mind and understand his role in the structure of social systems. And although today there is so much talk about business and commerce in the hotel industry, the best gratitude for a hotel owner is best reviews from the client’s lips, his sincere smile and grateful eyes, which cannot be compared with any checkbook.

 

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