History of the Hospitality Industry

Hospitality is nearly as old as humanity. From the earliest caves to inns, staging posts, motels, and resorts—today, the hospitality industry is thriving, with something like 187,000 hotels around the world. Below is a timeline of some important milestones in the development of the hospitality industry.

15,000 BCE—The Lascaux caves in France are the first shelter in history that provably accommodated people of a different tribe.

Classical antiquity—In ancient Greece and Rome, spas and bathhouses often provided sleeping facilities and were popular attractions for those seeking rest and relaxation. A bordello in Classical Pompeii is considered to be the first hospitality establishment that charged for lodging.

Middle Ages—In Japan, the first two hotels in history (guest houses called ryokans) were built in the early 700s. In the Middle East, caravanserais were a resting place for caravans along the Silk Road, and refuges served pilgrims and crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. In China and Mongolia, staging posts provided shelter for couriers and allowed horses to be changed more easily.

In Europe, cloisters and abbeys provided free accommodation to travelers. Gradually, inns and guesthouses began to open on popular trade routes to provide lodging for traveling merchants and their horses.

1600s—More than 600 inns were registered in England; the English and French governments began to introduce laws regulating them. Thermal spas with lodging were developed at Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. The first guidebooks for travelers were published in France.

Early 1700s— Masonic Lodges began to appear in North America. In Paris, the Place Vendôme offered the first example of a multiple-use architectural complex, including boutiques, offices, apartments, and hotels.

1760s—The Industrial Revolution spurred the construction of hotels across Europe and the United States.

Early 1800s—The first modern hotel built in England, with a full complement of facilities, was the Royal Hotel in Plymouth. Holiday resorts began to flourish along the French and Italian rivieras. In Japan, ryokan guest houses proliferated; in India, dak bungalows run by the British government served travelers.

1829—The Tremont House in Boston was the first hotel to provide inside toilets, locks on the doors, and bellboys.

1832—Holt’s Hotel boasted the first steam-powered elevator in New York City.

1862—Le Grand Hôtel Paris opened, the largest and most luxurious in Europe, decorated by top painters.

1870—The Palmer House Hotel in Chicago was the first hotel built to be fire resistant and the first to offer telephones in all its rooms.

1873—The Palais Württemberg in Vienna was transformed into the Hotel Imperial, a superb luxury residence for the notables of the era.

1888—The Hotel Victoria in Kansas City, Missouri, was the first to offer an en suite bathroom with every room.

1893—The first school for hoteliers, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, was founded in Lausanne, Switzerland. That same year, the Waldorf Astoria in New York opened its doors. It was the first hotel to offer room service; its maître d’ created the Waldorf salad.

Early 20th century—The early years of the twentieth century saw the construction of new luxury hotels:  The Ritz in Madrid, the Savoy in London, the Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne, the Plaza in New York, the Métropole in Brussels, the Plaza-Athenée in Paris, the Taj Mahal in Bombay, etc. During this period, Switzerland built its first ski resorts.

1923—La Mamounia was built among gardens in Marrakech, Morocco; many considered it to be the most beautiful hotel in the world.

1927—Hot Shoppes was founded in Washington, D.C., a hospitality company that later became Marriott Corp.

1950s—After the Great Depression and the war, the fifties saw a second boom in the hotel industry, including the advent of Club Med, the first casino hotels, the first hotels developed by airline companies, and new resorts flourishing around the Mediterranean. In the United States, Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson’s motor lodges were founded; 35,000 motels were built between 1939 and 1960.

Latter half of the 20th century—Thanks to various social and economic factors, middle-class people had more time and money to indulge in travel. Hotels began to diversify, catering to different budgets and interests (spas, casinos, motels, hostels, resorts, conference hotels) and offering a more varied range of services.

1970—Hotels catering to business people began to proliferate, especially in the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

1980s—The third boom in the hotel industry began in 1980. International hotel chains (mostly American) expand in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

1987—Kendall College launched its Bachelor’s in Hotel and Restaurant Management program, which later evolves into a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management.

Digital age—Software companies began developing new tools for the hospitality industry that are still evolving today, including customer databases and systems for reservations, room and housekeeping management, customer preferences, loyalty programs and more.

1993—The travel industry was quick to take advantage of the advent of the Internet, giving customers the opportunity to compare, book and review hotels from their home computer.

1997—Hotel Adlon Berlin, destroyed in 1945, is rebuilt for $260 million on its original site facing the Brandenburg Gate. Its exterior is a virtual replica of the original; inside, the rooms are the ultimate in luxury.

Early 21st century—Global corporate hotel chains merge and acquire each other. InterContinental Hotel Group now owns Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza; Marriot owns Renaissance; AccorHotels owns the brands Raffles, Sofitel and Novotel.

2009—AirBnB is founded, challenging the hotel industry by attracting tourists and taking market share. Hotels respond with creative marketing approaches, including social media campaigns and personalized customer experiences created through smart devices.

2014—The Waldorf Astoria New York is sold to the Chinese Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion, the most ever paid for a hotel.

2015—The First World Hotel in Pahang, Malaysia, expands to become the largest hotel in the world, with 7351 rooms.

Throughout the centuries, the basic principles of hospitality have remained the same. But today, managing a hotel requires extensive knowledge of hospitality management strategies, and formal education in the field is key. Kendall College offers a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management that is considered the No. 1 program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality.* You will learn about financial management, marketing, human resources, sustainability and much more. You will also get real-world experience with practical projects, two required internships and the chance to study abroad.

*KTNS Global Survey, 2017

Shared by:

Fredrica Chelangat

Director : Crown Experts Ltd.

Nairobi Kenya.