Hotels
Following is a time chart depicting events that were significant in the development of hotels throughout the world6;
500bc Mansiones were built along Roman roads. These were government sanctioned travellers’ inns.
The Roman spa resort travelled to England, Switzerland and Mideast.
Middle Ages Manorial lords, abbeys and monasteries sheltered people. Inns were developed in larger towns and these became relay stations for mail and other goods. No meals served.
1100’s Travel became safe in Europe helping the inn/boarding house to flourish.
1500’s Stagecoach developed and rest houses were assembled along major traffic routes.
1600’s Hotel industry developed in Europe offering cuisine.
1700’s Place Vendome in Paris is first mixed-use complex.
1790’s Industrial revolution stimulated hotels in England, Europe and America.
Corre’s Hotel and City Hotel in New York were first downtown hotels.
1820’s City hotel in Baltimore, Maryland is first with partial gas-light.
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6Information from time chart are from: Rutes, A.W. and Penner, H., Hotel Planning and design.
Watson-Guptill Publications, New York. 1985.
Tremont House in Boston is first luxury hotel in the city with indoor toilets, door locks on rooms and a la carte menu.
1830’s Holt’s Hotel in New York City is first with an elevator for baggage.
Reform Club in London had its courtyard roofed to become an early atrium.
1840’s Railroads replace coaches creating a decline in coach inns.
New York Hotel first with private baths.
1850’s Spa resorts at height of popularity.
Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City is first with passenger elevators.
1880’s Hotel Everett in New York City is first with partial electric light. Hotel Sagamore with electricity throughout.
Concrete was used.
Savoy in London is first hotel with theatre, chapel, print shop and laundry.
1890’s Original Waldorf-Astoria in New York City (on site of the Empire State building) was 17 stories-tallest of its time.
1900’s Hotel schools existed and principles of hotel circulation flow developed.
1910’s Grand Central Terminal in New York City is early mixed-use project.
Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City has 2200 rooms – largest of its time.
1920’s Economic prosperity brought on a “Hotel Boom”.
Technological advancements.
Travel by aeroplane had begun.
Prohibition caused decline of hotel/restaurant business.
The Statler in Boston is first hotel/office building.
1930’s Depression forced most U.S. hotels into receivership.
1950’s After the war a second “Hotel Boom”.
Casino hotels developed in Las Vegas, Nevada.
First commercial trans-Atlantic jet service. Airlines began developing hotels.
1960’s 23,000 hotels, 40,000 motels, 170 chains operated in U.S.
Sheraton at Prudential Centre in Boston first major Hotel/mixed use development.
Prefabricated concrete panels used.
1970’s Boeing 747 introduced. Airline hotel chains developed.
Hotels converted to apartments and office buildings.
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, opens as first major hotel/amusement destination centre.
Luxury condominiums developed offering hotel services.
China opened to foreign tourists: international hotel experts invited to Participate in development of facilities.
1980’s A “hotel boom” developed by innovative marketing and development of specialised types of hotels.
Airport hotels, conference centres, suite hotels, vacation villages, health spa’s, marina hotels, ski-lodges, time-sharing and condo resorts expand rapidly.
Limited service budget hotels become popular.
A multitude of accommodation types are existent in the 1990’s. The physical shape of hotels have developed through technological advancement and consumer demand. This study has made evident the important needs of hotels and apartments, in particular their proximity to travel routes and supporting facilities such as recreation, entertainment and food and beverages.
