5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

Today is all about the hotel industry and the things they don’t want you to know. The hospitality industry is strongly dependent on tourism and political issues. It’s worth billions of dollars, and accommodation sites are customized to fit every need. From hostels, motels, B&Bs, and Airbnbs to 5-star resorts, you can feel like a king or hate yourself for not reading the reviews beforehand.

Hotels are great, and many holiday decisions revolve around choosing the best place to stay. And we have to admit the best part of any hotel is the room service option and the feeling of being able to do whatever you want. For example, calling at midnight for fries and cheesecake while enjoying mini champagne from the minibar seems sort of priceless and sometimes pretty expensive. But who’s counting?

We’re taking you for a spin today around the hotel industry. We know the dirty secrets and the expensive bits you’ve been dying to find out about.

#1 Burj Al Arab is the only 7-star hotel in the world

Staying in a 5-star hotel is the ultimate luxury option in housing matters. If you ever feel like the Ritz Carlton or the Peninsula of Paris is luxurious, wait until you see what Dubai has to offer.

The Burj Al Arab is a piece of art. Outstanding design and extravagant features are waiting for their guests at the 7-star hotel. It’s officially a 5-star hotel because the ratings won’t allow it to go higher. But having a Rolls-Royce drive you to the airport, helipad, and the most expensive Finnish you can find definitely makes it a 7-star. The hotel is the third tallest building globally and sits on an artificial island made especially for it.

#2 There are a few famous public figures that lived in hotels

In Home Alone, we see Macaulay Culkin living his best life in a hotel. If you have a problem with it just call somebody to fix it. You don’t have to worry about breakfast and, most importantly - no cleaning. A few of the world’s greatest minds have lived their lives in the hotels. Coco Chanel moved into the Ritz in the 1930s and stayed there for nearly 30 years. She decorated her suite with nude colors and created astonishing pieces there. Another iconic figure - is David Beckham. He also lived with his family in a hotel in Madrid while he was playing for Real Madrid. Also, Marilyn Monroe lived for 2 years at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. For some living in hotels is a real-life dream come true.

#3 Rooms are more expensive during the morning hours

After you decide on your next holiday destination, the first thing is to get plane tickets and book your hotel. Finding the perfect one can be really hard. It needs to fit your budget, have nice features like a bathtub or a view, and if possible, breakfast included, access to the spa, and maybe a gym. Many websites and agencies can help you find a hotel, but you have to pay a commission for that. When browsing the web, it’s recommended to use a private page - the incognito option on your browser and avoid morning hours when the prices are higher due to high demand during the morning.

Nevertheless, as the hotel choice always depends on your budget, there is a safe way to never overpay. When you’re looking for a hotel, try using the RatePunk browser extension. It will run a price comparison for the same hotel on different booking sites. So what’s in for you? This tool for travellers will definitely increase your annual savings by at least 47%. Maybe it sounds more interesting now?

#4 Hotels overbook themselves due to no-show clients

This one is similar to airlines. There are always some people who don't make it in time or just cancel at the last minute. It's a proven fact, and there are statistics to back it up. Most hotels will overbook themselves in order to make sure that if someone calls last minute, they still have an extra room. And trust us, they always have a room available. This safe policy they've come up with has helped them avoid problems with guests 90% of the time. And even though, in some cases, they can end up having a room booked by two people. But they can easily accommodate you with another hotel or find a solution to the situation.

#5 Some hotels turn their rooms into museums

Some rooms in a hotel can be available only for a visit but not for booking because famous people have died in them. Yes, that’s a scary fact, but a lot of people die in hotels. It may seem like a thing that only happens in movies, where there’s always a scene with someone getting shot or killed in a hotel room. But this is actually true and happens in real life. You might not hear about it often because hotels call the police and try to keep everything hidden from the media. And not to alert guests or anyone else. It’s just bad for the hotel business. Think about it, how many celebrities were found dead in hotels? As creepy as it sounds, it’s a part of hotel life. The rooms are cleaned and sanitized, and ready for the next guests. Also, if the guest who died there happens to be very famous, the room sometimes turns into a sort of museum.