The transformation of luxury hotels

According to the Oxford-English dictionary, a hotel is “an establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists.” And that, in a nutshell, is what they’ve been since the early days of the hospitality industry. Even back in Roman times, inns were used to shelter, feed, and allow for a brief respite during the long travels across the empire.

The first luxury hotel, Tremont House, opened in Boston in the year 1829.  This modern hotel was the first to implement “luxury amenities” as most people would recognize them today. These perks included indoor plumbing with indoor toilets and baths, a reception desk with room service, and free soap in all the rooms.

Hotels have changed a lot since then, and what was once considered a “luxury” has become what we’d consider an expected amenity. So as our standard of living has evolved, so has our definition of a “luxury stay”, which means that luxury…