The term Motel comes from the phrase ‘motorist’s hotel’.
Motels became popular when large highway systems began to be developed in the US in the 1920s (they began as an American phenomenon).
Long-distance journeys became common because of these large highways, and demand for easily accessible, low-cost accommodation to “spend the night” increased.
Hotels, on the other hand, have been around for centuries (the oldest hotel still in operation was built around 1300 years ago).
Because motels focus on low-cost and easy accessibility, they offer limited services.
They are typically constructed in one or two-storey structures in an “I”-, “L”-, or “U”-shaped layout, with rooms opening directly onto the car parks.
In comparison, hotels can have multiple floors, and usually have better facilities and a vast range of services.
Motels are mostly located outside the central city area, on the main roadways or close to them, while hotels are typically built in urban areas.
Very rarely are motels used for long-term stays and almost never when comfort is the priority.
Hotels can have hundreds of employees, but it is unlikely for a motel to have a great number of staff members.
While these broad characteristics create a distinction, increasingly motels are improving their services and blurring the boundaries.
At the same time, there are many hotels, which are small, employ just a handful of people, and offer the most basic services.
