History of Hotel in Timeline

A hotel is a commercial establishment offering short-term paid lodging. Amenities can vary widely, from basic rooms with essential furnishings to luxurious suites with advanced facilities like kitchenettes, entertainment systems, and en-suite bathrooms. While budget-friendly hotels focus on core services, larger, upscale hotels often feature amenities such as swimming pools, business centers, childcare, sports facilities, restaurants, spas, and event spaces. Rooms are typically numbered for easy identification. Certain hotels, particularly boutique establishments, offer uniquely decorated rooms. Some hotels include meals in their packages. Capsule hotels in Japan offer minimal sleeping spaces with shared bathrooms.

1945: Potsdam Conference

In 1945, Schloss Cecilienhof in Potsdam, Germany, hosted the Potsdam Conference with World War II allies Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and Joseph Stalin.

1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964

In 1964, Title II of the Civil Rights Act was enacted in the United States, prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin in public accommodations, including hotels.

1990: First Ice Hotel built

In 1990, the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, was built, becoming the first ice hotel in the world. It is constructed each winter and melts every spring.

1999: First glass igloos built

In 1999, the first glass igloos were built in Finland and became the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

2001: Hotel de Glace opens

In 2001, the Hotel de Glace in Duschenay, Canada, opened as North America's only ice hotel, it is redesigned and rebuilt in its entirety every year.

2006: First World Hotel listed as world's largest

In 2006, Guinness World Records listed the First World Hotel in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, as the world's largest hotel with a total of 6,118 rooms.

2011: Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan holds record

In 2011, the Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan was recognised as the oldest hotel in operation, taking the title from the Hoshi Ryokan.

October 2014: Anbang Insurance Group purchases Waldorf Astoria

In October 2014, the Anbang Insurance Group purchased the Waldorf Astoria New York in Manhattan for US$1.95 billion, making it the world's most expensive hotel ever sold.

2021: New modular hotel rooms introduced

In 2021, a New York-based company introduced new modular and movable hotel rooms, that allow landowners and hospitality groups to create and easily scale hotel accommodations.