Cities can be defined by the classiness of their most famous hotels, such as The Plaza in New York City or The Savoy in London. What would these cities have been like in the time before hotels were established? The first hotel was established in 707 A.D., and it changed the course of history. Here are a few of the highlights from the history of hotels.
Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan, Yamanashi – 707 A.D.
The first building known to have been built for the express purpose of caring for travelers can be found in Japan. This hotel remained open long enough to hold the Guinness Book of World Records for longest-running hotel: 46 generations.
The City Hotel, New York City – 1794
When New York City was still the size of a college town (approx. 30,000 people), there wasn’t a place that had been built explicitly for travelers to stay and relax until 1794. The City Hotel was then established, including meeting rooms.
The Lismore House Hotel, Ireland – 1797
After having guests visit without proper accommodations, the Duke of Devonshire commissioned this hotel for guests of the Lismore Castle in Ireland. It was evident that by the time this hotel was established, the industry of building hotels was growing globally and continually improving.
It’s been 1,307 years since the first hotel opened in Japan and the tourism industry has expanded exponentially because of it. Today we continue to value customer service and strive to provide the necessary amenities as well as additional comforts.