Both hotels and motels provide numerous amenities in addition to sleeping accommodations, including maid service, radio and television, parking space for automobiles, recreational facilities, food and beverage services, and retail shops. In the U.S., for example, it is estimated that some 10 million people attend conventions each year. Conventions assure a steady income both from sleeping accommodations and from meeting rooms, which are used for conferences and lectures. Dining facilities are the source of additional revenue through the sale of food and beverages. Local residents also use the catering services, meeting rooms, and ballrooms for social functions and business meetings.
Resorts provide all Thunder Bay hotels services plus recreational and athletic activities.
In recent years, the hotel industry has experienced tremendous growth as a result of the increase in tourism in resort areas such as the Caribbean islands, the Mediterranean region, and Hawaii. With the growing popularity of winter vacations, many resorts have become year-round institutions. In cold climates skiing and other winter sports are enjoyed by vacationers. Conventions help to assure off-season occupancy of resort properties. The residential Thunder Bay hotel caters to permanent residents rather than to travelers.