The Washington times., 1920-01-25
HOTEL INDUSTRY
RANKSASF0URTH
Has Expanded Beyond Dreams
OF Most Optimistic
Managers.
BY CLIFrORD LEWIS.
President Lewis Hotel TrsiaiaS
sehoOI.


school
, We are living in an age OF su-
preme achievement. The word ''im-
possible" has practically been eliml-
mated from the vocabulary OF the
modern business builder. No more
radical change has occurred in any
business than has taken place In the
conduct OF present day hotels. The
hotel business-now the fourth Indus
try OF the country-has expanded be-
yond the dreams OF even the most
forward looking operators and man
ayers. Today. when the numerous
gigantic chains OF hotels reaching
from coast to coast, are viewed. one
wonders what another generation
will produce In this apparently limit
less field.
hotels, clubs. and apartment houses
operating In the United states. New
and larger establishments are being
hurriediy erected in all parts OF the
country to nil the demand OF travel
ers and the increasingly large number
OF people who prefer 10 live In hotels
and apartments, In New York city
alone there are 1900 hotels. clubs,
and apart ment houses-some OF which
are modern "skyscrapers" OF over
1000 rooms. These establishments,
combined, accommodate about 1000
900 people and employ in their various
departments approximately 2O0ooo
men and women.
THREE Clssses of Hotels.
The hotel business is divided into
three classes, namely: Commercial.
residential. and resort The CONNER
cial hotels cater principally To the
travelling public and range from the
small thirty-room country hotel 70
the mammoth city hotel OF $500
rooms. Residential hotels cater to
permanent guests and as a rule make
weekly. monthly. and yearly rates,
Resort hotels are those maintained
for the accommodation OF guests
seeking social diversion. rest. health,
or recreation, and include mountain,
country, and seaside hotels. Winter
and summer resort hotels and sani-
tariums are in this class. Stag
hotels" conductedly exclusively for
men, are very popular. There are
also many hotels which cater ex-
clusviely to women No matter what
the mission there Is a hotel OF some
sort designed to meet every require:
ment OF the average American man
ana woman. ons may i've III Inv
residential hotel: stop in the CONNER
ciai hotel when travelling. and enjoy
an outing or vacation at any season
Of the year in the resort hotel.
So many people are finding that
they can live comfortably and econo-
mically in hotels and apartment
houses that the demand for accommo-
dations Is continually in excess of
the supply. Is IL any wonder that
fortunes are made every day in tho
hotel business? Frequently hotel pro-
prietors double their investment, the
first year they are in business. Big
success is always certain when cor
rect principles are followed. A good
location. attractive furnishings, care
full management, efficient service and
a fair and square policy not only will
insure a we'll patronized hotel, but
will lead sooper or later to expansion
either in the form OF additional rooms
or other hotels erected or acquired.
There are no mysteries in the hotel
business. A successful hotel pro-
priotor or manager need be nothing
more than an able. wide-awake bust
ness man with enough technical
knowledge to conduct his establish
ment in an Intelligent manner. Many
famous managers have worked their
way up from minor positions-bell
boys, bootblacks, and doormen- 9th
ers have stepped directly from other
executive positions into the manage
ment Of hotels Both types OF man
ayers have achieved noteworthy sue