The word hotel is derived from the French hôtel (coming from the same origin as a hospital), which referred to a French version of a building seeing frequent visitors, and providing care, rather than a place offering accommodation.

A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a refrigerator and other kitchen facilities, upholstered chairs, a flat-screen television, and en-suite bathrooms.

The most common type of accommodation in the hotel industry, a hotel is defined as an establishment that offers overnight accommodation, meals, and other services. They are mainly aimed at travelers or tourists, although locals may also use them. Hotels provide private rooms and almost always have en-suite bathrooms.