Zmiany w największych systemach hotelowych świata na przełomie XX i XXI w.

Abstract

Keeping track of the history of the world’s hospitality from the turn of the 19th century and the history of the largest hotel systems specially, 5 different stages can be observed. The first one comprised the years to the turn of the forties, the second one finished at the end of the sixties, the third lasted as long as the eighties, the fourth one comprised the first half of the nineties and the fifth one started in 1997. The characteristic feature of the stage begun in 1997 was the appearance, among the largest hotel systems, of so-called REITs (real estate investment trusts), which had dealt so far with the market of properties. Moreover, German system of TUI Group reached the first front of top hotels taking 13th position in the next years. Analysing the development of 10 biggest hotel systems between 1997– 2001, it can be noticed that while some of them changed dynamically (e.g. Hilton Group Plc., Marriott International, Inc. and Accor S.A.) the other increased a number of rooms insignificantly (it applies mainly to Best Western Inter-national, Inc.). It is hard to predict how the world’s hotel trade will develop in the near future. It may be only concluded that these systems which apply franchising policy will flourish. However, changes in the political and economic situation may result in stagnation and even regress of the world’s hospitality as it happened to tourism.