Unit One: Tourism: Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry

Students will be able to explore the history of the Hospitality and Tourism industry by studying the evolution of Lodging, Travel and Food and Beverage and the origins of each.

The pineapple is the international symbol of hospitality.

In order for us to look at the origins of the H&T industry, it is necessary to know that the industry can be divided into three distinct, but not separate, categories.

What does lodging mean to you?

When the priests, pilgrims and missionaries began travelling to religious sites throughout Eastern Europe, accommodations became necessary. The early inns are described as private homes that citizens opened up as an act of charity.

As the road systems developed in the Roman Era, inns and taverns began to develop and increase alongside the roads. These provided basic shelter for merchants and scholars and for those on government or military business. Most of these accommodations were stables for the animals and sometimes mattresses on the floor for travellers with bread for food.

Accommodations became more elaborate as travel increased to Asia. The inns not only provided separate sleeping quarters for travellers, but also food and fresh horses.These accommodations were said to be superior to the Western World's.

During the Middle Ages, monasteries opened their doors to travellers. They provided free lodging and treated travellers better than the nobles. The monasteries grew their own food and their kitchens were cleaner than most inns. In 1282, a group of innkeepers in Italy formed an association. This changed the way lodging would operate. The industry or business of lodging was developed, and it was now a profitable business and no longer a charity.

It wasn't until the 17th century that the quality of inns improved. The wealthy travellers were travelling by stagecoach and expected good quality places to stay. British inns and taverns set the standards for other inns. Food was served in a dining room. There were private rooms and rooms for staff. Inns also became gathering places for nobles, clergy, business men, government and military officials.

Because travel in North America was mainly by water, inns were located along the coast. Once stagecoach routes were developed, hotels were placed along these routes. As people moved inland, inns and taverns based on the British models developed along rivers and postal routes. These were also gathering places for townspeople.

The inns played an important role in the Revolutionary War. Many plans were conceived in inns, and travellers would often help by providing news about the war as they travelled through. These were also used for ammunition storage and meeting places for the revolutionary underground.

The first hotel was built in 1788 in France for $17, 500. It had 60 rooms and was of higher quality than the inns. The early 19th century saw a change for the lodging industry in North America. The hotel, more elaborate than the inn, was the new trend.

In 1794, the City Hotel opened in New York City. In 1829, Boston opened the Tremont House, which featured private and double rooms, French cuisine, room service and trained workers. In 1831, a hotel in Aylmer, Quebec, was opened and in Montreal, another hotel opened in 1836.

The expansion of the railway in Canada had a great impact on the hotel industry. The inns that once housed the travellers by stagecoach were replaced by the hotels along the railway. The Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway owned many hotels. Sir William Van Horne was the driving force behind the CP hotels, which were the best in North America. In 1929, The Royal York Hotel in Toronto was the largest in the British Commonwealth. However, with the depression, many American hotels went bankrupt. This was catastrophic not only for the lodging industry but for the whole tourism industry. The lodging industry rose again after WWII. This was due to the soaring post-war economy. More jobs were created which meant more money for families to begin to travel for pleasure.

With the development of the automobile and jet, travel patterns began to change and the types of accommodations evolved to suit their needs. From the early inns in Ancient Rome and Greece, to the British style inns, from stagecoach hotels to the modern day elegant hotel, there have been many changes in the lodging industry. In the early 1900's motels were developed followed by motor inns, bed and breakfasts and special resort hotels catering to the various needs and wants of the consumer. The lodging industry will continue to change in the future as the economy, world events and technological advancements shape the world around us.

 

The origins of food services can be found in Denmark 12,000 years ago. A Roman innkeeper developed the idea of the "business man's lunch" in 40 BC. Egyptians gathered to eat together in 1700 BC. Roman cooks had high opinions of their culinary talents and developed their own "elite" cooking school in Rome around AD 117, and there are records of restaurants as early as the 1500's.

The food and beverage sector parallels the origins of accommodation. In Ancient Greece and Rome, when travellers stopped for overnight accommodation, they needed food and water too. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the monasteries often had better food for their guests than the nobles received. In Medieval times, Royals would often have hundreds of guests for dinner.

What is interesting is that the type of food a person received was based on their class or rank within society. The nobles would be served the best meal and their cooks would have to prepare different dishes for the guests. This would be similar to an À La Carte menu that we know today. The kitchens were often dirty, and sanitary conditions were not good. It was during this period that many communicable diseases were spread to both the rich and poor.

 

In Britain, people would gather to drink at the inns. The British style pub and taverns developed the first "fixed meal" where the tavern provided a simple meal at one price for everyone.

The first record of what we consider a modern restaurant was in Paris, France, in the late 1700's. By 1794, there were more than 500 restaurants in Paris alone. By the 19th century, restaurants focused more on the residents of the towns and cities in Europe, including England, and North America than on the traveller.

With the advancement of technology, especially in relation to transportation, the need for food and beverage services has increased. The food and beverage industry is now a major contributor to the tourism industry. The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) reports that the food and beverage sector accounts for more than $38 billion annually, due to the increasing number of North Americans who "eat out." More than 50% of the employment figures for the tourism industry are represented in the food and beverage sector.

Most families today consist of double incomes. Therefore, they have less time to plan and make meals due to their busy extra-curricular activities. The demand for "drive-thru's" and "take out" services is on the rise. What once was a basic need provided with an overnight stay in Ancient Rome and Greece has now become a need for fast and convenient service.

Food services today consist of quick and convenient, and luxurious, depending upon the need. People are also looking for good value, quality and service, too. With diabetes, heart disease and obesity on the rise due to poor eating habits, the low carbohydrate diets, meal replacement items and other trends will definitely shape the future of the food and beverage industry.

   

There have always been travellers. There are biblical references describing the journeys from Egypt to the Promised Land to records of the famous merchants and explorers like Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus. Fossils have been found that give evidence that pre-historic people travelled as well. Reasons for travel vary. Holy people travelled to worship. Merchants and explorers were in search of a route to India and China for spices, and prehistoric people probably travelled in search of basic survival needs such as food.

During the time of the Roman Empire, the business men and government officials travelled for business, and the wealthy travelled for pleasure. It was easy because of the good road systems, currency and safety. When the Roman Empire fell, travel declined. It was no longer safe nor easy to travel and the main travellers were merchants and clergy. It was slow and arduous because the road systems the Romans had built were no longer maintained. Most travelling was done out of necessity for basic survival needs, commerce, education or a better life.

The increase in travelling for pleasure began around the 16th century and continues today. Some aristocrats travelled for education, to learn another language or about other cultures, but also for pleasure. As the transportation system began to develop, the stagecoach, steamboat and railway helped travel to become easier in both Europe and North America. Families who could afford to travel were beginning to visit resort areas, giving them a break away from their city lives.

With the inventions of cars, busses and, in the 1950's, the jet, travel was even quicker and easier than before. Places like the Orient and other parts of Asia could now be reached by air. As society changed to include two family incomes and paid holiday time, it is more common now for families to travel. Political changes in the 1980's have also changed the travel patterns.

The countries that were "out of bounds" or inaccessible, such as the communist or Eastern Block countries, have now become popular travel destinations. Higher education has also been correlated with increased travel for pleasure. More and more retired people, who are living longer, debt free, are travelling. School trips have opened new horizons for children. Travel is becoming a way of life for Canadians in the 21st century.

In this little quiz, write down your answer on a piece of paper.

The answer will appear after each slide.

Good Luck!

In 1282, a group of inn keepers formed a lodging association. Where?

FranceNorth America Italy

Italy

This event changed lodging from a form of charity to a profitable business.

This had a great impact on the hotel industry in Canada:

Railway expansionThe depression International airports

Railway expansion

With most of the country accessible there was a bigger need for lodging; therefore; more hotels were needed.

The first record of what we consider a modern restaurant was in:

CanadaRomeParis

Paris

By 1794, there were more than 500 restaurants in Paris alone.

More than 50% of the employment figures for the tourism industry are in this sector:

Food & BeverageLodgingTravel

Food & Beverage

Think about how many places there are to eat out within a 100 km radius of your area.

Places like the Orient ad Asia could be reached in the 1950’s because of this invention:

Ocean linersTrain Jet Plane

Jet Plane

The jet plane permitted travelling great distances in a short period of time.

Throughout history, there have been travellers who have needed the services of the hospitality and tourism industry. The reasons for travelling are numerous, ranging from basic survival needs to business, education or pleasure. If we look at the origins and changes of the industry from the earliest record until present day, we can predict that the travel, lodging and food and beverage industries will continually change and adapt. In order to plan for the future, one must consider what has happened in the past, while keeping in mind the technological advancements, trends, needs, wants, demographics and world events which will shape the direction of the Industry.

Pick up Assignments 1.1 & 1.2