Booking Hotels Before the Internet: How Travelers Filled Their Information Needs
Before the widespread use of the internet, travelers had to rely on a variety of methods to find and book hotels. In this article, we explore the key ways in which people accessed information about hotels and made their travel bookings. By understanding these methods, we can better appreciate the evolution of travel and accommodation booking processes.
Travel Guides and Brochures
Travel guides such as Fodor's and Frommer's provided detailed descriptions of hotels, including amenities, room types, and nearby attractions. These guides were widely used by travelers as a go-to resource for hotel information. While these guides often included only a few photographs, they offered comprehensive descriptions and insights into the hotels' offerings.
Hotel Directories
Annual hotel directories such as the Mobil Travel Guide and AAA's TourBook listed hotels with descriptions, ratings, and contact information. These directories often featured a limited number of images or illustrations, but the detailed information included in these directories helped potential guests make informed decisions. The directories served as a useful compilation of hotel information available at the time.
Travel Agents
Travel agents played a significant role in helping travelers find and book hotels. While they might not have had exhaustive photo collections, travel agents often had access to promotional materials from hotels, including brochures and pamphlets. They could also provide personal recommendations based on their experiences and the experiences of past clients. The consultation with a travel agent added a personal touch to the hotel booking process, giving travelers the confidence to choose a suitable accommodation.
Word of Mouth
Friends, family, and colleagues played a crucial role in providing recommendations to travelers. Recommendations from others were a significant source of information for travelers, as they relied on the experiences of others to choose their accommodations. These personal referrals often carried more weight than impersonal travel guides or directories.
Advertising
Hotels would advertise in various forms, including newspapers, magazines, and travel publications. Sometimes, these advertisements included pictures and descriptions of the facilities and services offered by the hotels. This form of advertising helped potential guests get a glimpse of what they could expect from a hotel, even if the descriptions were not as detailed as they are today.
Postcards and Promotional Materials
Hotels sent out postcards or promotional materials featuring images of their rooms and amenities to potential guests. These materials served as a teaser, piquing the interest of travelers and encouraging them to learn more about the hotels.
Direct Mail Campaigns
During peak travel seasons, some hotels would send out brochures or flyers directly to potential customers' homes. These direct mail campaigns were a method to ensure that travelers received information about the hotels, even if they hadn't actively searched for accommodations.
Local Tourist Information Centers
Many destinations had tourist information centers where travelers could obtain brochures and speak with staff about local accommodations. These centers provided another avenue for travelers to gather information and make informed decisions about where to stay during their travels.
These methods combined helped travelers gather enough information to make informed decisions about where to stay, even without the extensive resources available today through online platforms. The evolution of technology has indeed transformed the way we find and book hotels, but understanding the methods used in the past can provide valuable context and appreciation for the advancements in the travel industry.