Are social hotels and mid- to low-end hotels considered budget hotels?

There are a large number of mid- to low-end hotels and hostels in China’s commercial accommodation facilities. These formats overlap with and are different from the concept of budget hotels. Budget hotels belong to the category of mid- to low-end hotels, but not all mid- to low-end hotels are budget hotels. Only those mid- to low-end hotels that meet the five general characteristics of the world's budget hotels are budget hotels. This is especially important in China's hotel industry. Because China's current commercial accommodation facilities do not yet have a hierarchical concept that completely divides business types based on price. The quality of accommodation facilities is mixed, prices fluctuate greatly, and independent brand hotels and inns account for the majority of the commercial accommodation industry. As a result, China's commercial accommodation facilities present a situation of "many, small, mixed, and chaotic".

Under such development conditions, budget hotels were introduced into China as a new concept and have developed rapidly in some big cities. However, people's understanding of its concept is still not clear. Price is often considered to be the only criterion for classifying budget hotels. Under the guidance of this idea, many one- and two-star hotels and some three-star hotels are budget hotels, and social hotels are A low-priced accommodation facility is naturally classified as a budget hotel. However, these low- and mid-range restaurants and hotels are not equivalent to budget hotels. The important characteristics of economy hotels are cost control, affordable prices, limited services, and stable quality. Mid- and low-end hotels can only be incorporated into the category of economy hotels after completing cost transformation, stabilizing price control, and improving service standards; social hotels can only be included in the category of economy hotels. Only after professional management and high quality control are implemented can it be included in the category of economical hotels. Therefore, budget hotels are mid- to low-end accommodation facilities, but not all low-star hotels and social hotels are budget hotels. Budget hotels are a new comprehensive format in China's hotel industry.

Of course, there are many budget hotels named so-and-so hotels, especially in foreign countries. Judging from the name, budget hotels (

Budget Hotel) and hotels ( The boundaries between Inns, Lodges, and Youth Hostels are relatively blurred, which is related to the development trajectory of budget hotels.

Looking back at history, the United States, which first produced budget hotels, started from the budding situation of motels and city inns. Develop chain chains from individual hotels and inns, or form spontaneous alliances to jointly conduct marketing promotion and management exchanges to form a distinctive brand. With the maturity of the chain model and the evolution of alliance forms, these hotels and inns have gradually formed a unified hardware and software system, achieved relatively high quality standards and perfect service concepts, and entered the scope of the modern hotel industry. Therefore, the words

"Inn, Lodge"

that appear in the names of many modern budget hotels are only a reflection of their history and do not represent their current business level. .

However, the large number of social hotels and individual hotels that exist in China are very backward in both hardware and software, and the quality level is not the same as that of hotels in foreign concepts. The concept of hotels in developed countries in Europe and the United States encompasses three levels. First, they are family-style independent hotels in the traditional sense, with relatively backward facilities, equipment and management concepts, and do not belong to the scope of modern hotels; second, some have modern management concepts and operations. A model of socialized hotel, but its facilities and equipment are relatively simple; the other type of hotel fully adopts modern management concepts and hardware service facilities, especially those that have entered a hotel group or formed a strong chain operation network. Hotels have evolved into mid-range hotels, and only hotels at this level are classified as budget hotels.

Therefore, although the names of many budget hotels abroad have the words "Inn, Lodge, Motel

), this does not mean that China The budget hotel industry includes hotels and hostels. The author believes that under the current development trend of China's accommodation industry, the existing hotels and hostels are very far away from the requirements of budget hotels. Compared with existing domestic hotels and hostels, budget hotels must have very high hardware standards and software specifications. General social hotels are lacking in both hardware facilities and software service quality.

Therefore, although social hotels have the relatively low price characteristics of budget hotels, they do not meet the quality requirements of budget hotels as "hotel" accommodation facilities. Therefore, social hotels that are generally decentralized and have simple equipment and facilities cannot be called " Budget Hotel".

There are still a large number of mid- to low-end hotels in China’s accommodation facilities industry. This business format has both overlap and differences with the concept of budget hotels. Budget hotels belong to the category of mid- to low-end hotels, but not all mid- to low-end hotels are budget hotels. Only some mid- to low-end hotels that meet the product and service characteristics of budget hotels are budget hotels. Specifically, budget hotels provide limited services at prices acceptable to the general public. Their products generally only include guest rooms and restaurants. Some hotels targeting the business market are also equipped with business centers. Many mid- to low-end hotels, although small, are well-equipped. In addition to guest rooms and restaurants, they also have beauty salons, souvenir shops, business centers, conference rooms, nightclubs, karaoke bars, bathing centers, etc., which brings great advantages to the hotel's cost control. This is very difficult, so room prices remain high and corporate profitability is relatively low. This type of business cannot reflect the low-cost and low-price characteristics of economy hotels. Its price positioning is often higher than the average public can bear. Even if the price is reduced, it is due to the pressure of market competition. There is no low-cost support and the consequences of low prices. It is often a financial loss, so it cannot be simply classified as a budget hotel.

Therefore, the relationship between hotels, mid-range hotels and budget hotels cannot simply be based on price. Judging from the current development status of China's accommodation industry, budget hotels are a new business format independent of hotels and mid-range hotels. The emergence of this format will improve the current situation of China's commercial accommodation industry. Some hotels and mid-range hotels will inevitably transform into such high-efficiency, low-cost economy hotels through measures such as modifying hardware and upgrading software.