ABSTRACT
The introductory chapter outlines the argument underpinning this book: the fact that in terms of industry structure, the corporate hotel industry (that part of the industry which is organised and comprised of hotel chains) is characterised as becoming vertically disintegrated. Whilst the original products, services and core technologies of the global hotel industry have remained much the same, for the largest hotel chains, in particular, the industry has undergone, and continues to undergo, a structural transformation.
The chapter illustrates the size of the ten largest hotel chains worldwide and confirms the fact that the developed hotel markets of Europe and North America remain the centre of the hotel universe in terms of supply and demand. Hotel chains are categorised into three types: global, international and national. A brief history of hotel chains and their internationalisation is provided, given that it is the global expansion of the largest chains which really sets them apart as big businesses.
The methodology for the research project, encompassing first-hand accounts from senior industry executives, is summarised with reference to a longer piece on the research design in Appendix A. The 32 respondents are listed. The structure of the book is outlined in the final section of this chapter.
