AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area Difference between Hotel/Inn and Motel and Hostel

When you go into the business of rentals of a duration of less than 6 months, you are subject to the provisions of the "Hotel Act". The BTB is a government agency that oversees the hospitality industry, and it must approve your establishment and grant you a licence under this act. The BTB has several categories of licenses, including "Villa", "Lodge", "Hotel", "Guest House", etc.
BTB publishes a booklet that sets out information on "minimum standards" for each type of establishment and the kinds of activities and facilities it takes to be called one thing or another.
You are supposed to inform BTB (Registrar of Hotels) prior to construction if your intent is to engage in the hospitality industry. Do some homework - you will be glad you did.

Thanks Diane! As of now we have only a "house" under construction. It will be interesting to see how the BTB describes these different types of lodgings. We are only in the planning stages of the larger development but need to define ourselves. I appreciate your input.

If you arrive at your hotel in a golf cart, and then rent the golf cart for your stay, and park it at the hotel... I would assume that now it is a motel (motor hotel) = MOtor hoTEL

exterior doors to rooms=motel
interior doors to rooms=hotel
sharing spaces=hostel

IMHO mode of transportation has nothing to do with accommodations.

You are right Chloe... nowadays there are really no differences , but when the word motel was coined it did make a huge difference.