Inns have served travelers since ancient times. （62)The emergence of the hotel as a si

Inns have served travelers since ancient times. (62)The emergence of the hotel as a significant commercial institution, however, is a development of the past few centuries and may be traced by, example in the U.S.. The location of hotels has always been related to the transportation available. During colonial times hotels were usually situated in seaport towns, but by the end of the 18th century, when the coach had increased travel within the U. S., many inns and hotels were constructed to offer lodgings along highway routes. (63)After the construction of railroads in the 19th century, larger hotels were built near railroad stations to accommodate railway travelers. (64)Standards of service and comfort rose appreciably and in the larger cities the types of lodging offered by certain hotels became luxurious. The old Waldorf- Astoria Hotel in New York City and the Brown Palace in Denver, Colorado, were among the first such luxury hotels, but their rates were too high for the average traveler. (65)Shortly before World War I large hotels offering many services at prices within the reach of middle-income groups were constructed.The first such institution was the Statler Hotel in Buffalo, New York, which opened in 1908. For years it served as a model for other large-city transient hotels.