The History of Travel and the Hospitality Service Industries

We take travel and the hospitality industry almost as aToads too, supported the swift deployment of military
given - whether it be travel by air, rail or road as wellpower as well as facilitating the exchange of good
as the service industry of providing froover what might be considered previously vast
accommodations. Where and how did this all arise indistances. Indeed over time, what were foot trails
terms of history and historical records?along the Mediterranean or even in the Manitoba prairie
Indeed many historians and anthologists consider travelbecame major overland trade routes. As these routes
for trade and commerce to be a common wellwere maintained and improved, they became the basis
established history in the histories of civilization's infor extensive road systems.
mankind. Civilizations of great power, long duration andBased upon the history and quality of these road
extensive dominions were by and large known forsystems, it can be assumed that historically travel
their sophisticated levels of commerce. Along withbecame a most important part of commerce,
travel for commerce grew travel for pleasure orgovernment as well as cultural exchanges during the
enjoyment itself. The ancient societies of Greece mrule of the Roman Empire. Now the stage was set for
Egypt and Rome openly encouraged pleasure travelwhat became the service industries of the hospitality
by providing necessary ways and means. With suchtrade to be developed. In the later years of the Ronan
support, travel contributed to the success of each ofEmpire, the road system began to include inns, stables
these great empires.for animals. Travel became even more predictable and
The ever increasing specialization of labor withineasy to accomplish with the introduction of simple
ancient civilizations fostered the growth of travel. Asmaps and mapping technologies.
ancient communities grew in size, the tasks and rolesWhat resulted was that onwards travel as well as
of the population became ever more specialized andtravel and transportation technologies improved to
skilled. This made it possible for communities tosupport commerce and trade over long and longer
develop an array of products that increased in qualitydistances. This included travel for all types - whether it
in each generation. Craft persons honed their skills andwas for trade and commerce, communications, military
passed them along to family members or others willingtravel and even simple basic travel for pleasure and
to learn. Such division of skills meant that peopleenjoyment/ it can be said that war itself increased the
needed to exchange goods to survive. For example agrowth of travel. The victors would establish
craftsmen or craftsperson busy producing potterycommunication routes back to the home business
products would not have time to plant and harvestoffice. Travel would thus blossom with those in power
crops for food. This scarcity of time required by craftand their new citizens as people and trade would
persons to obtain the necessities through barter andincrease and even blossom with these realms.
trade with a person who specialized in planting andThus the basis of our travel, hospitality service
harvesting crops.industries - be they travel means themselves - be they
This exchange of products and currency requiredair, road, ship or railway, the promotion and the
travel. Caravans and trade expeditions moved people,development of the food and lodging service industries
products and even ideas between entirely differentall can said to be the result of trade and commence
cultures. The oceans provided the great major routesbetween people and groups of people all seeking
of travel for the cultures centered in the Mediterraneandifferent and better quality good and ultimately man's
- particularly the Greeks, Egyptian and Roman empires.trade and commerce.