In its early days, the tourism industry existed to serve a few selected members of the population – those who traveled for commercial or diplomatic reasons (Lattin, 2008). People traveled because they had no other choice and, more often than not, it was not a leisurely or pleasant experience. Over time, however, technology has advanced and living standards have increased, paving the way for new and varied customer segments that the hospitality industry can support. With the spread of various means of transportation – boats, cars, trains, planes – the world has become smaller and more accessible. As countries industrialized and wealth declined, travel became more accessible to ordinary people. As travel has become commonplace, the hospitality industry has been tasked with meeting a new range of needs. He first responded by classifying travelers into three categories: transit, vacation and long journey. These categories gave way to the segments we know today: budget/economy, mid-range and high-end. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAt first, mercenaries, merchants, and pilgrims moved slowly across the country, stopping occasionally at someone and sharing a bed with strangers (Lattin, 2008). Very few people were traveling in those days, so it made no sense to have dedicated visitor centers of any kind - there was simply no market for it. As roads began to connect villages and towns, people began to move further afield. From the mid-18th to the early 19th century, English inns provided cleaner and more comfortable accommodation than ever before. These inns formed the basis of one of the first three market segments of the hotel industry: “transit” (Lattin, 2008). Transit hotels provided inexpensive overnight accommodation for people on short stays. Transit hotels eventually evolved into the budget lodging options we know today, like the Motel 6 or Knight's Inn. These budget hotels are often located near major highways because they function as a stopover en route rather than a destination. For this reason, they provide the bare necessities – a bathroom, a bed and limited service – but usually for less than $80 per night. Roadtrippers and backpackers stay overnight and leave in the morning. Vacation hotels date back to the Romans and their cultural obsession with baths, spas and mineral springs. These “healthy vacations” contributed to the development of resorts and the concept of multiple hospitality services grouped together in a single location for the benefit of a group of travelers. This is how the mid-range hotel market segment has become, offering guests a higher level of service for a longer stay than the inns of the past. Over time, this mid-range travel category has become more accessible, no longer limited to the French and Roman elite, but it remains a more expensive option than today's budget hotels. Business travelers, conventioneers and families can expect to pay between $80 and $150 a night at places like Holiday Inn Express or Best Western. However, they can also expect more personalized service, nicer rooms, and maybe even a continental breakfast during their few nights there. The Grand Tours of Europe before the.