America’s Main Street Hotels: Transiency and Community in the Early Auto Age

by John A. Jakle and Keith A. Sculle

Hotels in small cities and towns have always been popular despite a post-War decline. They are coming back; even the chains are showing interest in small cities and towns that have some unique character and authenticity that attract visitors. America’s Main Street Hotels discusses the historic experience, but adds evidence of the resurgence. Small cities and towns are of interest to developers of new hotels. The development of a new or substantially modernized hotel on or near a traditional main street is a threshold event; a sign that the market recognizes that visitors are arriving and businesses need accommodations to support the growing globalism of local firms.