Difference Between Amenities and Facilities

The main difference between amenities and facilities is that the amenities refer to things that are designed to provide comfort and enjoyment to the guests while facilities basically refer to places or even equipment built to facilitate guests in their specific needs.

These two terms are common in the hotel and hospitality terminologies, and often, people tend to use them interchangeably. However, they have different meanings that pertain to their correct usage.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Amenities
     – Definition, Features, Examples
2. What are Facilities
    – Definition, Features, Examples
3. What is the Difference Between Amenities and Facilities
    – Comparison of Key Differences

What are Amenities

Amenities are not buildings or construction. They are the things or benefits that are made to offer convenience and comfort to people. In other words, they are things that conduce comfort, convenience or enjoyment of the people.

Amenities are additional features or comfort things inside a property or building, and they add extra value to it. Moreover, amenities are usually the benefits that come with the hotel services or with an apartment. They render the pleasure and comfort to the guests. Therefore, the more amenities a building has, the more likely it will gain a competitive edge in attracting prospective tenants and guests.

Figure 1: Amenities in a Hotel

Amenities in a hotel may include things or services such as high kitchen quality services, valet services, quality products, WIFI, elevators, air conditioning, TV and computers for use, balconies, laundry services, swimming pool, playground, etc.

What are Facilities

Facilities are places (as a hospital, machinery, plumbing) that are built, constructed, installed, or established to perform some particular function, and thus to facilitate people in that.

In brief, a facility can be a building designed for a particular purpose. But, this purpose may not always be enjoyment; it is often for other needs as well. They can range from providing healthcare, monitoring the security of the place, developing technological advancements, and providing relaxation and comfort to people too

With concern to hotel and tourism industry, facilities are also places that are constructed to answer the particular needs of the guests. Therefore, unlike amenities, their main aim is not to provide pleasure and entertainment but to render a specific service and facilitate the people in the process of it.

Figure 2: Spa in a Hotel

Some public facilities include medical facilities, telecommunication facilities, educational facilities, research facilities, and commercial or institutional buildings, such as a hotel, resort, school, office complex, sports arena, or convention center etc.

Some examples of hotel facilities are health clubs, spas, conference facilities, banquet halls, movie theatres, parking areas, etc.

Since the hotel industry mainly aims at providing the best services to the guests, the amenities they provide often get categorized under hotel facilities.

Difference Between Amenities and Facilities

Definition

Amenities refer to things that are designed to provide comfort and enjoyment to the guests while the facilities mainly refer to places or even equipment built to facilitate guests in their specific needs.

Aim

The main aim of the amenities is to provide comfort, pleasure and enjoyment for people while the main aim of the facilities is to facilitate the people in their necessities. Therefore, they answer particular needs, but people staying there may or may not enjoy them.

Usage

The word, ‘amenity’ is thus used mostly in the hotel and other related industries while the word ‘facility’ can be used mostly in a general sense in addition to its use in the hotel and tourism industry.

Examples in Hotel Industry

Some examples of hotel amenities are swimming pools, games, high-quality products such as dishwasher units, microwave ovens, washer and dryers, minibars, shampoos, laundry services, internet and computer services, balconies, transport services, swimming pool, childcare centre, playground, etc

Some examples of hotel facilities are gyms, spas, community service centres, tourist aid centres, childcare centres, business service centres, etc. However, in the tourism industry, the main aim of the facilities is also to provide the best services to make the guest feel more at ease and comfortable.

Conclusion

The two terms amenities and facilities are commonly used to express benefits and places that provide facilities for people. Thus, these two words are common in the hotel and tourism terminology. The difference between amenities and facilities is that the amenities refer to things provided mainly for the enjoyment and comfort of the guests while facilities are the places that are constructed for a particular purpose thus, facilitating the guests in their needs.

Reference:

1. “Hotel Amenity.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 June 2018, Available here.
2. “Facility.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 May 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “L’HOTEL PORTO BAY SÃO PAULO | amenities” by PortoBay Hotels & Resorts (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Spa at Mandarin Oriental Harmony Suite Tokyo” By Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group – Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia