Watch The Hotel Inspector

The Hotel Inspector is a British television show that originally aired on Channel 5 in the UK and was later broadcast on BBC America in the United States. The show premiered in 2005 and was hosted by two different women over its 13-season run: Ruth Watson and Alex Polizzi.

The premise of the show is simple: each episode, the host visits a struggling hotel or guesthouse somewhere in the UK and spends several days working with the owners to try and turn things around. The hotels featured on the show range from modest B&Bs to larger, more upscale resorts, and the problems they face are just as varied.

One episode might focus on a hotel that's struggling to attract guests due to shoddy decor or unkempt grounds, while another might center around a B&B that's failing to make a profit because its owners are too inexperienced or too set in their ways to adapt to changing market conditions. Regardless of the specific challenges faced by each hotel, the goal of the show is always the same: to help the owners identify what's holding their business back and implement changes that will improve their chances of success.

To accomplish this, the host of the show spends several days on site, getting to know the owners and staff and participating in the running of the hotel firsthand. Throughout the process, she observes the hotel's operations, identifies areas of weakness, and offers advice on how best to address them. This might involve anything from suggesting changes to the hotel's decor or menu to helping the owners re-evaluate their pricing strategy or overhaul their marketing efforts.

One of the strengths of The Hotel Inspector is its emphasis on practical solutions. While the show does occasionally delve into more abstract or philosophical discussions about the nature of hospitality or the importance of good customer service, the focus is always on concrete, actionable steps that the owners can take to improve their business. This makes the show both engaging and informative, as viewers can learn a lot about the ins and outs of running a hotel or B&B simply by watching how the experts tackle common problems.

Another key aspect of the show is the way it balances tough love with genuine empathy. While the host is never afraid to call out owners or staff members who are doing things wrong, she's always quick to offer praise and encouragement when things start going well. This creates a sense of rapport and trust between the host and the people she's working with, which in turn makes it easier for her to get through to them and help them make positive changes.

Overall, The Hotel Inspector is a well-executed, entertaining, and informative show that's perfect for anyone interested in the hospitality industry. Whether you're a seasoned hotelier looking for new ideas or a casual viewer looking for an interesting and engaging TV show, The Hotel Inspector is definitely worth checking out. So if you've never seen it before, be sure to tune in and see what all the fuss is about!

The Hotel Inspector is a series that is currently running and has 17 seasons (120 episodes). The series first aired on October 6, 2005.