It was coined in the 1920s, during the rise of the automobile and the need for roadside lodging for travelers. The first documented use of the term was in 1925, when a motel opened in San Luis Obispo, California, called the "Motel Inn".
It was coined in the 1920s, during the rise of the automobile and the need for roadside lodging for travelers. The first documented use of the term was in 1925, when a motel opened in San Luis Obispo, California, called the "Motel Inn".