'motel' originates from a blend of the words 'motor' and 'hotel', coined in the early 20th century to describe a hotel designed for motorists.

'motel' was first used in the 1920s as a portmanteau of 'motor' and 'hotel', reflecting the rise of automobile travel.

Initially, it meant 'a hotel for motorists', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.