1925年,由 motor- 和 hotel 組合而成。最初是爲汽車旅行者提供住宿的酒店。
The Milestone Interstate Corporation ... proposes to build and operate a chain of motor hotels between San Diego and Seattle, the hotels to have the name 'Motel.' ["Hotel Monthly," March 1925]
“Milestone Interstate Corporation……計劃在聖地亞哥和西雅圖之間建立和運營一系列名爲‘汽車旅館’的酒店。”(“Hotel Monthly”,1925年3月)