Hotel names must work on Booking.com search results AND physical signage. "The Grand Hotel Manchester" ranks for location searches. "Hoxton Hotel" builds a brand. You can't have both - pick your strategy.
OTA Optimization vs Brand
Booking.com, Expedia list by location. "City + Hotel" ranks. "Unique Name" invisible in search.
Independent vs Chain
Boutique independents need brand names (Hoxton, CitizenM). Budget chains need location names (Premier Inn locations).
Heritage vs Modern
"The Grand," "Royal," "Imperial" = traditional. "Hoxton," "Citizen," "Hub" = modern. Name signals target demographic.
Event Venues
Different search behaviour. People search "wedding venue + town" not venue name. Local SEO trumps branding.
Restaurant Within Hotel
Separate name or use hotel name? Gordon Ramsay brands restaurants separately. Most hotels use same name. Trade-offs differ.
Warning: Hotel names with "Inn," "Hotel," "Lodge" in legal name can't rebrand to "Residences" or "Suites" without Companies House name change.
Generic Names Can't Be Trademarked
If you want legal protection and a name competitors can't copy, make it distinctive from day one. "City Hotel" is generic.