Hotels are big business for commercial property investors. As demand for offices and retail outlets has fallen in recent years, that for travel destinations has continued to rise as the travel industry continues to show real signs of strength.
According to a report by Ibis World, the global tourism sector has increased by some 2.5 per cent in the last five years, and is now worth $1.4 trillion (£0.874 trillion) to the planet's economy.
With this in mind, though, businesses in the market need to make sure they stand out. Those who are not distinguishing themselves from the crowd risk losing out, which is why there are now more and more weird and wonderful hotels worldwide.
These capture the attention of travellers, and help to become more popular as a result. We look at some of the most ambitious and unique hotels found anywhere in the world to show just how innovative investors dare to be in this dog-eat-dog market.
Vintage Hotel, Belgium
Perhaps the least adventurous on this list, but still showing just how quirkiness works, is the Vintage Hotel in Belgium.
This one-of-a-kind Brussels business puts its focus on the past, with all rooms featuring a design that has a nod to days gone by.
Not only this, but it also features a 1958-trailer in its courtyard, and guests can stay here too, seeing just what it would have been like to live on the road 55 years ago.
This hotel taps into the trend for things from the past that is engulfing fashion at the moment, and gives itself an edge as a result.
Ice Hotel, Sweden
Perhaps the most well-known of all the quirky hotels worldwide, and the one that has garnered major media attention in recent years, is the Ice Hotel in Sweden.
This is a structure which is built entirely of ice, as the name suggests, and not just on the outside. The interiors are also constructed from the frozen arena of this part of the world, and it lends a magical festive touch that families from all around the world love to come to year after year.
727, Manuel Anotonio, Costa Rica
While you might expect most hotels to exist in a building of sorts, there's no doubt that this Central-American destination is one that will really grab the attention.
The hotel's only two-bedroom suite is located in the decommissioned Boeing 727 aircraft that appears to dangle precariously over the edge of a cliff, offering guests a really unique stay.
The view is what makes this hotel a real winner, with its altitude allowing unrivalled sights over the jungle canopy below, making it a stand out and a really unique hotel to visit.
Free Spirit Spheres, Canada
In Vancouver, the most adventurous travellers will be able to find one of the most unique hotels around.
The Free Spirit Spheres are little hanging baskets high in the trees that allow guests the chance to experience nature and solitude in treehouses situated in the rainforest canopy.
Again, it is the real one-of-a-kind nature of this sort of place that makes it the perfect place for people around the world to come visit, giving investors the real edge over their competition.