What is a private hotel?

Question

If it is a hotel, it can't be private. If it is private, it can't be a hotel!

Answer 1

It depends on the context. This could just be meaning that they are not part of a large corporate hotel chain - i.e. privately-owned.

Answer 2

Good question.  I wonder if it could be a private club like the Stoke Park Club:

http://www.stokeparkclub.com/

Answer 3

A private hotel is one that doesn't require an ID, excepts cash as payment, and doesn't ask any questions about why you are staying there.