> This is sheer speculation, but I do think the hotel business is really convenient to get into if you have a questionable side-business and need to launder money.

Unless you're talking total dumps, which relies on cash business only (and does'nt have a turnover to make money laundering worthwhile) I think you're flat out wrong.

My guess is that reputable hotels take in very little cash (it's actually frowned upon and they will ask for a security deposit). The lion share will be credit card transactions and the rest will be invoices for corporate customers and large travel agents.

Not much scope for money laundering here.