Like hotel in wood (3)
I believe the answer is:
ash
'wood' is the definition.
(wood from an ash tree)
'like hotel' is the wordplay.
'like' becomes 'as'.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'as'+'h'='ASH'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ash that I've seen before include "Get the residue" , "Result of burning - deciduous tree" , "Burnt remains; tree" , "Woodland tree; result of burning" , "Silvery grey" .)