By the numbers · live data from our directory
- US2,764
- GB623
- IN337
- FR314
- CA175
- ES146
Independent hotels vs Airbnb
Independent hotels (60% of US lodging supply) compete with both branded chains and short-term rental (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com). The pricing-per-room war is over; the differentiation war is on experience, location, and direct-bookings discount.
OTAs take 18%+
OTAs (Booking, Expedia) take 18-25% commission on bookings. Direct-booking optimization - your hotel's website + email list - is the highest-ROI marketing investment by a wide margin. Hotels that move 30%+ of bookings direct have 4-5pp higher operating margin.
Labor still the lever
Hospitality labor as % of revenue runs 30-35%. Housekeeping automation and contactless check-in have shifted some FTE costs out - but the buyer journey requires staffing at peak hours. Software that automates back-office (revenue management, dynamic pricing) outsells software that automates front-of-house.