Overview Of The Hotel Industry
Key Hotel Industry Statistics
- In 2021, the global hotel industry was worth $4.13 billion, with a growth rate of 18.5%.
- The hotel industry is growing at an average rate of 10% each year.
- There are over 700,000 hotels in the world.
- The U.S. has the largest number of hotels in the world, with California having more than any other state.
- The city with the most hotels in the world is Dubai, with 544 hotels and 100,000 rooms.
- Hotel guests pay about $840 billion every year on their hotel stays.
- About 95% of hotel executives are male, but 51% of the total employees are female.
- Hotels contribute $3.4 trillion to the worldwide economy on an annual basis.
- Marriott International is the largest hotel company in the world, generating $21 billion in revenue during 2019.
- The average hotel desk clerk is 35 years old, while the average manager is over 40.
Chapter 1: Global Hotel Industry Size, Revenue, Growth Rate
How big is the global hotel industry?
- The global hotel industry is a growing industry made up of over 700,000 hotels.
- The global hotel industry contributes $3.4 trillion to the worldwide economy.
The global hotel industry makes up a key portion of the travel and tourism industry. People rely on hotels for places to stay while vacationing, traveling for work, or otherwise needing to get away.
There are hotels in every country and most territories around the globe. The number of hotels varies widely depending on how much travel and tourism an area sees.
How much revenue does the global hotel industry generate?
- Hotels and motels had a revenue of about $206 billion in 2019.
- People spend $840 billion collectively on hotel stays around the world annually.
Hotels are responsible for a massive portion of the revenue generated by the larger travel industry.
In addition, the entire travel industry has a worth of about $1.6 trillion. Around 10% of the entire global gross domestic product is related to travel.
What is the growth rate of the global hotel industry?
- In 2021, the global hotel industry was worth $4.13 billion, with a growth rate of 18.5%.
- The global hotel industry was worth $3.49 trillion in 2020.
The growth rate of the global hotel industry was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In some parts of the world, revenue dropped by more than 50% between 2019 and 2020. Most regions of the world struggled to keep their hotel occupancy above 50%.
Prior to that, the global hotel industry was growing at a steady pace of around 2% per year. But it took a nosedive in 2020. As travel has resumed and pandemic restrictions have been lifted, the global hotel industry has grown 18.5% in a single year.
The industry didn't quite rebound to its 2019 state in 2021. But according to the latest growth projections, it seems likely that it will in 2022.
How many hotels are there worldwide?
- There are more than 700,000 resorts and hotels around the globe.
- There are more than 16.4 million total hotel rooms in the global hotel industry.
Hotels tend to be concentrated more densely in big tourist destinations like Dubai, Miami, and New York City. Since California is a state with so many tourist destinations, it has more hotels than any other state in the U.S.
There is also a wide range of available rooms at these hotels. Some have just a handful of available rooms. That goes especially for US-centric motels, which are often smaller. In total, there are over four million rooms available globally.
The hotel with the largest number of rooms is located in Saudi Arabia. It is a massive marvel of architecture with 10,000 rooms available!
What country has the most hotels?
- The U.S. has over 5,300 hotels currently being built, accounting for 41% of the total global construction.
- The U.S. has more than 91,000 motels and hotels, which is the largest number in the world by far.
- The U.K. has over 39,100 hotels, making it the top country in Europe for hotels.
The U.S. has the most hotels by far, eclipsing the U.K. and every country in Asia. This is partly because of how large the U.S. is and partly because of how important travel is to the U.S. economy. Many parts of the United States are built around tourism, such as Miami.
When it comes to hotels that are currently being built, the U.S. also takes the lion's share. The country has over 40% of the current hotel projects, meaning that over 100 other countries combined don't have the same number.
In terms of the most hotels per capita, though, the U.K. might take the cake. The United Kingdom is much smaller than the U.S. But it still manages to fold more than 39,000 hotels throughout its cities.
What percentage of hotel bookings are made online?
- In America, about 88% of people book their hotel stays online.
- 1 in 3 American millennials books hotels through a travel agent, but uses online booking sites for research.
Online booking has become one of the most popular travel luxuries over the past few years. People from all generations prefer to use apps to book.
Travel apps tend to have a level of convenience and customization that's hard to get with a phone call. In addition, many travel apps allow you to compare different packages to get good vacation deals.
Apps aren't always reliable if you're booking a same-day stay, though. Sometimes rooms will accidentally be sold twice.
That's part of why millennials like to use a booking agent to finalize their trip details.
But before they talk to their agent, they compare different packages and deals using a travel app.
Average daily rate of the hotel industry worldwide
- In 2018, the global ADR dropped by 5.8%.
- Hotel ADR is calculated based on region and often changes throughout the day, but an average rate in 2019 was about $125.
It's difficult to determine the average daily rate of hotels around the world. Hotels in different regions operate using different currency, so some of the calculation is affected by exchange rates.
On a regional basis, the Pacific Islands tend to have the lowest ADR. In fact, it's often less than 3/4ths the global average.
Meanwhile, countries like the U.S. often have a high ADR, especially when the U.S. dollar is performing well against other currencies.
Occupancy rate of the hotel industry worldwide
- About 7 in 10 of the hotel rooms throughout the globe are occupied on any given day.
- 68% of hotels tend to be occupied, though it varies based on the time. Weekends and holidays are more popular.
The occupancy rate of hotels refers to how many rooms are occupied at any given time.
It's important to note that occupancy rates can vary wildly depending on the time of year.
For example, many European destinations see an uptick in tourism in the summer. Similarly, northern tourist destinations in the U.S. are likely to have less traffic when there's freezing weather.
Hotels also tend to be occupied more during holidays and during the weekends.
Oftentimes, an individual hotel can use their average occupancy rate as a way of gauging how well they're doing with their ideal client base.
Revenue per available room of the hotel industry worldwide
- In 2018, the revenue per available room for the global hotel industry dropped 7.7%.
- In 2019, the revenue per available room was about $78 worldwide.
The $78 statistic was calculated by averaging the revenue per available room for different regions around the globe.
Revenue per available room, otherwise known as RevPAR, is a type of performance measurement. Hotels that beat the average are doing unusually well, while hotels that are lower than average might be in trouble.
Basically every hotel in the world saw a reduction in their RevPAR as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the revenue has been steadily increasing as travel and tourism resumes throughout 2021 and 2022.
Chapter 2: U.S. Hotel Industry Statistics
How big is the U.S. hotel industry?
- The U.S. has more hotels in operation and being constructed than any other country.
- The U.S. hotel industry is growing, and gross bookings increased by $69 billion between 2009 and 2017.
The U.S. hotel industry is the largest in the world.
Multiple regions of the U.S. have economies that are built around tourism: beaches in Florida, autumn forests in New England, ski opportunities in Minnesota.
There are parts of the country that attract no tourists, but tourism opportunities are huge in general.
The U.S. is also where the motel industry started. Motels are a subset of the hotel business.
They started out as motorhomes designed for weary travelers. Over time, they evolved into the affordable, long buildings we now associate with motels.
A few other countries in Europe and Latin America have their own versions of motels, but the concept is quintessentially based in the U.S.
How much revenue does the U.S. hotel industry generate?
- The hotel industry in the U.S. generated $167 billion in room revenue in 2019.
- Due to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 hotel industry revenue fell to $85.5 billion.
The $167 billion revenue generated only refers to the cost of rooms.
It doesn't factor in additional revenue that might have been generated through things like room service, restaurants, and event bookings.
Hotels make up one of the biggest portions of the entire U.S. travel industry.
But since there was so little travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, they generated only half as much revenue as usual in 2020. That was a pretty big blow to stockholders with large chains like the Marriott.
What is the U.S. hotel industry growth rate?
- The U.S. hotel industry is projected to grow at an average of 10.8% from 2022 to 2026.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth rate plunged to over -50% as the value of the hotel industry plummeted in half.
The United States hotel industry is recovering nicely from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Toward the end of 2021, several cities and regions in the country noted that they'd finally outdone their 2019 revenue.
The travel industry at large is expected to see a boom over the next few years. After spending so much time isolated and indoors, many Americans are making plans to go on vacation.
That accounts for part of the massive 11% growth rate. The other parts of the growth rate can be attributed to economic recovery from 2020.
How many hotels are there in the U.S.?
- There are more than 52,000 hotels throughout the U.S., not counting motels.
- There are more than 5,100 resorts and hotels currently being built in the U.S.
The United States has more developmental projects for hotels than any other country. Investors are capitalizing on the expected boom to the travel industry.
Before the pandemic, the industry was already growing robustly. Now the desire to vacation has become even more intense for many people.
Motels function very similar to hotels. If you count motels as part of the overall hotel industry, then there are more than 90,000 of these businesses throughout the country.
Which U.S. state has the most hotels?
- California has the largest number of combined hotels and motels, with about 5,700 in total.
- Texas and Florida have the next largest number of combined hotels and motels, with about 5,300 and 3,400 respectively.
California is one of the largest states in the U.S. in terms of both population and geography.
It also has multiple cities with very tourist-heavy economies. Various regions throughout the state are coveted vacation destinations for anyone who just wants to get away.
So it makes sense that so many hotels are in California.
Texas also makes sense. It's the largest state in the continental 48, and it has a population comprising millions.
Not only is it home to many classic Southern tourist destinations, but it's also a frequent destination for traveling executives and businessmen.
Florida is a state with more coastline than any other. The peninsula is bordered on three sides by the ocean.
There's a thriving tourist economy everywhere in Florida, whether you're in a packed city like Miami or a more off-the-beaten-path destination.
Average daily rate of the U.S. hotel industry
- In the last quarter of 2020, the ADR for the U.S. hotel industry was around $94.
- Analysis shows that the ADR for the U.S. hotel industry will reach around $118 by the end of 2022.
The average daily rate for hotels in the U.S. fell sharply in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It began to recover slightly toward the end of the year, when it reached $94. Still, being less than $100 was a hard blow to the industry.
Hotels had to lower their daily prices in order to attract customers. Airlines ran into the same issue, needing to slash the cost of flights to fill seats.
The ADR did begin to recover in 2021, and a conservative estimate shows that it should reach about $118 by the end of the 2022 fiscal year.
Another important note is that the U.S. ADR combines hotels of all qualities across all regions.
That means that it includes motels costing $39 per night and hotels in rural areas that have low prices due to lack of scenery. Many individual hotels and cities in the U.S. have an ADR that's well over $200 or even $300.
For example, at the end of 2021, New York City's hotels had an ADR of more than $330. They also had the highest occupancy in the entire country, showing that people were definitely willing to pay that much for their vacation.
Occupancy rate of the U.S. hotel industry
- In 2019, about 2 in 3 hotel rooms in the US were occupied on average.
- During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, most hotels didn't have an occupancy higher than 50%.
The COVID-19 pandemic had serious effects on hotel occupancy.
Most people weren't traveling unless they absolutely had to, which made it difficult to keep rooms occupied.
Hotel guests were also often subject to more stringent regulations regarding social distancing, which might have left some customers dissatisfied.
Chapter 3: Dubai Hotel Industry Statistics
How big is the Dubai hotel industry?
- The Dubai hotel industry is the biggest of any city in the world, with over 700 resorts and hotels in 2019.
- The Dubai hospitality industry creates more than 400,000 jobs in the city.
While the United Arab Emirates doesn't have more hotels than many other countries, Dubai itself has more hotels than any city.
It is one of the biggest tourism sites on the planet, ranked as the shopping capital of the world.
Most of Dubai's economy is based around tourism. Over 400,000 people in the city work at hotels and other lodgings.
There are more than 500 hotels in total, many of which have hundreds or even thousands of rooms.
How much revenue does the Dubai hotel industry generate?
- It is estimated that revenue in the United Arab Emirates hotel industry will reach about $380 million during 2022, most of which comes from Dubai.
There hasn't been a lot of published analysis on Dubai's revenue alone. But since Dubai is the main travel destination of the UAE, we can assume that the majority of the country's revenue is related to the city.
What is the Dubai hotel industry growth rate?
- Dubai's hotel industry has a compound annual growth rate of 10.2%.
- The supply of hotel rooms in Dubai will increase by just over 13% in 2022 thanks to in-progress construction projects.
Dubai is seeing the same sort of growth that the rest of the travel industry is as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ease.
Like many tourist destinations, the city is gearing up for an influx of travelers. That's why there are so many new hotels and rooms being built to accommodate people.
While Dubai's rate of annual growth is a little lower than the projected rate for the US, it is still very impressive.
Growth is likely to slow around 2026, but until then, the industry will be booming with the aftereffects of the pandemic.
How many hotels are there in Dubai?
- There are 544 total hotels operating in Dubai.
- There are over 100,000 total hotel rooms available in Dubai.
Many of the hotels in Dubai have several thousand rooms available.
They allow guests to access the city's shopping centers and other tourist destinations.
In addition, there are other apartment complexes that provide lodging to travelers who want to stay outside of an official hotel.
Average daily rate of the Dubai hotel industry
- In 2019, the ADR in Dubai was about 660 dirhams.
- Thanks to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai's ADR dropped to around 585 dirhams in 2020.
While Dubai's ADR did drop in 2020, there wasn't the same steep drop that was seen in some other areas.
In addition, when converted into USD, this was one of the best ADRs in the world. It comes out to a little over $159. By comparison, the ADR in the U.S. at the time was less than $100.
Part of the high ADR might be related to the high quality of the hotels. People tend to come to Dubai to shop.
That means they have money to spend. You're less likely to find cheap motels and low-accommodation lodging in Dubai than in certain parts of the United States.
Occupancy rate of the Dubai hotel industry
- In October of 2021, Dubai's hotels had an occupancy rate of just under 81%.
- In 2021, hotel occupancy in Dubai rose by about 17% as tourism resumed and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted.
Dubai managed to keep an occupancy of more than 50% for most of the 2020 pandemic, which was more than many countries could say. However, they did see sharp effects from the drop in travel.
When people began to travel again in 2021, the rate of occupancy in the city jumped 17%.
More than 4 out of every 5 rooms were filled in October. This massive occupancy is part of why the city is building so many new hotels and increasing its available rooms.
Chapter 4: Hotel Guests Demographics
Hotel Guests Demographics by Gender
- In 2019 in Barcelona, about 59.6% of hotel guests were men and 40.4% were women.
- Gender demographics can vary depending on the area and the key reasons for travel there.
It's difficult to find any concrete gender demographics for worldwide hotel occupancy, but some cities have published information about guest gender demographics.
Some polls indicate that in general, men are more likely to travel for business, while women are more likely to travel for leisure.
The gender breakdown might vary depending on whether the destination is more of a tourist or business-oriented site.
Hotel Guests Demographics by Age
- About 46% of guests are between the ages of 18 and 36, making up nearly half of the total guest population.
- Conversely, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 46% of people in Europe over the age of 65 didn't travel at all because of health issues.
In the past, Baby Boomers were the key demographic of the hotel industry.
They made up the vast majority of people who vacationed and stayed in hotels. Older people would make the most of their retirement by traveling like they'd always wanted to.
But that seems to have shifted in recent years. Some hotel owners have expressed shock at the realization that nearly half of their guests are under 36 years old.
This was the case even before the COVID-19 pandemic. It's possible that the pandemic has just sharpened the divide.
Older people are less willing to take risks like travel, especially when they're worried about their health. By contrast, many young people have been inside for so long that they just want to see the world.
Hotel Guests Demographics by Race
Racial dynamics and reporting vary widely depending on the region of the world you're in.
It's difficult to break down the demographics of hotel guests by race. There hasn't been a lot of research done on this.
Some researchers have broken down brand preferences for hotels based on race, but they don't determine who is the most likely to stay in a motel or hotel.
Some studies seem to indicate that in the US, there are issues of racial disparity.
There are more Indian-American hotel owners in the US than any other racial demographic.
Chapter 5: Hotel Occupancy Statistics & Room Rates
What is the average cost of a hotel room?
- In the US, an average hotel room cost about $140 in July of 2021.
- Hotel prices increased around 40% in 2021 compared to 2020, largely due to the increase in travel as pandemic restrictions were lifted.
Hotels had to radically drop their prices during the pandemic in order to attract customers.
People were unable to use many of the hotel's amenities or do many of the sightseeing activities in the surrounding areas. They were also concerned about the risks of travel. Prices dropped accordingly.
Now that the economy is opening back up, hotel prices have been increasing instead. They have risen to keep up with consumer demand as more and more people book vacations.
What is the average occupancy rate of a hotel room?
- On a global scale, the average occupancy rate for hotels is anywhere from 65% through 80%.
- Hotels tend to have higher occupancy during high-travel periods like holidays and the summertime.
Average occupancy rates can be difficult to calculate because of how much they fluctuate.
You'll find much different occupancy rates in the summer as opposed to the winter. And during holidays, occupancy tends to be much higher than on an average weekday.
A typical occupancy rate in 2021 was about 65%. But that number rose to 80% whenever there were holiday weekends or other high-travel periods of time.
What country has the highest ADR?
- The U.S. has an ADR of about $140, making it the highest in the world.
The $140 statistic doesn't take into account the prices of motels. When you factor in motels, the ADR drops to around $110, thanks to the much lower prices of the average motel room.
Dubai also has a higher ADR than the U.S. However, Dubai is just one city, rather than an entire country.
The U.S. has so many hotels spread out over such a large area that its ADR becomes very impressive. It has increased significantly since 2020.
What city in the U.S. has the highest ADR?
- Miami's ADR improved 44.7% in 2021 compared to 2020, thanks to increased tourism after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
- Miami's ADR in 2021 was about $225, significantly higher than the U.S. average.
What country has the highest average occupancy rate?
- In 2020, Singapore had an average hotel occupancy rate of about 71% during a time when many countries struggled to fill half their hotel rooms.
- In 2019, the European region had the highest average hotel occupancy rate at just over 72%.
What city in the U.S. has the highest average occupancy rate?
- At the end of 2021, New York City's hotels had an 81% average total occupancy rate.
- During the weekend, NYC saw occupancy rates of just under 90%, while the rates were just under 80% on the weekdays.
Chapter 6: Hotel & Hospitality Statistics: Employment
What does the hospitality industry contribute to the economy?
The worldwide tourism industry contributes around $4.7 trillion to the total global economy, while the hospitality industry contributes $3.4 trillion.
How many employees does the hotel industry have?
- In the U.S., there are over 13.1 million employees of the hospitality industry.
- The global tourism and travel industry has 272 million jobs, though this includes work outside of the hotel business.
How many jobs is the hotel industry responsible for?
- In 2018, the hotel industry was responsible for over 4% of the total jobs in the U.S.
- In 2018, tourism and travel had a job growth of 3.9% in comparison to the average of 3.2% for other industries.
How many hours a week does the average hotel employee work?
- Hotel managers work at least 40 hours a week, though many say they work a minimum of 60.
- Housekeeping staff also typically work a 40 hour week.
What percent of employees in the hotel workforce are female or male?
- About 95% of top corporate executives for hotels are male.
- Accounting for all workers in the hospitality industry, around 51% are women and 49% are men.
How old are the employees in the hotel workforce?
- Desk clerks at hotels have an average age of about 35.
- The average hotel manager is more than 40 years old.
Chapter 7: Eco Hotel Statistics & Trends
How many eco hotels are there in the world?
- There are more than 4,700 eco hotels spread throughout 100 countries.
- In 2008, standards were set in place through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to certify eco hotels worldwide.
How many eco hotels are there in the U.S?
The EPA has outlined many different certifications and programs for hotels to qualify as eco friendly. Hundreds of hotels meet at least one requirement.
Chapter 8: Biggest Hotel Companies by Revenue
Marriott International Revenue
- Marriott International is the largest hotel company in the world, having generated about $21 billion in revenue during 2019.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marriott International's 2020 revenue was about $10.6 billion, just over half that of the previous year.
Hilton Worldwide Revenue
- Hilton Worldwide had a total revenue of $3.7 billion in 2019.
- Hilton Worldwide's 2020 revenue was $1.5 billion, less than half of the company's 2019 revenue.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation Revenue
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation's 2019 revenue was $5 billion.
- In 2020, the Hyatt Hotels Corporation's revenue dropped 60% to just $2 billion.
Accor Group Revenue
- Accor Group generated around 4 billion euros in 2019.
- In 2020, Accor Group had a revenue of only 1.6 billion euros, just over a third of their 2019 revenue.
Chapter 9: Motel Industry Size, Revenue, Growth Rate
How big is the global motel industry?
- There are over 30,000 motels in the U.S.
- Between 2014 and 2019, the motel industry grew by about 4.4%.
How much revenue does the global motel industry generate?
Motels are responsible for about 12.6% of the combined hotel and motel industry revenue.
What is the growth rate of the global motel industry?
Since the motel growth rate was -20% in 2020, the average annual growth rate since 2016 is about 1.2%.
How many motels are there worldwide?
- Motels are generally found in the US, Canada, France, Portugal, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.
- There are about 39,000 motels in the US, where they are most common.
What country has the most motels?
The US has the most motels by far, as the entire motel industry evolved in that country.
Average daily rate of the motel industry worldwide
- There is not much published data regarding the ADR of motels worldwide, but some motels say their personal ADR is about $50.
- In the US, motel ADRs vary widely depending on location and accommodations.
Occupancy rate of the motel industry worldwide
In 2018, about 68% of motel rooms were occupied on average in the US.
Revenue per available room of the motel industry worldwide
- The revenue per available room in both the hotel and motel industry declined by 47.5% in 2020.
- The revenue per available room for both hotel and motel industry businesses was $45 in 2020.
Sources
- https://www.statista.com/topics/1102/hotels/
- https://hoteltechreport.com/news/tourism-industry-statistics
- https://www.creditdonkey.com/hotel-industry-statistics.html
- https://www.soegjobs.com/hotel-industry-revenue-statistics/
Conclusion
The hotel and hospitality industry is one of the biggest travel-related industries in the world. We hope you've learned more about how these businesses function!
