Global customer reach is invaluable for hotels. The many advantages that come with an international booker include a higher average daily rate, and longer length of stay. And while this may seem more advantageous for independent hotels and small chains, since global hotel chains also have a worldwide reach, when you factor in international packages, it’s clear that all hotels stand to benefit from international guests who book through OTAs. Companies like Expedia are helping hotel partners not only reach incremental travelers, but identifying those that provide the highest value to properties in any market.
Expedia looked at 2016-2017 booking data for international inbound guests to the U.S. and uncovered great insights on the value of this worldly guest.
Spend & Booking Window Advantages
International bookers spend more than domestic bookers. On average, international bookers have a 20 percent higher average daily rate (ADR) than domestic. In Houston for example, the international versus domestic visitor ADR is $119 vs. $99, and in Atlanta, the international ADR is $134 compared to $112 ADR for domestic stays.
And an even bigger advantage? Booking window. It’s three times as long, from an average of more than 45 days for international, versus 15 days for domestic. New York’s international inbound booking window is twice the length of domestic, and length of stay is also nearly double.
Room Night Stays
Another advantage on the international guest front: data shows that overseas visitors on average have longer stays. The international booking average is longer in duration by one day than domestic (nearly 3 days, versus under 2 days).
In markets like Orlando and Manhattan, the international length of stay is more than 85 percent longer than domestic stays (over 4 days versus over 2 days, and 4 days versus over 2 days respectively). Las Vegas sees a more than 40 percent longer length of stay for international visitors (more than 3 days versus over 2 days), and Chicago international length of stay is 55 percent higher than domestic (nearly 3 days versus under 2 days).
