Average Length of Stay (ALOS) Calculator

Want to understand guest booking patterns and improve your hotel’s performance? Use our Average Length of Stay (ALOS) calculator to see how long guests typically stay at your property. 

What is ALOS?

Average Length of Stay (ALOS) is the average number of nights each guest stays at your property. A higher ALOS means fewer check-ins and check-outs, reduced operational costs, and more stable revenue.

Tracking ALOS helps you make smarter decisions about pricing, promotions, and room availability.

Why ALOS Matters for Different Hotel Types

The ideal Average Length of Stay varies depending on the type of property you manage. Understanding your ALOS benchmark can help you adjust your marketing and pricing strategies for better revenue.

• Short ALOS (1–2 nights): Common for business hotels, airport hotels, and city stays, where guests are often in transit or visiting for work. These hotels rely on high turnover and frequent bookings.
• Medium ALOS (3–5 nights): Found in boutique hotels, guesthouses, and leisure destinations. A balanced ALOS in this range ensures steady revenue while keeping room turnover manageable.
• Long ALOS (7+ nights): Typical for resorts, extended-stay properties, and serviced apartments, where guests are on longer holidays or business trips. These properties benefit from fewer operational costs and more stable occupancy.

Knowing your ideal ALOS helps you tailor promotions and operational strategies to attract the right guests.

What is the average length of stay in the hospitality industry?

ALOS varies based on location, property type, and guest demographics:

• Business hotels: 1–3 nights (short stays due to work trips).
• Resorts & vacation rentals: 5–7 nights (leisure travellers stay longer).
• Boutique hotels & B&Bs: 2–4 nights (depends on guest preferences and season).

Knowing where you stand helps you fine-tune your strategies to attract longer bookings.

How do you calculate the average length of stay?

To find your ALOS, divide the total number of nights guests stayed by the total number of bookings.

Formula:
Total room nights ÷ Total number of bookings = ALOS

Example Calculation:

Let’s say:

• Your hotel had 500 room nights booked in a month.
• There were 200 reservations in that time.

500 room nights ÷ 200 bookings = 2.5 nights

This means that, on average, guests stayed 2.5 nights per booking.

The Relationship Between ALOS and Hotel Revenue

ALOS plays a crucial role in revenue performance and operational efficiency. It impacts:

• RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room): A higher ALOS often leads to more predictable revenue and fewer empty rooms.
• ADR (Average Daily Rate): Hotels with longer stays may offer discounted rates to encourage bookings, but this needs to be balanced to maintain profitability.
• Occupancy rate: A higher ALOS reduces the number of check-ins and check-outs, cutting down on operational costs.

For example, if a hotel with a 1-night ALOS increases it to 2 nights, it may reduce turnover by 50%, saving on cleaning, staff hours, and administrative costs.

Factors That Influence ALOS

Several factors can affect ALOS, making it essential to track and adjust strategies based on trends:

• Seasonality: Guests tend to stay longer during peak holiday periods but may book shorter stays during off-season travel.
• Market segment: Business travellers typically stay fewer nights than leisure travellers.
• Booking channels: Direct bookings through your website often have longer stays compared to OTAs, which attract last-minute, short-term stays.
• Pricing strategy: Offering discounts for extended stays or bundling experiences (e.g., spa + extra night) can increase ALOS.

By identifying these trends, hotels can adjust promotions, pricing, and availability to optimise revenue.

What is an example of ALOS in action?

A boutique hotel records 900 room nights and 300 reservations in a season.

900 room nights ÷ 300 bookings = 3 nights per stay

If the hotel wants to increase ALOS, they might introduce discounted extended stays or minimum stay restrictions to encourage guests to book longer.

Five Ways to Increase ALOS and Boost Revenue

Looking to increase guest stay durations? Here are five strategies to encourage longer bookings:

1. Set a Minimum Stay Requirement

Requiring guests to book at least two or three nights can help eliminate short stays and improve occupancy consistency, especially during high-demand periods.

2. Offer Discounts for Longer Stays

Encourage extended bookings by providing multi-night discounts (e.g., 10% off for a 3-night stay or a free upgrade for 5+ nights). Packages that bundle meals, experiences, or spa treatments can also incentivise longer stays.

3. Create Experiences That Encourage Extended Stays

Make your property a destination, not just a stopover. Partner with local businesses to offer multi-day activity packages, such as city tours, wine tastings, or adventure experiences.

4. Make It Easy for Guests to Extend Their Stay

Offer guests the option to extend their booking at a special rate. A simple message during their stay—like “Enjoy an extra night with 15% off”—can encourage last-minute extensions.

5. Attract Remote Workers with Extended Stay Perks

Long-term stays are increasingly popular among digital nomads and remote workers. Offering fast WiFi, work-friendly spaces, and extended stay deals (like weekly or monthly rates) can help capture this growing market.

Start Tracking Your ALOS Today

Monitoring and improving your Average Length of Stay can lead to higher occupancy, reduced turnover costs, and greater revenue stability. Use our ALOS calculator to see where you stand and start making smarter booking decisions today.