Data isn’t meaningful unless you do something with it. Let’s say your average RevPAR for June is $150. Alone, that doesn’t mean very much. But what if you compare that number to the average RevPAR, globally and within your region? If you measure whether you’re improving year-on-year, month-on-month? If you look beyond RevPAR to accompanying key metrics?
If you do this, you can turn these data insights into actionable strategies that boost occupancy, revenue and efficiency. This article covers hotel performance data and trends from 2024 and 2023 to help you benchmark your property and stay competitive.
If you’d like to dive even deeper into this data, check out episode eight of Matt Talks, a video series by Mews CEO, Matt Welle. Matt talks clearly and insightfully about the trends we’re seeing and what it means for hoteliers – don’t miss it.
A quick note about the data: it’s taken from thousands of anonymized active properties across 85+ countries. For a fair comparison, we only analyzed properties for which we had data in both 2023 and 2024.
Occupancy and RevPAR Trends
Occupancy rates for Mews hotels have shown promising growth through 2024. Average occupancy for the summer of 2024 was 66%, up from 62% the previous year. Occupancy was up in each of June, July and August, with August showing the biggest increase. In terms of accommodation type, apartments saw the biggest year-on-year improvement.
However, when we look at RevPAR, the data reveals some concerning dips. Although RevPAR started strong and surged during the summer thanks to events like the Paris Olympics, recent weeks have shown a decline.
This trend highlights a critical takeaway: while occupancy is up, room rates are slipping. Monitoring and adjusting rate strategies as hoteliers approach the slower months will be key to maintaining profitability.
The Rise of Direct Bookings
Direct bookings are more valuable than ever, both for revenue and guest engagement. While OTA bookings are critical, data shows that hotels using Mews Booking Engine saw a year-over-year increase in average booking values. In contrast, OTA channels recorded a decrease.
This summer, the typical channel manager reservation stood at €279 (down 2% on 2023) whereas the typical direct booking engine reservation rose to €406 – up by 3%. That’s 46% higher than the average channel manager booking, although a large part of this likely includes the lost commission to OTAs.
Successful hotels, like BIG MAMA Hotels, boosted direct bookings by as much as 40% by prioritizing their website and booking engine. These results underscore the importance of investing in your website and booking engine to capture more direct bookings, your most cost-effective and powerful sales channel.
The Impact of Online Check-In and Upsells
Online check-in is not just a convenience – it’s a revenue opportunity. Our data shows that guests who check in online are more likely to engage with upsell offers. Currently, one in ten guests that book through an OTA use online check-in. When guests book direct through Mews Booking Engine, this rises to one in three. Hotels that enable SMS reminders for online check-in also see a significant impact on results.
This feature not only simplifies check-in but also encourages guests to pre-purchase add-ons like breakfast, parking, and even early check-in options. As a best practice, we recommend implementing online check-in and upsell options through SMS reminders and emails to maximize guest engagement.
These are the top upsells by revenue earned in the summer of 2024:
- Breakfast
- Extra nights
- Parking
- Late check-out
- Early check-in
Efficiency Gains with Self-Serve Kiosks
Kiosks have become essential for streamlining the check-in process. Mews data shows a 7% adoption rate for kiosk check-ins – a good start considering it’s a relatively new option for us, but there’s lots of room for improvement.
However, this cohort of guests sees a significant impact on check-in times. A typical kiosk check-in takes about two minutes, compared to four to five minutes at the front desk. Kiosks are also ideal for offering upsells like early arrival fees, helping hotels drive ancillary revenue. For hoteliers aiming to increase automation, kiosks represent a valuable tool to enhance guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Expanding Revenue with Bookable Spaces
Hoteliers are becoming more creative with non-room spaces, offering everything from parking and co-working spaces to unique amenities like karaoke rooms. One in four Mews hotels now offers these additional bookable spaces, generating an average of €10,000 in additional revenue this summer.
Consider listing non-traditional spaces and amenities through your booking engine, allowing guests to book them seamlessly in advance. Properties like Hotel Paradiso in Paris have gone a step further by transforming their unused roof terrace into a rentable cinema, creating a unique, bookable experience that diversifies revenue streams.
Marketplace Integrations for Seamless Operations
Mews offers more than 1,000 marketplace integrations, including direct connections to OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia, which streamline reservations and minimize issues like booking cancellations.
Direct integrations not only speed up connectivity but also reduce potential technical failures that can arise when using multiple systems. This helps hotels maintain accuracy and availability, especially in high-demand situations.
It’s no surprise then, that these two connections feature in the list of most installed integrations this summer:
- Booking.com
- Lighthouse – On the Books
- Proposales
- Zapier
- SiteMinder
- Expedia
Key Takeaways
- Maintain strong rates: Occupancy is up, but average rates are dipping. Hold onto your rates as much as possible during the slower months to sustain revenue.
- Prioritize direct bookings: Direct bookings deliver better value, especially when coupled with an optimized website and booking engine.
- Embrace online check-in and upsells: Drive engagement and upsells through online check-in and SMS/email reminders.
- Utilize kiosks for efficiency and revenue: Self-serve kiosks offer a faster, more efficient check-in experience and encourage upsell opportunities.
- Expand your offerings with bookable spaces: Consider monetizing additional spaces, like parking, coworking areas, or unique amenities, to diversify revenue.
Data-driven decision-making is no longer optional – it’s essential. By staying on top of these trends and adapting strategies accordingly, your property can maximize both revenue and guest satisfaction for years to come.
The Mews Data Snaps for 2024 cover a number of regions. Each snap is a short video with regional hospitality experts who talk you through the key metrics and learnings from the data. The areas we analyze are:
- US and Canada
- UK and Ireland
- France
- DACH
- Benelux
About Mews
Mews is the leading platform for the new era of hospitality. Powering over 5,500 customers across more than 85 countries, Mews Hospitality Cloud is designed to streamline operations for modern hoteliers, transform the guest experience and create more profitable businesses. Customers include BWH Hotels, Strawberry, The Social Hub, and Airelles Collection. Mews was named Best PMS (2024) and listed among the Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024) by Hotel Tech Report, as well as World’s Best Hotel PMS Provider (2023) and World’s Best Independent Hotel PMS Provider (2022, 2023) by World Travel Tech Awards. Mews won the Top 250 Golden Scaler Award in 2024, given to the fastest growing company in the Netherlands. Mews has raised $335 million from investors including Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik and Revaia to transform hospitality.
