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Hotel Business Plan

OK, so you have decided to realize your dream and open your own hotel business . You have thought out an amazing concept delivering unparalleled guest service. The next step would be to write a hotel business plan. It’s like a road map to the opening. However, as a seasoned hotel revenue management consulting and hotel management company , we have seen that this is where most entrepreneurs get stuck.

Why? Many do not have the time and don’t know what to write or how to do the financials. But until you finish your business plan, you will not be able to get the financing either. So you end up with ideas sitting in your head not realizing your dream.

Really it is not that difficult to make a good hotel business plan. It is merely a structured summary of your idea. Most people try to include everything about their hotel concept in the plan. This leads to an indigestible super novel-like bookwork, aka a mess.

The key is, knowing what to include, and what not to include in your hotel business plan. Create a clear road map for success. Excite investors rather than bore them to death like most business plans full of redundant information do. And you need to lead readers down the exact path you want.

One of the main challenges for example is that after reading the first page most businesses often don’t fully understand what the hotel is all about. For investors and lenders, it is crucial they can quickly comprehend your plan, without reading the whole document.

Hotels 101: The Basics of Business Planning

We have put together a hotel business plan template to help you on your way. Check out our approach based on 10 critical points, being:

• Executive Summary
• Company Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• Customer Analysis
• Competitive Analysis
• Strategic Plan
• Operations Plan
• Management Team
• Financial Plan
• Key Milestones

Steps of your Hotel Business Plan

Let’s dive into the step-by-step checklist of what your hotel business plan should look like.

Infographic by Xotels

1. Executive Summary

This first part should consist of two main parts, being:

• Mission Statement (Introduction): a 1 line company description only the essence of your hotel (not 2 lines or a paragraph). It explains why you are in business or which huge need you are solving, that currently is not being met. For example in the case of Qbic Hotels “Moving modular hotels into under-utilized real-estate to reduce build-out cost and time.” 
• Objectives : What do you hope to accomplish (i.e. “Reach an annual occupancy of 90%”).

 2. Company Analysis

More detailed information on the USPs (unique selling points) of your hotel concept.

3. Industry Analysis

Information on the current industry trends and the current state of the market and how this will impact your hotel. This is needed as investors want to be sure you really understand the hotel industry. This acts as the foundation on which decisions such as trends and developments to follow will be based.  

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4. Customer Analysis

In-depth information on your target market, including geographic, demographic, socioeconomic, psychographic, and behavioural segmentation details. It can also help you to keep up to date with the latest hotel marketing trends to understand which are the types of guests who will be staying at your hotel. Explain which features will be meeting the needs and wants of these main segments when thinking of:

Basically, how will consumers answer this question ‘Why my hotel?’

Aim to break it up to the point value can be easily communicated (do not make it too overcomplicated). Think of the following examples:

• Psychographics: interests, lifestyles, personality, values, opinions, and attitudes
• Behavioural segmentation: purchasing behaviour, level of engagement, customer loyalty
• Demographics: gender, age, marital status and education
• Geographics: location (country, state, region, city)
• Socio-economics

Any of the above examples of hotel segmentation can, if described well, be of great value to your business plan. An example of this could be a hotel located in a beach town, where you should be able to describe how demographics and psychographics differ from summer to winter time. Especially, since this example is typically known for lower demand in winter which you could be compensating for with the right hotel marketing strategies on hand.

5. Competitive Analysis

A study of your local competition or global concept competitors, with each of their strengths, weaknesses, occupancy rates and market share ( SWOT analysis ). And don’t forget the most important part; what differentiates you from them. What makes you stand out?

Ask yourself: “can I add value to a specific area”, especially when it comes to hotel-dense areas like city centres or major destinations.

6. Strategic Plan

This exists of 3 parts:

• Marketing : How exactly will you attract customers/guests? How will you position yourself? What will your message be to the different segments of your business mix? How will your direct marketing work? What will be the plan for your hotel website, SEO, SEM and SMM? Will you do offline promotion? In short, your hotel marketing strategy should cover everything there is to know about how to market your hotel.
• Distribution : Which 3rd party channels will you use and how will you manage availability? What technology will you need?
• Revenue management : What pricing and yield techniques will you use? What will your payment and cancellation policies be? Which room types will you be selling, and how will they be individually marketed? How many revenue scenarios will I create? Where can I compensate income/demand streams when necessary?

Make sure you have the capabilities to plan out a strong marketing, distribution and revenue management strategy. 

Things get complicated rather fast, and choosing to outsource hotel and revenue management is likely to give you a strategic advantage, during the planning phase, and the execution of your business plans.

7. Operations Plan

How will you run your hotel? Think of the following elements:

• How many staff and supervisors will you need? 
• What are their job descriptions/responsibilities? 
• What background and experience should they have? 
• When should they start? 
• What are your service standards?
• Will you develop manuals?
• Which supplier will you use?
• How will you manage inventory?

8. Management Team

Include the bios of your team. Focus on what uniquely qualifies you to make your hotel such a success. Having a great team is the key to success , and stakeholders will be impressed with a thorough explanation of the added value everyone brings to the table.

9. Financial Plan

Provide the start-up costs of the hotel (capital investment), the ongoing business costs, operational expenses and revenue projections for the next five years. These figures should be always based on your Hotel Feasibility Study . The KPIs to look at include expected occupancy, ADR (Average Daily Rate) and RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room).

If you are raising money , outline how much funding will be needed and when. Explain how you will generate a return on investment for investors, or when lenders will be paid back.

10. Key Milestones

These are the most important achievements which once they have been completed, will make your hotel more likely to succeed. Think off:

• Location selection
• Permits & Licenses
• Build-out / Construction of the Hotel
• Staffing and Training
• GOP Break-even
• NOI Break-even

Each time one of the key milestones is achieved, the risk of lenders or investors decreases . And once your last key milestone is reached, the chance of success is more or less guaranteed.

11. Appendix

Provide any other relevant information here. Don’t clutter the main sections of your hotel business plan with too many details. Rather support them with attachments in this part.

Putting Your Plan into Action

Many people have great business ideas. But that really doesn’t matter. The difference between dreamers and entrepreneurs is the action mindset. Are you ready to ship your idea to the market? 

The first step is to put your ideas on paper. I hope this free sample will help you write a persuasive hotel business plan. Because no investor or lender will be interested if you cannot present a clear plan.

Follow your dreams and go for it!

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Need help to Develop and Manage your Hotel Concept?

Our revenue management consulting experts at XOTELS have helped hundreds of hotels to develop and optimize their businesses.

With cost-effective implementations and best practices developed over years of experience, successful business for your boutique hotel, resort, B&B, aparthotel, hostel, or any other lodging concept for that matter.

Hope this template has helped you get inspired to start your own hotel business .

Best of luck in your endeavours!

Patrick Landman

PS. Get in touch with us if you need help developing and managing your hotel concept, and help bring your hotel to the next level with our hotel consulting services.

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Hotel Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Hotel Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your hotel business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their hotel companies.

Sample Hotel Business Plan Template

Below is a template to help you create each of the key elements of your own hotel business plan:

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Pegasus Hotel is a startup full-service independent luxury hotel in Austin, Texas. Owned by two local businessmen, Frank Girard and Miles Butler, it will serve the new up and coming district of the outskirts of Austin and cater to the locals and travelers who crave a luxurious and relaxing atmosphere. Pegasus Hotel will be a 10-story, 360-room hotel with a five-star restaurant and bar, relaxing pool and spa, 20,00 square feet of meeting and event space, a spacious and fully-equipped fitness center, and a view of scenic Austin. Pegasus Hotel will hold weddings and events, meetings, retreats, and those looking to unwind and be pampered while staying at the hotel. The service and amenities will be first class and the concierge will treat guests with extreme care and ensure guest satisfaction is held at an exceptional standard..

Service Offering

The following are the services and amenities that Pegasus Hotel will provide:

• 354 luxury rooms, two presidential suites, and four parlor suites
• Olympic size pool with adjacent hot tubs and surrounding cabanas
• First-class full-service spa
• First-class restaurant and bar
• Spacious fitness center
• Over 20,000 square feet of attractive meeting space for events
• Concierge and butler service
• Complimentary wifi
• Valet service
• Laundry service
• Business center

Customer Focus

Pegasus Hotel will target the population of Austin, Texas, its surrounding communities, and travelers visiting Austin for work or play. Guests will be mid to high level income, enjoy traveling, enjoy visiting spas and high-end restaurants, and work in the corporate or government sector.

Management Team

Pegasus Hotel will be owned by Frank Girard and Miles Butler. They will act in an Owner capacity, and will not be involved in the day to day operations of the hotel. Frank and Miles will hire the appropriate staff to ensure Pegasus Hotel is a profitable and successful business.

Lorenzo Falucci, General Manager, has over twenty years of experience in the hotel industry. He has most recently managed another independent boutique hotel in New York and was excited to be recruited by Frank and Miles to operate the Pegasus Hotel.

Lorenzo will hire Lisa Montgomery as the Director of Sales and David Jimenez as the Assistant General Manager. Lorenzo, Lisa, and David will be the senior management team of Pegasus Hotel. They will oversee all other department managers – Maintenance, Housekeeping, Front Desk/Guest Relations, and Food and Beverage. Each department manager will oversee various employees in their respective department and role. The Pegasus Hotel will have a large and sophisticated operation as each department is integral in the success of the hotel.

Success Factors

Pegasus Hotel will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, attentive, and highly responsive staff that caters to each guest and will be able to provide the best guest experience possible.
• Luxurious amenities throughout the hotel that will make each guest feel pampered.
• Modern and contemporary designed hotel tucked against a beautiful Texas landscape perfectly suited to host any event.
• Competitive rates and frequent guest discounts.

Financial Highlights

Pegasus Hotel is seeking $10,000,000 in debt financing to begin constructing the hotel and commence operations of the business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the land lease and the hotel build-out and design. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, initial inventory, and working capital. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Secure the land lot, architecture, build-out, and design: $6,000,000
• Hotel furniture, fixtures, and equipment: $2,000,000
• Initial inventory: $750,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $1,000,000
• Marketing & advertising: $150,000
• Working capital: $100,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Pegasus Hotel.

Company Overview

Who is pegasus hotel.

Pegasus Hotel is a startup full-service independent luxury hotel in Austin, Texas. Owned by two local businessmen, Frank Girard and Miles Butler, it will serve the new up and coming district of the outskirts of Austin and cater to the locals and travelers who crave a luxurious and relaxing atmosphere. Pegasus Hotel will be a 10-story, 360-room hotel with a five-star restaurant and bar, relaxing pool and spa, 20,00 square feet of meeting and event space, and a view of scenic Austin. Pegasus Hotel will hold weddings and events, meetings, retreats, and those looking to unwind and be pampered while staying at the hotel. The mission statement of the hotel is to provide first class service and amenities.

The guests rooms will include luxury beds and bedding with best-in-class furniture and bathroom fixtures. Pegasus Hotel will also have a full-service spa that will be able to provide massages, facials, makeup and/or hair service, steam rooms, and a sauna. The Olympic-sized pool will have adjacent hot tubs with a swim-up bar and surrounding cabanas. Pegasus Hotel will be equipped with state-of-the-art fitness equipment in its spacious gym. The restaurant will be a high-end steakhouse that will feature entrees from a world-renowned chef and a wine list cultivated by the area’s most respected sommelier. There will also be over 20,000 square feet of meeting space that will hold weddings, bat mitzvahs, reunions, galas, and any special event.

Pegasus Hotel will be independently owned and operated and will feature its own reservation system and operational software. Each employee will be expertly trained and vetted to pass luxury industry guest service standards. Pegasus Hotel is committed to providing the best guest experience possible while maintaining a profitable hotel. Pegasus Hotel aims to be a step above the rest and be an unforgettable experience for all who step foot into the hotel.

Pegasus Hotel History

Pegasus Hotel is owned by two local businessmen, Frank Girard and Miles Butler. Frank and Miles have been friends and business associates for over thirty years. They became friends in college while attending The University of Texas at Austin. Frank is a real estate developer specializing in commercial real estate and multi-use land projects. Miles is a software engineer who has built multitudes of software programs for various companies. They have both been extremely successful in their careers and want to divest their investments in a large-scale full-service hotel in Austin, Texas.

Since incorporation, Pegasus Hotel has achieved the following milestones:

• Acquired a 40-acre lot on the outskirts of Austin, Texas.
• Registered Pegasus Hotel, LLC to do business in the State of Texas.
• Hired a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for a full-service hotel in Austin.
• Began developing reservation and operational management software for use at the hotel.
• Began the branding image, logo, website, and social media accounts for the staffing agency.
• Applied for a liquor and mixed beverage permit with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
• Hired an architect to begin the design phase of the hotel.

Pegasus Hotel Services

The following will be the services and amenities Pegasus Hotel will provide:

Industry Analysis

The hotel industry is expected to increase to a $133 billion in the next five years. The hospitality industry will benefit from increases in travel spending, corporate profit and general consumer spending.

As consumers earn higher incomes and businesses replenish their budgets, travel spending is projected to increase over the next five years. Inbound trips by non-US residents are anticipated to rise 22% over next the five years, while domestic travel is expected to grow 9% during the same period.

The industry will see particularly strong future growth in extended-stay hotels, boutique hotels, spa and health retreats and resorts segments. As demand for these auxiliary services picks up, industry employment is anticipated to recover and increase over the next five years. Industry players are also expected to continue expanding abroad into emerging economies, such as Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. These foreign markets are expected to somewhat detract from domestic capital investment, as they offer higher growth prospects for industry operators.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The precise demographics for Austin, Texas are:

Customer Segmentation

Pegasus Hotel will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individuals and families who have disposable income (mid to high level)
• Frequent travelers
• Individuals who dine out and visit spas frequently
• White collar workers (corporate or government office)

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Pegasus Hotel will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of our direct competitors is below.

Hotel Ella is a historic boutique hotel located in Austin, Texas. Located in downtown Austin and walking distance to the University of Texas campus, Hotel Ella is a stylish boutique hotel housed in the historic Goodall Wooten House, one of Austin’s original landmark estates. Constructed in 1900, the Greek revival-style mansion underwent an extensive renovation in 2013, and now offers the perfect balance between modernity and a rich history rooted in the fabric of the neighborhood and the university. Hotel Ella has 47 guest rooms, a cabana-lined pool, and a wrap-around veranda overlooking the front lawn. Hotel Ella features beautifully designed outdoor and indoor spaces perfectly suited for a vacation, wedding, or corporate event. The hotel also features a diverse collection of Texas Modernist works around the hotel grounds.

All guests of Hotel Ella are treated to warm southern hospitality and superior personalized service during their stay. The historic property is appointed with a variety of elegant 21st century amenities. Hotel Ella also offers the following amenities and guest services:

• Complimentary 24-hour guest services
• Complimentary high-speed wi-fi access
• Complimentary electric car charging station
• Complimentary morning newspapers available in the historic mansion
• Complimentary coffee stations from 5am – 11am
• Twice-daily housekeeping service
• Cabana-lined outdoor pool
• Fitness center
• Same-day valet laundry services
• In-room dining by Goodall’s
• Business services: photocopying, printing, postal services, and supplies

Hotel Ella also welcomes dogs of all sizes at no additional fee.

Kimber Modern

Kimber Modern is located in the hip SoCo district of Austin and is intended to draw in the independent urban traveler seeking a unique escape. It is architecturally designed with clean lines and abundant light filtered through canopies of oaks in an artfully landscaped Courtyard. The hotel also encompasses absolute comfort and attention to detail while providing technologically sophisticated rooms in their boutique guest rooms. Guests booking at Kimber Modern will receive complimentary beverages, parking, and WiFi.

Kimber Modern offers the following hotel amenities to its guests:

• Off street covered parking
• Electric car charging station
• Keyless entry
• Complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel
• Multi-level courtyard with a 25-foot glass water feature with multiple areas to lounge
• Jura self-serve coffee system featuring a variety of coffee drinks 24/7
• Beverage bar 24/7
• Gourmet teas
• Virtual concierge – computer, printer, and copier
• Meeting space available for groups
• 3pm check-in and noon check-out

Guests are also available to book the entire hotel for their group.

The Cat Noir Hotel

The Cat Noir Hotel is an award-winning 14-room boutique hotel located in the heart of Austin’s east side. The European-styled boutique hotel includes a restaurant and bar partner, Uncle Nicky’s Italian Specialties. Uncle Nicky’s offers a relaxed all-day dining experience that is themed after cafes in northern Italy. The Cat Noir Hotel opened in 2016 and has been ranked #2 by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards and Top 20 Best Hotels in Texas by Conde Nast Traveler.

The Cat Noir Hotel’s contemporary design maintains a sense of warmth and a unique aesthetic that is felt through the lobby, outdoor spaces, and each of the unique guest rooms. In addition to the design elements, The Cat Noir Hotel boasts the following features:

• Private roof deck for guests to enjoy the stunning views of downtown, the Texas Capitol, and the University of Texas
• Outdoor patio and courtyard areas on all levels
• Artwork from local artists

Each of the guest rooms include Juliet balconies with neighborhood views, fine linens, and Simmons luxury plush mattresses.

Competitive Advantage

Pegasus Hotel will be able to offer the following advantages over their local competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Pegasus Hotel will offer the unique value proposition to its target local market:

• Professional and attentive staff dedicated to ensure complete guest satisfaction.
• Various amenities throughout the hotel for any guest to enjoy.
• Modern and contemporary design with beautiful Texas views throughout the entire hotel.
• Competitive rates.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Pegasus Hotel is as follows:

Social Media

Pegasus Hotel will invest in advertising the hotel on social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. By using targeted social media marketing, Pegasus Hotel will be able to reach those who frequent nice restaurants and spas and travel frequently.

Website/SEO Marketing

Pegasus Hotel will invest in a strong SEO presence so that when someone enters “Austin boutique hotel” or “first class hotel near me” in their Google or Bing search bar, Pegasus Hotel is at the top of the list. Their website will feature photos of the guest rooms, meeting areas, pool, spa, fitness center, and restaurant/bar. Future guests will be able to make a reservation to book their future stay on the website and access contact information for either a Director of Sales or General Manager of the property.

Pegasus Hotel will request all requests for news stories regarding the development of the hotel, owner/developer information, opening dates, etc. By accommodating the press’ requests for stories, it will also be free advertising for the public to learn about the new up and coming luxury hotel.

Frank and Miles will invest in a billboard in downtown Austin where the mid to upper class of residents frequent. The hotel will be minimalistic but eye-catching. It will feature an attractive rendering of the hotel along with the website. Curious passersby will be directed to visit the hotel’s website for detailed information.

Third Party Booking Websites

Once the hotel is nearing 60 days towards opening, all of the third-party websites will feature Pegasus Hotel so that travelers visiting Austin will be able to see it listed as an option for Austin hotels.

Bridal Shows and Wedding Industry Events

Pegasus Hotel will have a table at all of Austin’s bridal shows and wedding industry events. It will attract those couples searching for a venue to accommodate their special day.

The pricing of Pegasus Hotel will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing its guest rooms and services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Pegasus Hotel.

Operation Functions:

• Frank and Miles will be the owners of the hotel and hire the appropriate staff to manage the hotel. Frank will act as CFO of the hotel and Miles will be in charge of the reservation system and hotel operations software. Miles developed the software and will focus on making sure it’s always functional and efficient.
• General Manager will be hired to oversee the entire staff and hotel operations to include guest satisfaction, oversee vendor contracts, events, and making sure that each department is running effectively and efficiently.
• Assistant General Manager to assist the General Manager with overseeing the staff, with particular attention to guest satisfaction and front desk operations.
• Director of Sales will be hired to sell events, corporate accounts, and group bookings for the hotel.
• Maintenance Engineer will be hired to attend to all mechanical and plumbing issues that may arise.
• Executive Housekeeper will be hired to lead the team of housekeepers to make sure all areas of the hotel are being cleaned to Pegasus Hotel standards and that each guest is receiving all accommodations to their requested schedule.

Milestones:

Pegasus Hotel will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

8/1/202X – Purchase land lot and break ground on new hotel business.

8/15/202X – Finalize architectural renderings and hire a General Contractor to build the hotel.

9/1/202X – Finalize contract with advertising company for them to design the branding image of the hotel, logo, website, billboard, and social media accounts.

9/15/202X – Begin social media and website advertising campaign. Billboard with a teaser of ‘Coming Soon’ will go up in downtown Austin.

10/5/202X – Hire General Manager and Director of Sales.

10/15/202X – Attend annual Wedding Industry Event with a table to begin advertising Pegasus Hotel.

11/1/202X – Pegasus Hotel will go live on third party booking websites.

11/15/202X – Remainder of staff will be hired to begin training program.

11/30/202X – Final walk-thru of newly constructed Pegasus Hotel.

12/15/202X – Begin furnishing and interior design of the hotel.

1/1/202X – Grand Opening of Pegasus Hotel.

Lorenzo will hire Lisa Montgomery as the Director of Sales and David Jimenez as the Assistant General Manager. After an exhaustive search, Lorenzo believes has found the next two senior management positions to ensure the success of the hotel. Each comes with an impressive resume of prior hotel sales and operational experience.

Lorenzo, Lisa, and David will be the senior management team of Pegasus Hotel. They will oversee all other department managers – Maintenance, Housekeeping, Front Desk/Guest Relations, and Food and Beverage. Each department manager will oversee various employees in their respective department and role. The Pegasus Hotel will have a large and sophisticated operation as each department is integral in the success of the hotel.

Lorenzo, Lisa, and David will meet with Frank and Miles monthly to update them on progress and overall operations and sales efforts of the Pegasus Hotel.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Pegasus Hotel are the revenues it will collect when guests book a reservation at the hotel. The hotel will also collect revenues from its restaurant and bar, spa, and events it will host.

The cost drivers will be the payroll and overhead costs to staff the hotel. Other costs will involve the land lease, utilities, marketing costs, and technology fees. There will also be costs associated with the maintenance of the hotel, food and beverage inventory, spa inventory, and hotel guest room supplies.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Initial Number of Room Nights Sold per Month: 8,000
• Number of Events per Month: 30
• Land Lease per Year: $1,500,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, hotel business plan faqs, what is a hotel business plan.

A hotel business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your hotel business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your hotel marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your hotel business plan using our Hotel Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Hotel Companies?

There are many types of hotel companies. Most hotels are affiliated with a hotel franchise company. Other hotel companies distinguish themselves by star level-  4 to 5-star hotels are on the higher end of rate and amenity offerings, whereas 2 to 3-star hotels cater more towards the everyday business travelers and families.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Hotel Business?

The primary source of revenue for a hotel business are the room fees it charges each guest to stay at the hotel. Revenues are also collected for different amenity offerings, such as room service,  restaurant and bar revenue, spa revenues, and guest shop revenue.

The key expenses for a hotel business are the costs for inventory, maintenance, supplies, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, technology, and payroll of the staff. Other expenses will be the rent, utilities, and overhead costs, if applicable.

How Do You Secure Funding For Your Hotel?

Hotel businesses are most likely to receive funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your business plan to them. Angel investors and other types of capital-raising such as crowdfunding  are other common funding sources. This is true for a business plan for a hotel, a resort or a boutique hotel.

What are the Steps To Start a Hotel Business?

Starting a hotel business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a detailed roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your business goals and get started faster.

• Develop A Hotel Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a comprehensive business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This includes market research to identify the potential market size and target audience , the hotel’s services, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  
• Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your hotel business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your hotel business is in compliance with local laws.
• Register Your Hotel Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your hotel business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 
• Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your hotel business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 
• Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 
• Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 
• Acquire Necessary Hotel Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your hotel business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 
• Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your own hotel business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective digital marketing strategy including SEO and paid advertising . You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a new hotel business:

• How to Start a Hotel Business

Where Can I Get an Example Hotel Business Plan PDF?

You can download our example hotel business plan PDF template here . This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Franchise Business Plan Template Resort Business Plan Template Bed and Breakfast Business Plan Template

See how Cvent can solve your biggest event challenges. Watch a 30-minute demo .

How to Start a Hotel Business: Everything You Need to Know

Wondering how to start a hotel business? You’re not alone. One of the first-ever hotels , as we’ve come to know them, was started in Exeter, England in 1768. Today, the industry has skyrocketed to be part of one of the largest in the world.  But dreaming of starting a hotel business and actually doing it are two completely different things. That's where we come in. 

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to start a hotel business with step-by-step instructions, expert advice, and actionable tips. Keep reading to discover the fundamentals all hotel businesses need to succeed.

The steps we cover in this guide:

• Step 1: Find a market need
• Step 2: Craft your strategic goals
• Step 3: Run the numbers
• Step 4: Review financing options
• Step 5: Do your paperwork
• Step 6: Hire and train your team
• Step 7: Draft a marketing plan
• Step 8: Launch your hotel business

Discover how to start a hotel business in 8 steps:

Step 1: find a market need..

The first and most important step when learning how to start a hotel business is to gain a thorough understanding of the hospitality industry worldwide, as well as in your location. To get started, find your favorite hotel news sources , then set aside time each day or week to stay informed. Once you have some familiarity with the industry, it’s time to dive into the market research for your hotel.

Let us help you start your hotel business

Cvent's resources library is a great place to start. It's where you can read the latest news, thought leadership, and best practices from a wide variety of industry experts. The goal of your industry research is to get a clear idea of whether you can be competitive in your market. Also, what characteristics your hotel will need in order to succeed. 

Rather than starting with an idea and making the research fit, try to find an area of need in your market. What audiences are underserved? Where is demand outpacing supply? What does your location need in terms of hospitality and accommodation?

To give you a good understanding of where you’ll fit in, your market research should include:

• Property type. All hotels are not built the same. The industry is made up of resorts, spas, airport hotels, all-inclusives, hostels, boutiques, and many other property types. Determine what property type you plan to offer and what other options in that category exist in your location.
• Hotel size. Closely related to your property type is the hotel size. How many guest rooms will you offer, and how does that compare to your competitors?
• Star rating. What level of service and hotel amenities do you plan to offer?
• Location. What region will you operate in? Is demand increasing in the area? What location amenities, like airports, beaches, or event venues , will you be in close proximity to?
• Brand affiliation. Will you be a part of a larger brand’s umbrella? Being affiliated with a brand can help with marketing , business intelligence, pricing, and audience targeting.
• Extra amenities. What services or amenities are important for hotels of your type and star rating in your location? Things like free Wi-Fi, meeting space, a pool, or wedding services  are all important, depending on your target audience.
• Guest demographics. How would you define the types of guests who may frequent your location? What is the purpose of travel, and what are some common characteristics of these travelers? Knowing whether you are targeting business travelers, families, couples, solo travelers, retirees, or other demographic groups will help you to craft your marketing plan and hotel concept.

All of this research should give you a good idea of your main competitors and target audience. Those two pieces of information will determine everything else about your property, from budget and financing to marketing and daily operations. Spend time on this step to make sure you’ve found a true need in the market. You’ll be better prepared for success.

You can utilize tools like Cvent's Hotel Business Intelligence™ Software Solutions to provide you with the transformative business insights needed to conduct your market research and benchmark against the competition.

Step 2: Craft your hotel's strategic goals.

Once you have an understanding of market needs, you’ll need to create a smart solution to fill that gap. Your unique combination of amenities, concept, decor, marketing, location, and services can help you stand out from the crowd and capture market share if you approach it strategically.

Consider how you’ll approach pricing, revenue management , sustainability, customer satisfaction, events, and other market needs when crafting your goals. As with all goals, they should be S.M.A.R.T - specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. According to the Naples Hotel Group , an expert hotel development firm, some of the best goals a hotel owner can focus on include: 

• Measuring and increasing customer satisfaction.
• Creating a solid revenue management system.
• Building a strong online reputation.
• Attending at least one hotel industry conference .
• Considering working with a consulting firm to bypass the common roadblocks new hotel owners face.

Make sure the needs of the market and your target audience, along with your business needs, help determine your goals. This will ensure that everything you do helps your customers, as well as your bottom line.

You can use a hotel business plan template to outline the results of your research and planning, including your competitive advantage, goals, and your plan to get those results.

Step 3: Run the numbers.

With your goals and plan in place, it’s time to run the numbers to make sure you'll be profitable. Using your market research, you can estimate key factors like room pricing, vacancy rates, RevPAR (revenue per available room), and operating costs. A basic overview of hotel finances will help you hire the right revenue manager and sales team later on. The two key areas to focus on are profitability and any external factors that may affect your hotel business. You’ll also need to estimate initial costs for your hotel business. This includes startup and hiring costs, licensing, permits, construction, renovations, and your first year of operations.

Set up a few scenarios in your forecasting to see how key decisions affect the potential profitability of your business. For instance, do you want to buy or build? Buying into a franchise or taking over an existing hotel building has lower startup costs, unless you have to renovate extensively. But it also requires you to establish your new hotel identity, which can be a challenge depending on the current state of the business. On the other hand, building a hotel, while usually considerably more expensive upfront, can provide a solution to a lack of available buildings and can be more lucrative in the long run. 

Step 4: Review financing options for your hotel business.

Once you decide on the right financial plan for your business, you’re ready to fund it. There are a number of available options for financing your hotel business. Jim Pendergast, Senior Vice President and General Manager of altLINE , discussed this topic in a recent interview with Cvent.

“It's important to understand the full scope of financing options available for your hotel's funding," he said. "Generally, you have two commercial financing categories when opening your hotel: traditional credit or specialty credit.

With traditional credit lines, you receive financing based on long-term assets. These are things like real estate owned by your hotel as well as cash flow projections and calculations submitted during underwriting. Lenders review these assets before awarding your loan.

With specialty credit, you'll receive financing or credit lines based on near-term assets. This might be hotel equipment or invoices from accounts receivable. The idea is these backings are more liquid than what's needed in traditional lending.

Both traditional and specialty financing are appropriate vehicles for hotels depending on your capital needs. However, the larger and more established your hotel franchise, the more specialty lending could make ongoing sense. This is because large hotels manage significant account receivables operations. 

Consider the amount of credit card transactions that must be administered. Also, hospitality-related vendor operations happening within the establishment. The larger your AR activities, the more something like AR-based asset lending and similar specialty lending might benefit you.”

Step 5: Do your paperwork.

There are many important legal, regulatory, and insurance requirements to fulfill in order to establish any new business. Your hotel business is no different. 

Consult with your legal, insurance, accounting, and operations teams to determine the requirements for your location. At a minimum, you’ll need to set up a business structure and get business insurance. You will also likely need building or renovation permits, hotel licensing, and licensing for serving food and alcoholic beverages. There will also be a number of health and safety requirements as you complete your building or renovation process. 

All of this paperwork is not the motivating factor for getting into the hospitality industry, but it is important. Work with your team to check requirements at the local, state, and federal level. Additionally, keep on top of the process throughout so you don’t have to repair costly mistakes later.

Modern hotel management begins here

Step 6: Hire and train your hotel team.

A business is only as good as the team members that contribute to its success. By hiring great employees at all levels, you’ll set yourself up to deliver value to your guests and become a market leader.

Many hotels opt to hire for executive and departmental positions first, setting the tone and direction. These leaders can then identify what they want to see within their teams and how many staff members they need. Each team should identify the roles and skills they’re looking for, as well as developing a plan to reach and source great new hires.

Make sure that your application and interview processes are easy for candidates so that you don’t introduce needless friction. Find ways to communicate your core mission, values, and approach to this new business throughout the hiring process. This will help you attract candidates who share your vision.

Once you’ve hired a great team, take the time to onboard and train them. This is an incredibly important step that will help everyone in the long run. Any employees who will interact with guests should receive extra training on customer service and guest relations so that they’re ready to lend a helping hand, regardless of whether it’s in their job descriptions.

Focus from the beginning on becoming the employer of choice in your market. You’ll attract a stellar team that’s ready to help you become a market leader.

Step 7: Draft a marketing plan.

You’re now ready to share your hotel concept with the world. Well in advance of opening, you’ll need to spread the word and set yourself up for a profitable launch. 

Your hotel marketing plan is an important part of your overall business strategy. It guides your decision-making on decor, daily operations, communications, customer service, and more. 

Think back to the target audience that you identified in your market research. Using that initial audience, you can now conduct more in-depth customer research to determine who your customers are. Also, where you’ll find them, how you’ll communicate with them, and how they define value.

Hotel marketing made simple

Hotel marketing expert and Co-Founder of Saffron Key, Ben Weagraff, advises that there is no one-size-fits-all plan for new hotel businesses.

“There’s a number of strategies that can work very well,” he told SiteMinder . “But they depend on the hotel itself; its digital properties (including website , email relationships , the strength of social media channels ) and what exactly the hotel is trying to do.”

He goes on to note: “However, generally these techniques present a good repeatable path towards driving high-value customers. The greatest thing about content marketing is that it is low-cost, measurable, repeatable, and it builds upon itself. Once the foundation is in place, customers roll in at increasing rates.”

If you’re looking for ideas for inspiration, check out  Marriott’s marketing strategy . Also, be sure to check out all of Cvent's hotel marketing solutions  to help guide you throughout the process.

Step 8: Launch your hotel business.

At this point, you’ve put in the work to open a profitable and high-quality hotel business for your market. You’ve got the plan and the team to make your vision a reality. Now it’s time to launch.

The goal of your launch is of course to introduce your hotel to guests. But it’s also a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the local community, key stakeholders, influencers, and potential partners. Put your best foot forward with these audiences by planning a grand opening event that reflects your mission and values.

Use event planning and diagramming tools to create your layouts, collaborate with vendors, and assign tasks to team members. As long as you focus on building relationships with your community, investors, and potential clients, your grand opening will be a success. 

Now you know how to start a hotel business using proven strategies from across the industry.

Now that you know how to start a hotel business, it's time to start thinking about reputation. Read on for  hotel reputation management tips every hotelier should know.

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How to Start a Hotel

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How To Start Your Own Hotel Business

If you’re looking to start a new hotel business, you’ve come to the right place since we’re going to show you exactly how to do it. We’ll start by sharing how to open a hotel step-by-step, then answer some frequently asked questions about running a hospitality industry business and being a successful hotel owner.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a hotel is to complete your hotel’s business plan. To help you out,   you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Hotel Business Plan Template here.

Download our Ultimate Business Hotel Plan Template here

15 Steps to Start a Hotel Business:

• Choose the Name for Your Hotel
• Develop Your Hotel Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Hotel
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Hotel (If Needed)
• Find a Location to Buy or Start Building Your Hotel
• Register Your Hotel with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Hotel
• Buy or Lease the Right Hotel Business Equipment
• Develop Your Hotel Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Hotel
• Hire and Train Your Hotel Staff
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Hotel

The first step to starting a successful hotel business is to choose your hotel’s name.  

This is a very important choice since your hotel name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your hotel. Ideally, you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your hotel business:

• Make sure the name is available. Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple. The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing. Come up with a name that reflects the desired hotel identity and/or focus of your hotel.

2. Develop Your Hotel Business Plan

One of the most important steps in how to start a hotel business is to develop a hotel business plan . The process of creating your hotel business plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to potential investors for your business.

To enhance your planning process, incorporating insights from a  sample hotel business plan  can be beneficial. This can provide you with a clearer perspective on industry standards and effective strategies, helping to solidify your own business approach.

Your hotel business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your hotel.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your hotel and what type of hotel you operate. For example, are you a boutique hotel, a bed and breakfast, or an inn?
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the hotel industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, what is their income level? What amenities do they look for in a hotel? What do they find important when choosing where to stay?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer. 
• Prices : Document the prices of your products/services.
• Place : Determine where your business will be located and how that location will help you increase sales.
• Promotions : Determine what promotional methods you will use to attract guests to your hotel.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your hotel’s management team.
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your hotel make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise funding to launch your hotel?

3. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Hotel

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your hotel and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the hotel and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a hotel business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a hotel business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a hotel business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your hotel, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Hotel (If Needed)

In developing your hotel business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. Determining whether you want to purchase and renovate or build a new structure will majorly impact when you can open your new hotel and the amount of funding you will need.

If so, the main sources of funding for a hotel to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a hotel that they believe has high potential for growth.

5. Find a Location to Buy or Start Building

Having the right space is important for your hotel and choosing the best location can have a major impact on your business.

To find the right space, consider:

• How many rooms will your hotel have?
• What are the zoning requirements for hotels in your area?
• Is the local market a good match for your target customers?

If you plan to build a new structure for your hotel, you will also need to work with architects to establish a timeline and determine construction costs.

6. Register Your Hotel with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your hotel’s name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your hotel to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your hotel. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

Every state, county and city has different business license and permit requirements.

Nearly all states, counties and/or cities have license requirements for hotel, including:

• Business License :  A general business license is required for all businesses, including hotels. The cost of a business license varies depending on the state, county and/or city in which the hotel is located.
• Occupancy Permit :   An occupancy permit, also called a Certificate of Occupancy, is required before you can open your hotel to the public.
• Alcohol Licenses :  If you plan to serve alcohol at your hotel, you will need to obtain the appropriate license from the state in which your hotel is located.
• Sales Tax License :  You will need to obtain a sales tax license in order to collect sales tax from your customers.
• Food Service License : If you plan to serve food at your hotel, you will need to obtain a food service license.
• Fire Department Approval :  Most hotels are required to have approval from the local fire department before they can open to the public.

Be sure to check local government guidelines to determine which licenses and permits hotels are required to obtain in your area.

10. Get Business Insurance for Your Hotel

The right business insurance is important to protect your new hotel. Business insurance policies that you should consider for your hotel include:

• General Liability Insurance: This insurance protects your hotel business from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury that occur on your premises or are caused by your business.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: If you have employees, you may be required to have workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance protects your employees if they are injured or become ill as a result of their job.
• Property Insurance: This insurance protects your hotel property from loss or damage due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered events.

11. Buy or Lease the Right Hotel Business Equipment

Beyond the furniture and equipment you will need in each room, opening a hotel will also require some business equipment, including:

• A reservation system to take bookings
• A property management system (PMS) to manage rooms and rates
• A booking engine if you want to accept online bookings
• Rooms keys and/or access cards
• Reception furniture

12. Develop Your Hotel Business Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your hotel.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Website : Likewise, a professional hotel website provides potential customers with information about the services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your hotel.
• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your hotel. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Hotel

Most hotel businesses need a few types of software to run successfully.

First, you will need a PMS. This is software that helps you manage reservations, check-ins, and other aspects of your operations. Some popular options include Cloudbeds, Oracle Hospitality, and HOTELTIME.

You will also want to have a customer relationship management (CRM) system. This software helps you track interactions with customers, manage customer data, and market to potential guests. Many hotels use programs such as Experience Hotel, Oracle NetSuite, and Salesforce.

Additionally, you need to use accounting software such as Quickbooks or M3 to manage your hotel’s expenses.

Research the software that best suits your needs, purchase it, and set it up.

14. Hire & Train Your Hotel Staff

The quality of your hotel staff can make or break your business. You need to take the time to find, interview, and hire the right people.

Start by writing job descriptions for the positions you need to fill. Then, post the job openings online and in places where potential employees are likely to see them. Once you have a pool of candidates, conduct phone and in-person interviews to narrow down your choices.

Finally, once you have selected the employees you want to hire, provide training on your hotel’s policies and procedures. Additionally, give them a tour of the property and introduce them to other staff members. It helps to build out a strong sales team to prospect new business and nurture customer loyalty.

15. Open for Business

You are now ready to host a grand opening for your hotel. Make sure to include your grand opening event in your marketing plan and promote your hotel launch to the right target audience.

If you follow the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business and know everything you need about how to start a hotel business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

How to Finish Your Hotel Business Plan in 1 Day!

How to open a hotel faqs, is it hard to start a hotel.

Starting any business has its challenges and opening a hotel does require some planning and preparation. The biggest challenges in owning a hotel are securing funding for your new hotel, finding a great location to buy or build, and setting up systems that help your hotel achieve operational efficiency.

As with starting any business, having a good business idea, doing market research, and getting support from experts in the industry increase your chance of success.

How Can I Own a Hotel With No Experience?

If you have no experience in the hotel industry, you will need to find a good hotel management company. A hotel management company can help you with all aspects of starting and running your hotel. They will also be able to provide you with the necessary training.

What Types of Hotels Are Most Profitable?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The type of hotel that is most profitable will depend on the location of your hotel and what is of value to the market in that area. A boutique hotel might be a huge success in a small city, while a family-friendly hotel could make more money when placed near a theme park. It is important to do market research to determine which type of hotel can be a profitable business in your area.

How Much Does It Cost To Start a Hotel?

Again, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The cost of starting a hotel will depend on a number of factors, such as the location of your hotel, the type of hotel, and the level of service you offer. You will also have different upfront costs depending on whether you are building a new hotel or purchasing an existing structure.

With regards to building costs or buying an existing property, this varies tremendously based on the type of hotel (e.g., budget vs luxury) and hotel size (e.g., 5 rooms vs 500 rooms).

How Does a Hotel Make Money?

A hotel makes money by charging guests for the use of the hotel's facilities. The amount charged will depend on the type of hotel, the location, and the level of service offered. Beyond charging for guest rooms, hotels may also make money from additional amenities, such as in-house restaurants, room service, and high-speed internet access.

Is Owning a Hotel Profitable?

Owning a hotel business can be profitable, but the amount of profit is highly-dependent on a number of factors, such as the location of your hotel. You can improve the profitability of your hotel by offering a higher level of service, attracting more guests, and keeping your expenses low.

How Much Does a Hotel Owner Make?

Hotel owners, operators and executives receive varied pay amounts based on the success of their hotel. According to Glassdoor, the typical Starwood Hotels & Resorts Vice President salary is $244,472, which is 45% above the national average.

What Are the Key Financial Metrics and Costs in the Hotel Market?

The key financial metrics in the hotel market are as follows:

Industry profit is measured as earnings before interest and taxes. Industry profits have averaged 15.5% of sales in recent years.

The industry’s major expenses are purchases and cost of sales, such as bedding and room supplies. Many hotels also provide meals and liquor, either in individual rooms or in separate restaurants or dining areas.

Last year, purchases were estimated to account for 29.9% of an average operator’s revenue.

Labor is required in many aspects of hotel management, from front-of-house activities, such as front desk, concierge and related activities, to all back-of-house activities, including general management, accounting, marketing, room cleaning and servicing the kitchens, bars and restaurants.

Many hotel jobs have a low skill and training requirement, and employees can be hired on a part-time or casual basis. Because of this practice, many hotels have high staff turnover.

Therefore, there is a constant need for recruitment and training, which can be costly. Some hotel owners and operators have outsourced part of their staff services to specialist staff-recruitment agencies to lower recruitment costs.

Last year, industry wages accounted for approximately 25.7% of total industry revenue.

Rent and Utilities

Rent and utilities on average comprise 7.6% of hotel revenue.

Other Expenses

Marketing expenses and royalty fees are another significant cost for those industry participants that operate on a franchise basis. Franchisees typically pay an annual fee of 4.0% to 6.0% of total revenue.

Other major operational expenses include repairs and maintenance, promotional costs, commission paid to agents, bookings and internet fees, accounting and legal costs, motor vehicle expenses, stationery and printing, insurance and other administrative and overhead costs.

Why Do Hotels Fail?

Hotels can fail for a number of reasons, including high expenses and low occupancy rates. Hotels can also fail due when owners misunderstand the market in an area and target the wrong customers or fail to do adequate research into hotel industry trends that impact their business.

Often, hotels begin to struggle due to poor management decisions that negatively impact the guest experience. Closely monitoring your spending and making sure your staff is performing well both go a long way toward making your hotel succeed.

How Big Is the Hotel Industry?

According to IbisWorld, there are 74,372 hotels, and the hotel industry generated $166.5 billion in revenue in the United States alone last year. This represents an annual growth rate of 4.7% over the past 5 years.

Industry profits were $26.0 billion, and wages paid to hotel employees totaled $42.7 billion.

What Are the Key Segments of the Hotel Market?

 A hotel is an establishment that provides lodging and, often times, meals and other services for travelers and other paying guests. A motel, on the other hand, provides lodging for motorists in rooms usually having direct access to an open parking area.

A particular hotel or motel can be classified by a number of characteristics, including whether it provides full or limited service, whether or not it is located in a metropolitan area, the state or region in which it is located, its price or rate level, the number of rooms, and whether it is independent or part of a chain operation.

Hotels and motels can also be segmented by room price rates. The establishments with room rates in the highest 30 percentile that are located in local or metropolitan markets are classified as upscale or luxury. The middle 30 percentile is classified as mid-priced, and the lowest 40 percentile as either economy or budget.

Overall, sales from hotels account for 87.4% of industry revenue and 82.0% of industry employment, though they account for only 44.0% of industry establishments.

Hotels that consist of 25 or more rooms provide 83.6% of industry revenue (with 62.7% of industry revenue coming from guest room rentals, 12.5% coming from food and alcohol sales, 4.2% coming from conference and meeting rooms and 4.2% coming from other charges), while hotels that offer fewer than 25 rooms only constitute 3.8% of industry revenue.

Motels provide about 12.6% of industry revenue. The relative proportion of revenue from each of these segments has been relatively stable over the past five years, although motels experienced some growth at the expense of higher-priced hotels during the recession.

What External Factors Affect the Hotel Market?

A number of factors affect the performance of the hotel industry. These drivers include:

• Domestic Trips By US Residents : Trends in domestic travel, especially for business travellers, and the total nights spent away from home directly affect demand for accommodation. As the number of trips made by US citizens rises, demand for hotels and motels to house them increases.
• Consumer Confidence Index : Changes in consumer confidence influence decisions that individuals make concerning expenditure on entertainment and traveling, particularly during a recession.
• Consumer Spending : Consumer spending levels have a direct effect on travel demand. When consumers are spending more overall, they are more likely to spend some of their money on travel and accommodations.
• Inbound Trips By Non-US Residents : Trends in international visitor arrivals and their lengths of stay influence demand for accommodation. A rise in inbound trips positively affects demand for hotels and motels.

Who Are the Key Competitors in the Hotel Market?

 As specified above, there are 74,372 hotels in the United States.

The market leaders (in terms of market share) include Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (13.7%), Marriott

International Inc. (13.5%) and InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (7.5%).

The rest of the market is comprised of many smaller players.

Who Stays in Hotels?

Recent demographics show that totel guests are comprised of: 

• Domestic leisure travelers: 48.5%
• Business travelers: 24.0%
• International leisure travelers: 14.0%
• Meetings, events and incentive travelers: 13.5%

What Are the Keys to Launching a Successful Hotel?

Starting a hotel requires careful choice of a location and strategy, a business plan, access to considerable financial resources, and a customer service mindset.

1) Location and Opportunity

The location for your hotel is highly linked with the opportunity that you feel there is for your hotel. In the right location, where competitors are not fulfilling all customer needs, a hotel can thrive. However, in a beautiful neighborhood that happens to have heavy competition from existing hotels, success may not be so forthcoming. Likewise, if the neighborhood leaves too much to be desired, you may not be able to price the rooms low enough to encourage travelers to stay at your hotel, even if you are within walking distance of key attractions.

2) Strategy

The next step is to know how customers will answer the question “why my hotel?” How will you tailor your services to the customers you want to attract, whether they are families with kids, couples on romantic vacations, businesspeople, or international tourists? Consider the combination of amenities, atmosphere, location, and services that will be right for your customers. Always keep in mind that strategy means making tradeoffs – it is almost impossible to be everything to everyone and succeed. You might have to forgo a certain customer target market in order to make your service offering perfect for your most desired customers.

3) Planning

A hotel business plan is necessary not only for you to think through how you will take on the opportunity, but for you to convince any investor or lender that you have the ability to do so. No savvy investor will be attracted by a lack of planning. There is no excuse to not create a plan with the wealth of information available on writing business plans and even business plan templates tailored to the hotel business sector.

4) Fundraising

Whether you buy an existing hotel, build one from scratch, or renovate a building into a hotel, you will need millions of dollars to invest. Assuming you do not have this money, you will need to seek bank loans and/or angel investment in your hotel. As you will be working with considerable assets, dependable and experienced legal and accounting help is a must as you create deals with investors.

5) Hospitality Mindset

Finally, you must have an ingrained sense of how you want your guests to be treated so that you can instill this mindset in your top management and they can, in turn, teach this to the staff. Staying at a hotel can be stressful and uncomfortable, and guests demand the highest attention to their needs or they will have no problem complaining loudly and publicly. If employees sense you have higher motives than customer satisfaction, customer service may fall by the wayside and your hotel business may fail or never take off in the first place.

The first step to starting a hotel is to develop your hotel business plan . Growthink provides products and services to help you develop a professional business plan and turn your dream into reality.

Where Can I Download a Hotel Business Plan PDF?

You can download our hotel business plan PDF template here. This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Additional Resources in the Hotel Market

For additional information on the hotel market, consider these industry resources:

• American Hotel & Lodging Association: ahla.com
• Hospitality Net: hospitalitynet.org
• Hotel Mavericks: www.hotelmavericks.com

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consultants can create your business plan for you.

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• How to Create a Hotel Business Plan: Beginners Guide

November 21, 2023

Would you build a house without a blueprint?

Probably not, because it could lead to inconvenience and problems.

The same concept is genuine in the corporate world.

It would be best to have a business plan to operate in the hospitality industry. When planning to own or operate a hotel, you must include everything from the project strategy to budgeting and implementation.

As the studies show that the global hospitality industry is expected to grow to 5.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2027 at a CAGR of 5.5%, a detailed roadmap is what you need to enter the hotel business.

A hotel business plan will keep you on track and help attract investors. Remember, it is a crucial component for planning for success .

Let’s explore the concrete steps to include in your hotel business plan.

The path starts here.

5 Key Components of a Hotel Business Plan

Having a business plan is a no-brainer.

With a solid business plan, attracting investors , staying on track, ensuring workflows are followed, and enabling you to make crucial decisions becomes more accessible.

Let’s explore the critical components of the business plan for a hotel:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is a quick and concise part of a business plan that provides a complete roadmap of your hotel business.

A concise business overview encapsulating visionary business goals is a strategic compass, providing a snapshot of a company’s direction and objectives.

It offers stakeholders a quick understanding of the business’s purpose and potential, aiding informed decision-making and fostering alignment with the organization’s vision.

An executive summary should include:

• Business Overview
• Vision statement
• Mission statement
• Business objectives

You must write your executive summary at the final stage of business planning , as it would help you summarize the goals and objectives of your hotel business.

2. Business Description and Concept

A business plan’s business description and concept section should clarify your mission, the goals you are looking to achieve, unique selling points, and a breakdown of shareholder involvement.

In this section, you will outline the full-service hotel’s concept , target market, unique selling points, and overall vision, which is crucial for standing out in the competitive landscape.

The hotel landscape looked very different 20 years ago; today’s market is saturated.

Therefore, defining hotel concepts around the following key elements will help.

• Positioning

Hotel concept must define how your hotel should look like, what services will be offered, how it presents and markets itself the differentiating factors, and how its staff interacts with guests. Providing this information helps establish a clear market position and enhances its chances of success.

3. Market Analysis and Competitive Landscape

A comprehensive market analysis is indispensable in a business plan. It provides vital insights into the target market, industry, competitive landscape, and consumer behavior.

Understanding hotel industry trends enables you to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and identify market gaps and opportunities. It’s the foundation for a successful and sustainable business strategy.

Take a broad look and analyze industry trends using business models such as SWOT, Porter’s five forces framework, and PESTEL analysis.

• SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis will give you an in-depth analysis of the hotel industry’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

• Porter’s Five Forces Framework

Porter’s five forces framework helps you look beyond direct competitors when assessing strategy and, instead, consider broader environmental forces. It is best for in-depth competitor assessment and helps create a stand-out USP.

• PESTEL Analysis

PESTEL is an acronym for political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental. It gives a bird’s eye view of the whole environment from many different angles that one wants to check and keep track of while contemplating a business plan.

A thorough analysis can help solidify your competitive advantage and develop a contingency plan for how you will deal with your weaknesses and threats.

4. Organizational Structure and Management

An organizational structure is an integral part of the business plan as it provides an overview of the hotel’s management roles according to job responsibility and ranking.

Organizational structure enables quick decision-making , better coordination, and employee communication, enhancing productivity. It ensures the proper functioning of an organization by establishing its chain of command and workflow.

While structuring your hotel team, there are different types of organizational structures that you can choose from:

• Hierarchical

Management operational expertise is essential to ensure that each department carries out its goals to the best ability possible and handles any roadblocks that may stand in the way of business.

Let’s look at what management hierarchy looks like, practically speaking.

• Business owner
• General manager
• Assistant managers
• Department managers
• Operations staff

Detail your short and long-term operational plans and the stakeholders involved for each area. Mention efficient management practices that will help you make better strategic decisions relating to resources and make it easier to scale up your hotel business.

5. Services and Facilities

In this business plan section, you must mention all your hotel services, facilities, and guest offerings. Meeting guest expectations should be at the core of your hotel business plan.

You can enhance its appeal to potential investors and define the guest’s journey by showcasing services and facilities to meet diverse guest needs. Moreover, by outlining the services and facilities, the hotel can create a unique selling proposition and tailor its marketing efforts accordingly.

Here’s a list of standard services and facilities you can find in many hotels:

• Accommodation
• Front Desk Services
• Meeting and Event Facilities
• Recreational Facilities
• Business Services.
• Housekeeping
• Transportation Services
• Entertainment
• Concierge Services
• Childcare Services
• Pet-Friendly Services
• Special Needs Accessibility
• Luggage Storage
• Laundry and Dry Cleaning
• Room Amenities
• Spa and Wellness Services
• Emergency Services
• Wi-Fi and Internet Access

All the quality hotel amenities , services, and facilities must be mentioned in your business plan and aligned with the preferences of your target market.

Financial Projections and Funding

Establishing financial projections and identifying funding requirements and sources is fundamental to planning. They provide a roadmap for the hotel’s financial future, outlining revenue expectations, expense estimates, and profit projections.

Additionally, it offers a clear understanding of the return on investment potential, mitigating financial risks and ensuring sound financial planning for the hotel’s success and long-term sustainability.

Revenue Projections and Budgeting

Revenue projections and budgeting are essential for assessing the business’s viability, attracting investors or securing loans, and demonstrating a well-thought-out financial strategy.

Understanding the financial feasibility of the hotel business is essential to reduce or manage your business risk.

In this section, you should include the following:

• Revenue Projections
• Expense Projections
• Profit and Loss Statements
• Cash Flow Projections
• Financial Statement
• Break-Even Analysis
• Funding Requirements
• Use of Funds
• Funding Sources
• Return on Investment (ROI)
• Financial Assumptions
• Financial Contingency Plan
• Debt Repayment Plan
• Sensitivity Analysis

Financial forecasting based on sustainable budget practices will help you to decide whether a project or an investment is worthwhile by looking at its value and the minimum yield it generates. It

Funding Requirements and Investment Plan

Having an investment plan before starting the hotel business will provide a clear financial requirements roadmap, ensuring adequate capital for startup and improving ongoing operations .

Attracting investors and lenders becomes more accessible with a solid funding and investment plan, as it demonstrates financial preparedness to the investors and lenders.

Here’s how you can structure this section in your business plan:

• Startup Capital
• Working Capita
• Equity Investment
• Grants and Subsidies
• ROI Projections
• Exit Strategy
• Risk Mitigation
• Legal and Contractual Agreements

Securing hotel funding and attracting investments for your hotel becomes more accessible with a clear and well-structured plan. It instills confidence and makes your home business more attractive and feasible.

Risk Analysis and Mitigation

A Proactive approach to risk analysis and mitigation helps you develop contingency plans.

It helps mitigate operational, financial, and reputational threats , ensuring the safety and satisfaction of guests, protecting investments, and maintaining business continuity, ultimately supporting long-term profitability and success in a competitive industry.

Addressing risk mitigation strategies in the plan is crucial in creating a resilient and sustainable business model in the competitive and ever-evolving hotel industry.

To manage risks in the hotel business, you can implement the following strategies:

• Risk avoidance – For example, you may face a risk where you won’t be able to serve the customers on time due to a lack of staff. To avoid this risk, you could hire the correct number of staff in case of a seasonal rush at the hotel.
• Risk reduction – For example, you can’t serve an essential ingredient for your dish at your hotel due to seasonality issues. To avoid this risk, you must ensure inventory management practices and have connections with multiple suppliers.
• Risk transfer – For example, if you don’t have the expertise to maintain social media, you are at a loss for online opportunities. You can outsource digital marketing to an expert agency to avoid this risk.
• Risk control – For example, if you cannot achieve a certain staff performance level. To avoid this risk, you can provide on-site training and development.

The hotel business plan is committed to safeguarding investments and ensuring guest safety and satisfaction by identifying and assessing potential risks.

It also reassures investors, lenders, and stakeholders that the hotel is well-prepared to navigate unforeseen circumstances, enhancing confidence in the project’s viability.

Implementation Plan and Milestones

A strategy implementation plan is a detailed roadmap that clearly defines the steps and activities required to execute the strategy effectively.

In this section, you must present a breakdown of tasks into identifiable steps, assign tasks and responsibilities to the people involved, and create a definitive timeline for the entire project.

Operational Plan

An operational plan outlines the steps to achieve your hotel business objectives. It is helpful for investors and your employees because it pushes you to think about tactics and deadlines.

Your operations plan should be able to answer the following:

• Who – The person or departments in charge of completing specific tasks.
• What – A description of what each department is responsible for.
• Where – The information on where daily operations will be taking place.
• When –The deadlines for when the tasks and goals are to be completed.
• How much – The cost amount each department needs to complete their tasks

When creating your operational plan, consider all the activities that will help implement hotel operations, ensuring service excellence . Make sure your strategic objectives are in place and relevant.

Below is the list of the day-to-day operation plan for service delivery.

• Reception and Guest Services
• Food and Beverage Services
• Maintenance and Engineering
• Accounting and Finance
• Sales and Marketing
• Reservations and Front Desk
• Health and Safety
• Guest Relations and Services
• Room Reservations and Inventory
• Procurement and Supplies
• Efficient Staffing

Marketing and Promotion Strategy

Marketing strategy and promotion plans help hotel reach their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With it, a company may be able to compete, gain visibility, or achieve growth goals.

A well-defined marketing and promotion strategy is pivotal for revenue growth, profitability, and long-term success, ensuring that the hotel stands out and thrives in the hospitality sector.

Hotels increasingly embrace moral marketing , prioritizing sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical practices to connect with conscious consumers and create a positive impact. Include this in your business plan to manage the costs associated with green initiatives, ethical sourcing, social responsibility, and marketing to prioritize moral marketing and sustainability.

As a hotel business owner, online and offline marketing strategies must align with the hotel’s overall objectives and goals, enabling the hotel to achieve the desired operational efficiencies.

Online marketing and promotion strategies for the hotel business include:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)
• Social Media Marketing
• Email Marketing
• Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
• Content Marketing
• Influencer Marketing
• Online Review Management

Offline promotion initiatives for guest attraction used by hotel business include:

• Local Event Sponsorship
• Print Advertising
• Direct Mail Marketing
• Travel Trade Shows
• Networking with Local Businesses
• Billboards and Signage

Promoting your hotel business will help you reach potential guests and give them a reason to choose your hotel over the competition, thanks to your unique value proposition.

Milestones and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Setting milestones and key performance indicators helps hotel businesses stay on track and focused on achieving goals. These measurements enable informed decision-making , highlight areas that require improvement, and can be instrumental in adapting strategies to market trends.

Milestones and KPIs ensure goal tracking and enable accountability and efficiency, contributing to the overall success and sustainability of the hotel business.

Following are the ways to set milestones for your hotel business:

• Revenue Growth Targets
• Occupancy Rate Goals
• Customer Satisfaction Improvements
• Expansion and Renovation Milestones
• Marketing and Advertising Milestones
• Staff Training and Development Benchmarks
• Sustainability and Green Initiatives Targets

Once you’ve identified the milestones for hotel business performance , you can define key metrics to analyze the outcomes.

Critical metrics for tracking hotel performance:

• Occupancy Rate
• Average Daily Rate ( ADR )
• Revenue per Available Room ( RevPAR )
• Gross Operating Profit per Available Room ( GOPPAR )
• Customer Satisfaction Scores
• Direct Booking Percentage

Now, as we navigate the hotel business plan, this outline will be the compass that guides your venture toward success.

Conclusion on business plan creation showcases that your vision and strategies will serve as a tool to instill confidence in investors.

This meticulous planning, coupled with your commitment, inspires investor confidence and secures the necessary support for turning your hotel dream into a prosperous reality.

Maximize your hotel business by leveraging this dynamic plan to achieve your goals.

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How to Write a Successful Hotel Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for hotel businesses who want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every hotel business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Hotel Business Plan Template

What is a Hotel Business Plan?

A hotel business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Hotel Business Plan?

A hotel business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Hotel Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful hotel business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a hotel business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your hotel company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your hotel business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your hotel firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen hotel business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a hotel business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the hotel industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, a hotel business’ customers may include:

• Business travelers
• Leisure travelers
• Groups and conventions
• Wedding parties
• Local residents

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or hotel services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your hotel business may have:

• Location : if your hotel is located in an ideal spot for leisure or business travelers, this could be a key competitive advantage
• Amenities : if your hotel offers unique amenities that are appealing to your target market segments, this could give you a leg up on the competition
• Customer service : if you focus on delivering exceptional customer service, this could be a key selling point

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or you may promote your hotel business via public relations (PR), speaking engagements, or other thought-leadership activities.

Operations Plan

This part of your hotel business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a hotel business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding new locations, launching a new product/service, or hiring new employees.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific hotel industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue: how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold: These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss): Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Hotel Business

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Hotel Business

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup hotel business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Hotel Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your hotel company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into creating a successful hotel business plan. But with careful planning and execution, you can set your hotel business up for success.  

Finish Your Hotel Business Plan in 1 Day!

How to Make a Business Plan for your Hotel

Whether you own a bed and breakfast, a family-run inn, a cosmopolitan hotel or an all-inclusive resort, a business plan is absolutely essential to your success.

You might have the best hotel concept in the world, but none of that will matter if you don’t have a well-organized plan that lays out how it will come to fruition.

Unfortunately, many hoteliers don’t use business plans to their full potential. Instead, they throw together a collection of ad-hoc documents to show stakeholders, investors and other interested parties. Even worse, they don’t put together a business plan at all. This is a big mistake, but it often stems from people finding the concept of business plans intimidating.

Fortunately, hotel business plans aren’t as daunting as they seem. At their most basic, they’re summaries of the most important details of your hotel concept . They allow readers to learn everything they need to know about your hotel idea in a detailed yet succinct manner.

Need guidance in doing so? Follow the points outlined here and you’ll have no trouble developing an effective business plan for your hotel.

Table of contents for this article:

Hotel Business Plan Essentials

Other elements to include, focus on the essential, 1. executive summary.

Your business plan in a nutshell.

The placement of executive summaries is misleading. They normally come first in business plans, but really, they should be written last. This is because they cover all the key points that are mentioned in your business plan.

Along with summarizing the basics, remember to include your broader mission statement and specific project objectives.

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, it’s much easier to write a great executive summary once you’ve finished the rest of your business plan!

2. Company Analysis

Think of this as an elevator pitch.

Provide an accurate yet exciting impression of your hotel project as it stands. Talk about background information like business stage, legal structure, investors and/or stakeholders and other major milestones. Most importantly, make sure you also highlight your hotel’s unique features and qualifications, sometimes referred to as USPs (Unique Selling Propositions).

USPs are key in the highly competitive hotel market and can really make your concept stand out from the crowd. Does your hotel have pool, jacuzzi or spa amenities? Is it completely wheelchair accessible? Does it offer amazing views of the city or surrounding countryside? These are all key features to highlight in your company analysis.

Some company analyses also use the SWOT analysis framework to assess their hotel concept’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

• Optimizing occupancy, revenue or ADR
• Upgrading your software stack
• Solving distribution or/and tech issues
• Improving their hotel online presence

3. Industry Analysis

What context will you be operating in, exactly?

In a business plan, industry analysis refers to researching relevant market trends. Understanding short and long-term trends that affect the hotel industry is key in putting together an effective hotel business plan, and eventually running a successful hotel.

Think about trends and events in relation to broader themes like technology, health, environment, politics, culture and economy. Reflect on how they might affect your business, or better yet, how your business could use them to its advantage. In the context of COVID-19 , for example, it’s a great idea to be transparent about the sanitary measures and distancing policies your business has (or would be able to) put into effect.

Depending where your hotel is located, industry analysis may be daunting. A more manageable way to think about it is in relation to your relative market. That is, focus your research specifically on hotels that have a similar concept to yours .

Industry trends affect family-run bed and breakfasts very differently than they do all-inclusive resorts, so make sure to undertake analysis that’s relevant to your business.

4. Competitive Analysis

Now, it’s time to size up the competition.

One of the best ways to put together a successful hotel business strategy is to have an excellent idea of what the competition is doing. Emulate what they’re doing correctly and improve upon what they’re doing wrong. If you see that many customers are complaining about the weak WiFi or lack of breakfast at hotels in the area, see if your business can provide those amenities.

You can focus your research solely on local competitors, but you can also include global competitors with similar concepts to your own . How you choose to do this will depend on your hotel’s concept and where it’s located.

Similar to industry analysis, competitive analysis is intimidating to many. In order to simplify it, only undertake in-depth analysis of your most direct competitors. Some market experts also use the SWOT analysis framework when analyzing the competition as well.

When it comes to more indirect competitors, try grouping them together and thinking about big picture comparisons.

5. Ideal Customer Profile

Next, you’ve got to figure out who exactly will be coming to your hotel.

It’s incredibly important to have a specific picture of your hotel’s ideal customer. Just like any other product or service, you’ll need to determine who you’ll be marketing to . Different kinds of hotel guests have different priorities and needs, so it’s important to determine who you’ll be catering to .

Put simply, a businessman staying in central London for a work conference will have very different hotel needs compared to a family of four on a week-long summer vacation.

Ideal hotel guest profiles take geographic, demographic, socio-economic, psychographic, cultural and behavioral considerations into account. You’ll also want to consider whether your hotel concept will be broadly appealing to several hotel guest profiles or if you’ll be catering to a specific niche.

Need help putting together ideal customer profiles? Get inspired by checking out your direct competitors’ guest reviews online.

6. Marketing Plan

Last but not least, how will you attract guests?

A strong concept is only half the battle. Without an effective marketing strategy , your hotel will remain empty. At its most basic, your marketing plan should describe how you’ll attract guests to your hotel and therefore make it a profitable business.

In doing so, marketing plans usually touch on the following categories:

• Marketing How will you get the word out to guests? In the modern age, this most often refers to online marketing strategies related to your hotel’s website, search engine results and social media presence. You can also cover direct marketing, offline marketing, networking, third-party promotion and partnerships here.
• Sales & Distribution How will you secure bookings? Think about what channels you’ll use to communicate availability and manage reservations, for example if your hotel is being listed in Airbnb, you'll need an Airbnb channel manager to handle your reservations and avoid double bookings. Most hotels use a combination of direct and indirect sales and distribution strategies.
• Yield & Revenue Management How will you make sure that your hotel is profitable? Consider pricing and yield strategies early on to maximize your business’s revenue growth.

We’ve talked about hotel business plan essentials, but we’re not done yet. The points we covered above are the basics, but there are several additional elements that you might want to consider including.

Remember, your hotel business plan should most importantly present the specific context of your project . The elements you include should reflect that.

We’ve included some ideas of additional elements you might like to include below, but the possibilities are endless.

• Operations Discuss how your hotel will run on a day-to-day basis. This connects to management but focuses on the big picture. Make sure to include details like staff numbers, hotel processes, service standards, external suppliers and inventory management.
• Management Have you established who will be in charge of your hotel’s management? Or who will be working at your hotel? If you have, talk about their profiles and what qualifies them to do their jobs here.
• Finances Put simply, discuss the money you have, the money you’ll require and how much you estimate that your project will cost in total. This is also a good opportunity to mention ROI projections.
• Reference Materials Be sure to include any supporting materials that support the information presented in your business plan. e.g. charts, graphics, resources, imagery and other media.

There you have it! Follow the steps above and you’ll have an effective business plan for your hotel in no time.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process, remember to focus on the essentials first . Basic information like your project background, industry trends, competitor research and ideal clientele is your bread and butter. Once you’ve got those elements covered, start thinking about what additional elements you want to include based on your needs.

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Hotel Business Plan

Things to Consider Before Writing a Hotel Business Plan

Select a good location.

An accessible and well-located hotel is much more likely to work than one that is situated otherwise. Also, the neighborhood you set up your hotel in matters a lot too. Hence, it is important to choose the right size of land and locality to set up your hotel.

Find good suppliers

From laundry, and housekeeping to the right ingredients for the restaurant,  there are several supplies a hotel needs. And to satisfy your customers, it is essential to get the best of everything. After all, the reputation and image of your hotel matter a lot when it comes to running a hotel business.

Know your financial requirements

A hotel has several financial requirements from location to installation of appliances, furniture, decor, and salaries of employees. This also makes for a complex financial structure. Hence, it is good to figure out and keep an account of all your financial needs before getting started.

Find your USP

In the mass of industry giants and small businesses that exist in the business, it is important to have something that helps you stand apart from everyone else. From theme-based decor to additional services and ventures, your USP can be anything. But make sure that you find one before you get up and running.

Chalking Out your Business Plan

If you are planning to start a new hotel business, the first thing you will need is a business plan. Use our sample hotel business plan created using upmetrics business plan software to start writing your business plan in no time.

Before you start writing a business plan for your new hotel business, spend as much time as you can reading through some samples of hotel and lodging-related business plans .

Reading some sample business plans will give you a good idea of what you’re aiming for, and also it will show you the different sections that different entrepreneurs include and the language they use to write about themselves and their business plans.

We have created this sample Hotel Business Plan for you to get a good idea about what a perfect hotel business plan should look like and what details you will need to include in your stunning business plan.

Hotel Business Plan Outline

This is the standard hotel business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Business Overview
• Mission Statement
• Location and Facility
• Steve Cowan
• Key Advisors to the Company
• Economic Environment
• Geographical/Competitive Environment
• Legal/Political Environment
• Technology Environment
• High Line ($139-$750 per night, depending upon season)
• Motel ($59-$119 per night, depending upon season)
• Bed & Breakfast (B&B)
• Summary of Opportunities and Threats in the Environment
• Competitive Advantage
• Industry Keys to Success
• SWOT Analysis
• Marketing Strategies
• Target Markets – Consumer
• Positioning and Product Strategy
• Distribution Strategy
• Pricing Strategy
• Service and Support Philosophy
• New Business Segment
• Publicity and Public Relations
• Guest Reward Programs
• Advertising
• Marketing and Promotion Budget
• Evaluation & Control Strategies
• Project Funding Summary
• Phase 1 Funding Amounts Sought
• Financial Plan Assumptions
• Income Statement Projections
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Projections

After getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this sample hotel business plan template into your business plan and modify the required information and download your hotel business plan pdf or doc file.

It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

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Download a sample hotel business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free hotel business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your hotel business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

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Hotel Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Hotel Business Plan

If you want to start a new hotel business or expand your existing hotel, you need an effective business plan.

The following hotel business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a solid business plan. In addition to this template, a solid plan will also include market research to help you better understand the hospitality industry trends, and how you plan to attract customers. It will also help you craft your mission statement, marketing plan and strong financial projections.

You can download our Hotel Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Sample Business Plan For a Boutique Hotel

Below are links to each of the key sections of a comprehensive business plan for a hotel:

• Executive Summary – The executive summary provides an overview of your business opportunity and summarizes the business plan.
• Company Overview – The company analysis includes information about your hotel concept, the hotel’s services and business structure.
• Industry Analysis – The industry analysis includes market research that supports your business and provides insights into market trends and the hotel industry.
• Customer Analysis – The customer analysis provides an overview of your target market.
• Competitive Analysis – The competitive analysis should identify your local competition (other hotel businesses, Airbnbs, etc.) and highlight your unique selling point.
• Marketing Plan – The marketing plan includes your hotel marketing strategy, pricing strategy and search engine optimization plan.
• Operations Plan – The operations plan includes information on your hotel operations and processes along with your business goals for long-term growth.
• Management Team – The management team section includes a profile of the hotel owner and hotel management team, their experience and job descriptions.
• Financial Plan – The financial plan includes financial projections, a cash flow statement, profit and loss statement and balance sheet.

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Hotel Business Plan Outline

Hotel & Lodging Business Plans

Bed and breakfast business plans.

• Bed and Breakfast - Caribbean - Business Plan
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Whether your business is a rustic retreat or a high-end bed and breakfast, these sample business plans for hotels, inns, resorts, and other lodging businesses will help you write a business plan that will guide you to business success.

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Small Hotel Business Plan

6+ sample small hotel business plan, what is a small hotel business plan, elements of a small hotel business plan, tips on small hotel business plan, how to start a small hotel business, how large is the market for hotels, how do hotels get their revenues.

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Executive summary, business summary, business overview, market analysis.

• Economic Environment – This is the factor affecting inflation, increasing salaries, and types of employment. Know how people will want to spend money and why will they want to get away sometimes.
• Geographical Environment – This factor will tell whether there can be many people that will visit your hotel. You must consider the geographical location because you have to ensure that your hotel can be a likable place for customers.
• Legal Environment – Does your hotel comply with all the state laws? You must follow all the rules like liquor licenses so that your guests will not have any problem with your hotel. They need a place where they can do all things legally.
• Technology Environment – Your hotel should be updated with the latest technology. This can make your hotel more elegant and many will want to visit your hotel. State-of-the-art technology can set your hotel apart from other hotels.

Competitive Analysis

Advertising and operational strategy, financial plan, step 1: start with a plan, step 2: make a proposition, step 3: make a marketing plan, step 4: get capital, step 5: build the small hotel, step 6: hire key workers, step 7: launch the hotel, share this post on your network, file formats, word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates, you may also like these articles, 5+ sample investment company business plan in pdf.

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Starting a lodging business Full guide & resources

So you want to be a hotel owner? Now might be an opportune time. 

Hotels proved their resiliency during the pandemic and have experienced remarkable growth in the years since. Today, lodging businesses are enjoying high occupancy rates and unprecedented pricing power. Moreover, certain hotel industry sectors, such as luxury resorts and select-service hotels, are achieving record profitability. 

As other hotel proprietors may tell you, owning a hotel can be a rich and rewarding experience, but it’s also a lot of work, and there is a degree of risk involved. 

Do you have what it takes to own and operate a successful hotel business? In this step-by-step guide, we’ll take you through how to launch a hotel business. You’ll hear from real-life hoteliers about their experiences and get advice from industry experts to help you avoid common pitfalls.

Why own a hotel? The benefits of owning a lodging business 

Before anything, it’s a good idea to clarify your objectives. Why do you want to own a hotel? Is it because you want to host the rich and famous, design your dream spot, or get fabulously wealthy? Or do you have more charitable objectives in mind, like providing refuge for weary travelers or helping build your local community? For three-time property owners Kristy Espat and Victor Tofan, it kind of happened by accident. 

As the owners of hotels in Peru , Germany , and Spain (opening soon), Victor and Kristy come from families with experience in the industry. Victor says, “it was kind of an accident becoming owners ourselves – we were in the right place at the right moment, but we’ve always been passionate travelers who love to explore and host.”

No matter how you come into hotel ownership, here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• Return on investment. A well-managed hotel can generate significant revenue for its owners. However, returns on investment (ROI) can vary broadly by property type and location. Hotel performance is also vulnerable to outside forces such as the economy’s health, travel disruptions, severe weather, or a pandemic.
• Property value. Hotel properties can appreciate in value over time, especially when situated in a prime location. As the property value increases, so does the potential return on investment if the owner decides to sell. 
• Tax benefits. Depending on where the hotel is located, owners may be eligible for tax benefits such as allowances for capital expenditures, structures and buildings, annual investments, and capital gains relief. 
• Social and networking opportunities. Owning a hotel presents all sorts of opportunities to meet and mingle with guests and clients from around the world, build a team of hospitality professionals, and partner with local businesses, forging lifelong relationships. 

So, while a lot of prestige and opportunity may come with your business idea, so does a lot of risk and responsibility. 

5 common hotel business models

Hotels come in all shapes and sizes within the hospitality industry, with various types of business models. Here are some of the most common ones:

1) Independent hotels

An independent hotel is typically owner-operated rather than run by a hotel management company or affiliated with a hotel brand .

Who’s it for?

Independent hotels are a good fit for owners with the know-how to run a hospitality business, want to be hands-on, and are looking for control over their brand identity and operating standards. However, independent hotels don’t enjoy the advantages of brand awareness and economies of scale offered by an affiliation with a large, well-known brand. They have to work extra hard to build awareness and guest loyalty.

Kristy and Victor are independent property owners and attribute the right technology to helping them manage everything on their own. Victor says, “we’re able to make all our properties work because we have the right tools – it’s dangerous to just open a place because you love it, but if you put the time into the right technology and distribution, you can sell it and make it work.”

2) Managed hotels

A managed hotel is operated by a third-party hotel management company. This may be a large conglomerate that manages tens or even hundreds of hotels under multiple brands, such as Marriott or Hilton, or a small company that operates a handful of regional properties. 

Managed hotels are best for an owner who has limited hospitality experience and prefers to leave day-to-day hotel operations to seasoned professionals. Managed hotels benefit from brand awareness, economies of scale, and infrastructure offered by management companies and hotel brands, such as pre-set operational policies and procedures and access to sales & marketing networks. However, they must pay fees to the management company, typically in the form of a set monthly fee and a percentage of revenue from sales of rooms and other services. 

3) Franchise hotels

Franchise hotels operate under a franchise agreement with hotel brands. The brand doesn’t manage the hotel, but the property is licensed to use its brand name and promote itself as part of the group.

Franchise hotels are particularly attractive to those who want to benefit from the advantages of being a part of a well-known hotel group, such as name recognition and access to the group’s infrastructure, while still gaining more flexibility in managing their own business. It can be an ideal solution for professionals who have knowledge and resources but lack marketing support or franchise experience. 

4) Leased hotels 

In the leased hotel model, the owner leases the property to an operator who assumes responsibility for managing the hotel. The operator pays the owner rent and may also share a portion of revenue or profits. 

Leased hotels are a good fit for the absentee investor who prefers not to get involved in managing the property. They provide the owner with a passive income stream while transferring operational responsibilities to the operator. 

5) Hotel partnerships and REITs

If you’re not ready to take on full ownership, other options include a partnership or a REIT. In a partnership, two or more owners share ownership and responsibilities, as well as risk, expenses, and revenue. 

A REIT, or Real Estate Investment Trust, is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-generating real estate, including hotels. Investors pool their capital and spread their investment across a portfolio of properties, receiving shares in the company and income in the form of dividends. 

Hotel partnerships and REIT’s are a good fit for someone who wants to diversify investments without actively participating in the management of properties. 

How to launch an independent hotel business: 10 key steps

Let’s assume you have decided to go the independent route for your new hotel business. You will oversee the property and intend to be very involved in management and operations. Now how do you launch your own hotel business?

One of the first priorities of a start-up business is to define long-term goals. Do you intend to hold on to the property for life and pass it on to future generations? Or do you anticipate selling it in ten to 20 years? Would you like to build a portfolio of hotels or hospitality businesses? 

While you don’t have to answer these questions right away, it’s a good idea to have a long-term game plan in mind as you go through the following 10 steps to launching an independent property. 

1) Decide whether to build or buy 

Deciding whether to design and construct a hotel from the ground up or purchase an existing hotel is an essential first step because it will help determine your path to ownership. Let’s review the pros and cons of each option. 

Option 1: Building

If you decide to build a hotel, you can design the exact property you have in mind and maybe have always dreamed about – notwithstanding any building restrictions. But remember that building a hotel can be a long, drawn-out process. You will have to find an available location, negotiate a price for the land, work with an architect and interior designer, and get building permits, along with numerous other hoops to jump through. There is also the risk of cost overruns and delays in construction and acquiring permits. 

How much money will you need? According to a 2021 study from HVS , the average costs per room, or “key,” of developing the main categories of hotels in the U.S. are estimated as follows.

• Limited-service hotel: $146,910 
• Midscale extended stay hotel: $154,502
• Select-service hotel: $245,238
• Full-service hotel: $477,058
• Luxury hotel: $805,010

Generally, the higher the caliber of the property, the more money required to build it. The objective will be to recoup the costs by charging higher room rates, meals, and ancillary services . 

Option 2: Buying

If you choose to buy an existing property , you will have to find one that is for sale, well-located, the right property type, and affordable. And then, you may have to undergo property upgrades or renovations. 

If the property is well-run and has a good reputation , you will benefit from positive awareness and built-in guest loyalty . However, if it has a bad reputation, you will need to strategically announce new ownership and quickly build a positive reputation. 

Generally, there is less risk involved in purchasing an existing hotel because you can inspect the building and review the property’s performance history. The turnaround time between purchase and the opening date should be much shorter, too, meaning you can start earning a return on your investment more quickly. 

In summary, for first-time hotel owners, buying an existing property may be a safer route. Whether you’re building or purchasing, keep in mind that it’s all about location, location, location! Hotels close to a city center, convention center, beach, shopping center, attractions, and landmarks are a bigger draw for travelers than those in remote locations.

Marco Leibundgut, Founder of the Bogentrakt Hostel in Chur, Switzerland, fell somewhere in the middle of building and buying when he turned a former prison located in Chur’s historical city center into a hostel. He spent three years rebuilding and renovating, which was quite a challenge with the small prison cells. He likes to say that his team “brought freedom back into this former prison.”

2) Analyze the local market 

Once you have chosen a location, you will want to analyze the local market. How strong is the demand for hotel rooms in the area? How are similar hotels performing? Are there seasonal ups and downs? And what kind of economic development is expected in the coming years?

With a clear picture of the local market, you can decide what kind of property is missing and is likely to perform well. Now you can:

• Choose the type of hotel. Will it be a luxury, midscale, economy, or extended-stay hotel? Will it be a boutique hotel, inn, bed and breakfast, guest house, hostel, apartment hotel, or a hybrid concept?
• Decide how big it will be. Will it be a large hotel or a small hotel? What number of rooms will it have? What facilities will you offer, such as a restaurant, bar, spa, pool, fitness room, concierge, golf, function space, etc.?
• Choose the concept or niche. Will it have a theme? How will the design and ambiance be? What unique features or experiences will attract travelers? Will you offer a unique concept like coliving, net zero, or hybrid hospitality? 

Now more than ever the uniqueness of a hotel really matters. Cloudbeds’ Lodging Report found a shift towards experience-driven travel, with travelers prioritizing properties that focus efforts on enhancing the guest experience and satisfying travelers’ social, environmental, and economic needs. 

• Zero Box Lodge in Coimbra, Portugal, offers capsule-style rooms designed as minimalist wooden boxes in a shared dorm with a private bathroom.
• At Matices Hotel de Barracas in Tequila, Mexico, guests stay in barrel-shaped tequila rooms surrounded by an agave field. 
• At The Pad in Colorado, USA, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, guests can choose from micro rooms, shared dorms, or private group rooms.

3) Commission a hotel feasibility study

Once you have conducted your own market analysis, it’s time to hand things over to a professional real estate appraiser to conduct a feasibility study . A feasibility study is an analysis of a hotel building project to determine its potential as a sustainable and viable financial investment. 

Typically, a feasibility study analyzes the property’s location, the market, demographics, and economic conditions, including site size, visibility, access, construction regulations, and competitive landscape. It also estimates costs, revenue, and returns on investment for the intended holding period. 

Generally, a project is determined to be feasible if its projected economic value is estimated to be greater than its costs, generating the required ROI. If the project is not feasible, pursuing it may not be recommended. In either case, if the purchaser wishes to move forward with the project, the lender, bank, and business partners (if applicable) will request to review the feasibility study or may conduct one on their own. 

4) Create your hotel business plan 

Whether you’re purchasing or building a hotel, get ready for paperwork. Here are a few of the documents you’ll need to prepare. 

• Business plan. A hotel business plan identifies the hotel’s goals, objectives, business needs, and strategies for success. It includes an executive summary with details of the business concept, market research, investments required, and a roadmap for building and operating the business. This is an essential document for obtaining financing from potential investors. 
• Operational plan. The operational plan outlines the strategies, procedures, and guidelines for managing the hotel successfully. It includes the operational structure, staffing, seasonal patterns, service standards, commercial strategies, food & beverage operations, property maintenance, financial management, and quality assurance, among other details.
• Financial plan. This document outlines the hotel’s investment requirements, funding sources, financial goals, projections, and strategies for achieving the projections. It includes details about projected startup costs, operating costs, revenue, cash flow, and profitability, providing a roadmap for financial performance. It contains metrics like expected occupancy rate, average daily rate (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR).
• Marketing plan . This document outlines planned marketing strategies, including branding, positioning, key value propositions, target markets (leisure vs. business travelers), and competitive landscape ( SWOT analysis ). It outlines strategies for pricing and promotions, marketing assets like photography, videos, and collateral, and planned activities on marketing channels, including the hotel website, paid media, online travel agencies (OTAs), public relations, social media, and online review sites. See sample hotel marketing plan templates here. 

In a recent episode of The Turndown , Asa Firestone, CEO and Co-Founder of A-Lodge , an adventure lodging company in Colorado, says his biggest piece of advice for new hoteliers is “have a well-defined plan. If you’re going to bootstrap, know what that is and have a vision for where that will take you versus if you’re going to get a big investment. Understand your goals and how you plan to achieve them.”

5) Complete the paperwork: registrations, permits, and licenses

But wait, there’s more paperwork. As a new hotel owner, you must submit a host of applications for permits and licenses. These may vary by region and property type but typically include business registration and license forms, trademark applications, operations permits, tax registration forms, health and safety compliance forms, insurance coverage, and employment documentation. 

6) Source hotel equipment, decor, and suppliers

Next, you’ll need to decide how to furnish your property, referred to in finance as FF&E: furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. This will require deciding how to appoint guestrooms, public areas, and back-of-house areas like the kitchen, administrative offices, and staff communal areas. 

Will you purchase everything new, have it custom-built, or source second-hand? If you’re taking over an existing hotel, many of these items might already be in place but may need to be refurbished or replaced. To purchase FF&E, you will need to set up relationships and accounts with suppliers and establish credit. Choose wisely, as good suppliers can help you save costs and assure quality and expediency for years to come.

When refurbishing Bogentrakt, Marco decided to leave some of the original details from the prison, including the doors and a few bars but to make it more comfortable “utilized local carpenters to make the beds and hired a local street artist to paint murals throughout the property.” As part of his sustainability efforts, Marco wanted to keep his furnishings as local as possible and decided upfront that they would not utilize single-use plastics in their shampoos and soaps. 

7) Hire the right hospitality team

As you approach the opening date, you will need to start building your operating team. Typically, the higher the position is on the organizational chart, the further out you will need to hire them. This begins with your management team, such as the hotel manager, financial controller, human resources manager, director of sales and marketing, revenue manager, chef, and restaurant manager. Kristy says that for managerial positions, “they try to find people with mid-level experience who are eager to learn and grow with the property.” 

Closer to the opening date, you will need to hire and train hotel staff for the front desk, guest services, housekeeping, kitchen, banquets, administration, and other departments on the property. 

New business owners should be aware of the current staffing shortages in the industry. In an October 2022 poll from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) , 87% of respondents indicated they were experiencing a staffing shortage, 36% severely so. Therefore, ensure that you’re allowing more time to hire, have a retention strategy, and are thinking of ways to utilize technology to reduce the strain on staff. Victor says something that works for them has been implementing a bonus structure where if the business does well, their general managers receive a share as an incentive to keep staff engaged in the business.

Marco has taken a unique approach to hiring and compensation at Bogentrakt by paying all his employees the same wage, regardless of their role. He says, “no matter if they work in housekeeping or the front desk, they get paid the same because they all have the same impact on the hostel’s success.” He also cross-trains employees so that a housekeeper, for example, can hop on the system and check a guest in if the front desk agent happens to be on break. 

8) Choose the right hotel technology 

Technology forms the foundation of a highly efficient hotel, so making the right investment decisions is critical. In addition to keeping the lights on, the kitchen operating smoothly, and guests connected to wifi and entertainment, you will need software to streamline and automate operations, sales & marketing, revenue management , and food & beverage functions. William Lake , Co-Founder of Olive & Lake , a Hotel Consultation & Digital Marketing Agency, recommends to sell rooms effectively online, “new hoteliers must first invest in a property management system (PMS) , channel manager, and booking engine – ideally, a solution that includes all three in one package as it simplifies the setup process and reduces maintenance costs.”

To reduce technology costs and centralize operations, more hotels are shifting to a cloud-based, integrated hospitality platform model that consolidates all core software under one technology provider and allows additional software to be connected via API (application programming interface). By housing hardware, software, and data off-premise, a cloud-based system saves hotel owners from paying expensive upfront technology costs and helps provide guests with a seamless experience.  

As a new hotelier, you have the advantage of choosing leading technology off the bat, giving your property the best shot at success and room to grow and evolve over time without having to switch solutions. Sebastien Olive , Co-Founder of Olive & Lake, says that “it’s often difficult for new hoteliers to know what solution is best for them; we always advise clients to find something which will help them save time, improve the guest experience, and increase revenue.”

9) Activate marketing & distribution channels

As your opening date nears the typical traveler booking window, you will want to ramp up marketing and distribution activities. Kristy says, “you need visibility anywhere that a traveler may be searching – on organic and paid channels.” This includes:

• Listing on various OTAs. Listing on big OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia, as well as on smaller, regional, and specialty OTAs such as Airbnb, Hostelworld, or Despegar. Marco has attracted a wide range of guests thanks to being active on multiple channels. He says, “we can set up all different promotions through these channels to attract a really good mix of guests.”
• Ensuring your hotel website is set up and ready to take reservations via your booking engine. William from Olive & Lake stresses the importance of a website for new hotels saying that “a professionally designed website is vital as it serves as a platform for commission-free direct bookings, increases profitability, and helps to enhance brand identity.”
• Creating a Google Business Profile , a listing on Tripadvisor, and listings on other applicable review sites and online directories.
• Launching a digital marketing strategy such as advertising on Google Ads, metasearch engines, or Facebook and Instagram.
• Building an email database of prospective guest segments and an email marketing strategy to inform them of the opening date and other news. 
• Working with a PR agency , local tourism partners, and your local destination marketing organization (DMO) to help spread the word.

Kristy and Victor urge new hoteliers to consider working with a digital marketing agency or service . Victor says, “with these solutions, there is an initial investment, but over time you’ll experience direct, organic growth that converts naturally – which is exactly the kind of guests you want.”

• Get Loud. Cloudbeds’ guide for hotels to boost their online presence, from website design to search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM).
• The Big Book of OTAs. A guide for hoteliers to top distribution channels, including a recipe for the ideal channel mix, a list of top-performing OTAs in your region, and a directory of over 75 OTAs.
• More Reservations, Happier Guests. The ultimate guide for the modern hotelier, a deep dive into the fundamentals of running a successful lodging business, from technology to guest service to data analytics.

10) Prepare for the grand opening

At last, the big day is about to arrive! Hotel openings are notoriously hectic and full of surprises, so you will want to be uber-organized and level-headed. A pre-opening checklist and frequent meetings and check-ins with your team will help ensure everything is done on time.

How will you acknowledge the opening? Quietly, or by throwing a lavish opening party? An event can be a great way to create excitement and build word-of-mouth, especially if you invite media, an official photographer, local businesses, travel agents, tourism partners, and social media influencers – all the people who can help spread the word and get heads into beds. But it’s a good idea to wait a few weeks to throw a party to ensure the hotel is fully operational, staff are well trained, and any wrinkles have been ironed out.

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Hotel Business Plan Sample

JUL.04, 2013

Hotel Business Plan for starting your own hotel

Hotels are among some of the best businesses that you can start if you have the investment for it. As a matter of fact, if you want to invest a large sum of money in a business that has virtually zero risk, rental real estate business plan might just be the safest option.

We will give you a business plan for hotel that you can use to start your own hotel and make a lot of money while you are at it. This sample business plan for a hotel will follow the example of Hotel Intergalactic, a venture by John Abruzzi. Let us now see what business consultants have to say about this business.

Hotel Business Plan Summary

2.1 the business.

Hotel Intergalactic will be a 3-star hotel situated in downtown Los Angeles. The hotel will be registered with the local government and will be insured. The details of this business will be described in this executive summary for hotel with focus being on the way you can make lucrative profits by owning a hotel.

2.2 Management of Hotel Business

The next thing this business plan template for hotel needs to address is the way this hotel will be managed. For this, we will hire a manager to look after the day-to-day matters of the hotel. Other than the manager, one accountant and three assistant managers will be hired.

As this is a business plan for small hotel, we will not be hiring a lot of managerial staff to run it. The assistant managers will be responsible for procurement, operations, and customer service. The assistant managers will report to the manager who will act as an agent of the owner, John Abruzzi and will make decisions on his behalf in his absence.

2.3 Customers of Hotel Business

The customers of this free sample hotel business plan will be the following:

• People coming to visit Los Angeles.
• People who are in Los Angeles for business meetings.
• Los Angeles-based companies that need accommodation for their employees coming from other cities.

2.4 Business Target

The targets of Hotel Intergalactic are:

• Becoming the best hotel in Los Angeles.
• Starting to make a profit of $29,800 a month by the end of year 3.
• Expanding its services to at least other cities by the end of year 5.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Hotel Intergalactic will be owned by John Abruzzi. John has a master’s degree in hospitality management and has been working in the hoteling industry for more than half his life. He knows the business and is passionate about it. He also has enough money to start the business. Combined, all these factors make him the perfect owner in this hotel business plan pdf.

3.2 Why the Hotel is being started?

John Abruzzi is one of the most prominent hotel managers in the area and that means if he starts a hotel people will know he means business. In this example of a hotel business plan, the main reason for starting this business is that this is a profitable business opportunity.

3.3 How the Hotel will be started?

Step1: Making a Feasibility Report

The next thing this new hotel business plan needs to discuss is the feasibility report. At this stage, a survey will be conducted to chalk out the demand and availability of hotels in downtown Los Angeles area. Any good hotel business plan sample doc needs to make sure of the thing that a proper feasibility report is made and the hotel is designed according to the demand in the area.

Step2: Developing a Brand

This hotel business plan, just like a resort business plans needs to cover another important thing. This is developing a brand. As the hotel is going to be in the heart of Los Angeles, it is cardinally important to have a brand.

Step3: Establishing the Hotel

As the hotel is to be constructed from scratch, the best-case scenario would’ve been an empty plot but that is not the case as the downtown Los Angeles area is fully covered by a concrete jungle. For this purpose, an apartment building will be bought and will be modified into a hotel.

Step4: Promotion and Marketing

Last, but not the least, the hotel needs to be promoted on all media channels to make sure people are aware of its existence and it attracts business.

Services of Hotel Business

A hotel business plan, unlike a home inventory business plan has a limited number of services. While a home inventory service business can offer a lot of services, a hotel business can only offer a few. Here’s an overview of the services Hotel Intergalactic will be offering:

• Accommodation

It goes without saying that the most important service offered by the hotel will be accommodation. The hotel will have 20 single-bed, 20 double-bed, and 10 twin-bed rooms for accommodating the guests.

• Banquet Service

The second most important service provided by Hotel Intergalactic will be that of a banquet. Three large halls will be made a part of the hotel and will be provided for everything from business meetings to birthday parties.

The top floor of the hotel will have an open-air rotating restaurant which will be open for the guests in the hotel and any other person coming in just for a meal.

• Bar and Lounge

The hotel will also feature a bar and a coffee lounge. These services will also be available for both the guests of the hotel as well as other people.

Marketing Analysis of a Hotel Business

Marketing analysis is the study of the various variables of the market that can affect the successful operation of a business. Any business plan for a hotel operation needs to shed light on this in order for the hotel to be successful. Before we get into the details of this business plan sample hotel industry, we need to have a look at the industry as a whole. There are just above 90,000 hotels in the US and more than $194billion change hands in this industry annually.

5.1 Market Trends

If you want to learn how to write a business plan for a hotel, you will have to closely study the trends of the industry. Just like making sample property management business plans , it is important to have an insight into the market before establishing a hotel.

The US hoteling market might have its seasonal ups and downs, but it has been noted in the past decade that the industry has seen a steady growth. The worth of this industry has increased from $133billion in 2009 to just under $200billion in the last decade. Industry experts and analysts are of the view that this industry will show a minimum of 5% growth by 2025.

Let’s now see more details of this hotel business plan outline.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

One of the most important things to consider when planning any business is the market segmentation. You need to have a clear idea of the market segments that you are going to target and only then you can properly plan everything.

Apparently, the hoteling business is only for one market segment, the people who need a place to spend the night. However, there is more to the story that just that. Even a house painting business plan has multiple market segments. Any hotel can have customers and clients divided into a number of market segments. We will focus on four segments of the market via Hotel Intergalactic.

5.2.1 Individual Customers

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Most of our customers will fall into this category. These will be the people who show up at the hotel and want a room. We will make every possible effort to make sure these customers go home happy and consider us the next time they need a hotel.

5.2.2 Companies

Companies need accommodation for their employees when they are on a meeting. This segment of the market will give us bulk business and we will offer them discounts to make them our loyal customers.

5.2.3 Bar and Restaurant Customers

As the hotel will have a bar and restaurant, the people coming to visit them will also be a segment of the market for us.

5.2.4 Banquet Customers

As the hotel is to have three banquet halls, this will also be an important market segment for us. We will rent out the halls for conferences, parties, weddings, birthdays and any other function people need them for.

5.3 Business Target

Our business targets are:

• To maintain the highest standards of client satisfaction.
• To become a well-known name in the industry.
• To expand the business to all the major cities of the US.

5.4 Product Pricing

Hotel Intergalactic will offer the services at a price comparable to that of the competitors. We might keep the price a bit lower than that of the competition at the start to attract customers but once we earn name, we will increase the prices.

Marketing Strategy of Hotel Business

The next important thing for opening a hotel business plan is the marketing strategy of the hotel. No hotel management company business plan can be complete if it has no marketing strategy. To make a workable marketing strategy, we need to do the following.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis for Hotel Intergalactic has revealed the following:

• The competition in this field is immense in the area we are working in. We need to provide something extra to get customers.
• We will provide complementary dinner to our customers. No hotel in the area does this and this will give us a competitive edge.
• We will subsidize the companies who want accommodation for their employees so that they choose us over the other options.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will advertise the hotel through all the media channels in the area.
• We will partner up with travel agents and tour planners to get customers.
• We will offer discounts to companies who want to get accommodation for a large number of their employees.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

Another thing that needs to be made clear in this hotel resort business plan sample is the staff that we will need to operate the hotel. Unlike an RV park start up business plan , we will need a larger workforce to smoothly run the operations of the hotel.

7.1 Company Staff

• John Abruzzi will be the owner and CEO of the hotel.
• 1 General Manager.
• 2 Assistant managers.
• 1 Accountant.
• 1 Receptionist.
• 3 Waitresses.
• 2 Bartenders.

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial plan.

The last thing to be discussed in this business plan is the budget for hotel business plan. As the hotel is being started from scratch, the following expenses are to be arranged:

• The cost of establishing the hotel.
• The cost of hiring the staff.
• The salaries of the staff for the first 6 months.
• The cost of buying cars for guest pick and drop.
• The money needed to advertise the hotel.
• The money needed to establish a web presence of the hotel.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 break-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 profit monthly.

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 business ratios.

Download Hotel Business Plan Sample in pdf

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i found this very helpful. thank you for sharing

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Hotels are one of the most lucrative businesses one can get into. They are especially profitable if the hotel business plan in question is located in a busy city or near a popular tourist destination. Being part of the hospitality industry, you will never run out of customers as long as your hotel is managed properly. To run your hotel plan profitability, you must have a proper business plan that will help you dance your worries away. We have various hotel business plan templates applicable for various related businesses and accommodations such as a startup mini hotel, guest house motel, 5 star resort lodge, 3 star spa, and boutique, etc. Keep scrolling!

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General FAQs

1. what is a hotel business plan, 2. what is the purpose of using a hotel business plan, 3. what should a hotel business plan include.

• Executive summary
• A detailed sample analysis of your company and the work you do
• Industry and market analysis
• Client and customer evaluation
• Your competitors and other sources
• Marketing and operation plan, etc.

4. What Is a Successful Business Plan?

5. how do you write a hotel business plan.

• Operations : explain how your organization will operate daily
• Management : mention your management team
• Financial details : this is where you mention all key finances
• Project planning : define all the targets you want to hit
• Appendix and other details.

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Inside Business | New concept for MacArthur Center includes…

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Inside Business

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Inside Business | New concept for MacArthur Center includes hotel, retail space; former bus station being transformed, Norfolk mayor says

NORFOLK — Mayor Kenny Alexander shared his vision for the future of MacArthur Center as a mixed-use community anchored by a 400-room military-themed hotel near the end of his State of the City address on Friday.

Alexander encouraged more than 1,200 attendees of the annual event, produced by the Hampton Roads Chamber, to envision a vibrant destination that celebrates the city’s culture, reconnects the city, attracts tourists and ensures economic vitality.

“By optimizing existing assets, we aim to solidify Norfolk as a premier hub for business, living, hospitality and tourism, elevating our city’s appeal to residents and visitors alike,” he said.

The concept includes 518,000 square feet of modern high-rise living for rent or purchase and 47,000 square feet of luxury amenities, he said. Part of the vision is a 2.5-acre pedestrian promenade with more than 172,000 square feet of retail space. He shared site renderings during the presentation.

When asked if a developer was involved and about the timeframe for the project, a Norfolk spokesperson said after the event that more information was not available.

The former Greyhound bus station in the Neon District is also undergoing a transformation into Houndstooth , a 220-unit apartment complex with parking garage, gym, recreation room and rooftop deck.

The project represents a $35 million capital investment with the creation of more than 300 construction jobs, Alexander said. The Neon District posted on Instagram Friday that The Breeden Co., based in Virginia Beach, is the developer on that project, which will include ground-floor retail, live-work units and public areas.

To continue thriving as a vibrant hub of art, culture and entertainment, the mayor said Scope Arena and the Chrysler Hall complex — more than 50 years old — are due for a transformative renovation. Changes at Scope will include up to 1,500 new seats; diverse food, beverage, club and dining options; expanded conference and restrooms; interactive technologies; and improved backstage efficiencies.

Chrysler Hall will see improved plaza accessibility with ramps, stairs and street enhancements; expanded lobbies; new seating configurations; stage, sound, lighting and acoustics upgrades; increased restroom capacity; and expanded food and beverage stations on every level.

Alexander said the city also is looking forward to the redevelopment of Military Circle mall as a dynamic hub bustling with life and vitality centered around community sports, residential and creative office spaces.

“As we reimagine our city, let’s bridge our past, present and future converging with history and innovation,” he said.

He referenced the city as a hub for climate science, higher education, health care, maritime industry, military, art and culture.

Alexander summarized the city’s progress over the past year: maintaining public safety as a top priority, economic development with job creation, a thriving innovation sector and an ongoing dedication toward building coastal resilience and combating homelessness.

“Norfolk has been steady — a true symbol of strength and resilience since 1682,” Alexander said. “Let’s build on these victories and assure Norfolk’s winning spirit prevails for generations to come.”

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, [email protected]

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With a stay at Mini-Hotel Nabat Palace in Moscow, you'll be 10.8 mi (17.3 km) from Red Square and 10.8 mi (17.3 km) from St. Basil's Cathedral. This hotel is 10.4 mi (16.7 km) from Kremlin Armoury Museum and 10.5 mi (16.8 km) from Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

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How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam

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T he total solar eclipse passing through parts of the U.S. on April 8 stands to have a major economic impact on cities across the country as stargazers flock to the path of totality. 

Factors including the date of the eclipse and the number of states in the path of totality means that millions of people will have the opportunity to view the event— and that the cities hosting them could see a combined $1.5 billion injected into their states’ economies.

“That number will include lodging costs for visitors coming from out of state or far away parts of their own state, as well as gas costs and food costs,” says Bulent Temel, assistant professor of practice in economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, who performed the calculations to arrive at the $1.5 billion figure.

One to four million people are expected to travel for the eclipse, according to Great American Eclipse , an informational site that tracks solar eclipses around the world. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates the days leading up to the eclipse will be some of the busiest travel days of the season, with 50,670 flights on Thursday, April 4 and 48,904 flights on Friday, April 5. That means the spending will be spread out: “[The eclipse] is on a Monday, so you might have folks coming Friday, Saturday, Sunday, spending a few days somewhere ahead of the event,” says John Downen, Director of Impact Analysis at Camoin Associates.

Read More : How Cities Around the U.S. Are Celebrating the Eclipse

Many regions along the path of totality have spent months—if not years—preparing for the upcoming surge of visitors and money. Rochester, NY, is expecting 300,000 to 500,000 visitors across the nine - county Greater Rochester region. Local businesses have a slate of specials and planned events the weekend leading up to the event—including eclipse themed beers from local breweries and a three-day pass from the Rochester Museum and Science Center for visitors to attend a range of talks and performances. 

The area’s tourism board says that some hotels have reported demand skyrocketing an average of 1200% for the four-day span leading up to April 8— unusual demand for a Monday in the region’s off-peak season. 

It’s an economic boost that no amount of planning— or marketing—can replicate. “It’s a really great tourism opportunity,” says Shannon Ealy, Director of Communications and Marketing for the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. “You can spend millions of dollars on media buys to get our regional brand out there, but you can't exactly buy the sun and the moon crossing over us.” 

Read More: See the 2024 Solar Eclipse’s Path of Totality

But unfortunate weather could still put a damper on things, especially for businesses that might be stocking up for an influx of visitors, since many eclipse chasers decide where to view the eclipse based on weather that can’t be predicted until the event draws closer. “Even a simple factor like a cloudy day could just compromise all these expectations quite a bit,” Temel says. 

The real task for local business and tourism boards lies in converting one-time visitors into ones that return—without the promise of a solar eclipse. “Every single one of those visitors is a potential future visitor to the same area as well,” says Temel. “In the long run, the economic impact would be magnified quite significantly. 

Adds Downen: “It definitely presents an opportunity, especially in smaller communities, to showcase themselves and hopefully capture some future repeat visitors.”  

Read More : Where to Find Solar Eclipse Glasses—And Spot Fake Ones

Lebanon, Indiana, for example, is expecting its population to triple during the weekend before the eclipse. Joe Lepage, the city’s communication and community development director, says he hopes that the eclipse will change the way both locals and out-of-towners talk about Lebanon. 

“We have a large business park, great hospitals, establishments where people can work, but actually staying and living in Lebanon has been difficult to sell.” he says. "It'll give people that are going back home a chance to visit and realize, ‘Hey, that little town is nice.’ But then our locals can see all the things they have in their backyard and realize, ‘Hey, my community is pretty special too.’”

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Write to Simmone Shah at [email protected]

Want to see the next total solar eclipse in 2026? An expert recommends booking travel now.

• 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years.
• Travelers worldwide will likely head to Spain, Iceland, and Greenland for the event.
• A hotel expert encouraged travelers to start planning and booking their trips now.

It'll be two decades before the next total solar eclipse hits the US .

Another option: hop on a plane to Europe and turn the 2026 total solar eclipse into a viewing vacation.

Eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler at GreatAmericanEclipse.com told Space.com that up to 3.7 million people likely traveled for the solar eclipse on Monday.

HotelPlanner's chief communication officer, Philip Ballard, told Business Insider that the eclipse was a major revenue generator for many cities. For places like Austin, Texas, and Rochester, New York, it could have created $1 billion in revenue, Vox reported.

"I would say the total solar eclipse has become a global phenomenon," Ballard said.

Ballard added that the next solar eclipse , which will pass through Iceland, Greenland, and Spain on August 12, 2026, could result in similar tourism and revenue influxes.

And if travelers are considering a trip to Europe for the solar eclipse, Ballard recommends planning your trip now.

Determine your eclipse viewing destination

According to Space.com , 2026 will be Europe's first total solar eclipse in 27 years. Its path will go through Greenland, parts of western Iceland, and northern Spain.

Choosing where to watch the eclipse will be a tough and important decision for travelers.

Iceland and Greenland have some positives. These regions will experience longer totality times, so viewers can watch the eclipse longer. Plus, the sun will be higher in the sky, so finding a spot to watch the eclipse will be less challenging, Space.com reported.

The downside is that these regions are more likely to be cloudy, according to the outlet.

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While parts of Spain are likely to offer clearer skies, the eclipse's timing will be shorter and closer to the horizon, which means travelers will need to plan and track down a viewing location with unobstructed views of the western horizon, Space.com reported.

Regardless of the destination, according to the outlet, one bonus is that the strongest meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere will happen the following night, so travelers can pack two events into one trip.

Book flights and hotels far in advance

Ballard encouraged people to book their hotels in their destination of choice as far in advance as possible.

"You should start looking now and booking hotels now because those cities in the path are already going to be at peak season," Ballard said.

Ballard said it's similar to when a Super Bowl city is determined or a Taylor Swift tour date is announced — you immediately see spikes in bookings. He predicts hotel occupancy rates will hit near-record highs, and room prices may double around the solar eclipse date.

Ballard's general rule of thumb is to book international travel at least three months in advance, but since this is such an anticipated event, booking earlier is smart. His advice is to start discussing plans with friends and family. If you decide on a destination, book a refundable room to keep your options open if plans change.

Regarding purchasing a plane ticket, a study from Expedia states that international travel's sweet spot is at least six months in advance.

According to Expedia, travelers who book six months in advance save an average of 10% more than travelers booking within two months or less.

Skip the hassle of planning altogether and book a solar eclipse tour

Another option is to let a tour operator do the work for you. A handful of tour companies have seen the increased interest in the solar eclipse and launched tours designed around the event.

These tours will have predetermined locations to view the eclipse, hotel blocks reserved, and itineraries highlighting both the region and the eclipse.

However, these can sell out quickly. For example, Space and Telescope created an 11-day tour of Spain around viewing the 2026 solar eclipse. The tour has already sold out as of Wednesday, and the waitlist is full.

Other operators, such as Wilderness Travel and Eclipse Traveler, have similar itineraries for the total eclipse in 2026.

Watch: A small Australian town was treated to a rare hybrid solar eclipse

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