HotStats Blog
Why the smartest hoteliers aren’t just forecasting—they’re outmaneuvering the market.
Why Traditional Hotel Budgeting Falls Short
Each year, hotel budget season brings familiar rituals: department meetings, endless spreadsheets, and the perennial push to beat last year’s numbers. But across boardrooms today, leading hoteliers are asking a different question: “How did we perform—compared to the ones who matter most?”
That subtle mindset shift is transforming how hotel leaders approach budgeting. That shift in thinking—hotel benchmarking not as a side report but as a central planning pillar—is turning budgeting into a competitive advantage.
The Risk of Budgeting Without Market Context
Many hotel budgets are built on well-meaning assumptions—last year’s performance, internal forecasts, and aspirational growth targets. But that kind of inward focus can leave hotels disconnected from what’s really happening in their market.
“Looking only at internal metrics is like navigating with a map but no compass,” says Tanya Venegas, VP – Commercial at HotStats. “You may know where you’ve been—but not whether your strategy is outperforming your peers.”
A 5% profit increase might feel like a win—until you realize nearby competitors grew 12%. That’s not just a missed opportunity; it’s a strategic blind spot.
Hotel Benchmarking as a Strategic Blueprint
That’s where benchmarking comes in—not as an afterthought or monthly dashboard. It’s the foundation of a profit-focused strategy—especially when it goes beyond RevPAR and topline KPIs.
Custom comp sets, department-level profitability metrics, and market-specific intelligence now give hoteliers the tools to:
- Measure performance against truly relevant competitors
- Identify underperforming departments
- Spot market trends before they become threats
“Benchmarking isn’t about looking at a static report anymore—it’s about understanding where you sit in the market, and where you need to go next,” says Michael Grove, CEO of HotStats. “If your budget isn’t built on real-world context, you’re not planning—
you’re guessing.”
HotStats Benchmarking, now part of Duetto’s Revenue and Profit Operating System (RP-OS) framework, offers hotels the ability to compare their performance against a peer set defined by actual competitive relevance, not just brand, region, or segment.
Turn Insights into Competitive Moves
With benchmarking built into the budgeting process, hotel teams don’t just set numbers—they set smarter strategies. It’s the difference between forecasting revenue and defining how to win.
By layering in insights from Market Insights and projecting profitability with ProfitFinder, HotStats gives hotel teams a 360° view:
– What’s happening now
– What competitors are doing
– Where hidden value lies
All of this integrates seamlessly within Duetto’s Revenue & Profit Operating System (RP-OS) to drive intelligent, coordinated action across revenue, operations, and finance. It’s not just cross-functional. It’s cohesive.
The Bottom Line: Benchmarking Isn’t Flashy—But It Works
Hotel benchmarking doesn’t make headlines like AI or a new tech stack. It doesn’t demand attention like a new tech rollout or dramatic reforecast. However, it subtly shifts the entire budgeting conversation from performance reviews to profit planning.
This budget season, don’t just plug in numbers from last year. Don’t just set targets.
Plan with precision. Compete with context.
Ready to benchmark smarter and outperform the market?
Learn how HotStats www.hotstats.com can help you plan with profit in mind,
or reach out to us directly at askus@hotstats.com
Photo by Kaboompics.com
