Performance & revenue
ALOS
Also written: average length of stay
What ALOS means
Average Length of Stay (ALOS) measures the mean number of consecutive nights guests spend at a property over a defined time period. Calculated by dividing total occupied room nights by total bookings, it directly shapes room inventory management, labor scheduling, and guest acquisition costs.
Formula
ALOS = Total Occupied Room Nights / Total Number of Bookings
How it is used
Revenue managers monitor ALOS to optimize booking velocity and yield. Extending ALOS lowers operational turnover costs, such as room cleaning and check-in processing, while stabilizing occupancy during shoulder periods. When ALOS contracts, properties face higher customer acquisition costs to fill the same capacity. Operators actively manage ALOS by implementing Minimum Length of Stay (MLOS) restrictions during peak demand, offering tiered pricing for longer stays, or packaging amenities to attract extended-stay business travelers and leisure guests.
Worked example
In June, a boutique hotel sold 1,200 total room nights generated from 400 distinct guest reservations. ALOS = 1,200 / 400 = 3.0 nights. If a promotional campaign increases total room nights to 1,400 across 350 bookings the following month, the ALOS rises to 4.0 nights, reducing total turnover instances by 12.5%.
Common mistake
Focusing solely on increasing ALOS without monitoring RevPAR can lead to accepting long-stay reservations at discounted rates that displace higher-paying, short-stay peak demand.
Related terms
Frequently asked
+What does ALOS mean in a hotel?
Average Length of Stay (ALOS) measures the mean number of consecutive nights guests spend at a property over a defined time period. Calculated by dividing total occupied room nights by total bookings, it directly shapes room inventory management, labor scheduling, and guest acquisition costs.
+How is ALOS calculated?
ALOS = Total Occupied Room Nights / Total Number of Bookings
+What is an example of ALOS?
In June, a boutique hotel sold 1,200 total room nights generated from 400 distinct guest reservations. ALOS = 1,200 / 400 = 3.0 nights. If a promotional campaign increases total room nights to 1,400 across 350 bookings the following month, the ALOS rises to 4.0 nights, reducing total turnover instances by 12.5%.
+What is the most common mistake with ALOS?
Focusing solely on increasing ALOS without monitoring RevPAR can lead to accepting long-stay reservations at discounted rates that displace higher-paying, short-stay peak demand.