Performance & revenue
Booking pace
Also written: pace report
Booking pace measures the rate at which reservations are made for a specific future date or period compared to historical trends, same-time-last-year data, or pre-established budgets. It reveals whether room pickup is accelerating, lagging, or meeting revenue management expectations.
Formula
Pace = Current On-The-Books Revenue (or Room Nights) - Same-Time-Last-Year Revenue (or Room Nights)
How it is used
Revenue managers analyze pace reports weekly or daily to adjust pricing, restrict minimum lengths of stay, or open discount channels. If pace is ahead of last year, management can raise rates to maximize yield on remaining inventory. If pace lags, property managers activate targeted marketing, adjust group wash projections, or lower transient BAR to capture price-sensitive demand before arrival dates pass.
Worked example
A hotel has 150 room nights booked for New Year's Eve as of October 1, generating $45,000. On October 1 last year, it had 100 room nights booked generating $25,000. The property is pacing +50 room nights (+50%) and +$20,000 (+80%) ahead of last year, prompting the revenue manager to raise BAR by $50.
Common mistake
Comparing pace without accounting for shifting event calendars, holiday dates, or changes in sales channel mix creates misleading pickup signals.