How hotels and motels use the phone, how big their teams are, where they operate, and what calling and texting cost on Callata versus per-seat pricing.
U.S. establishments
55,895CBP 2023
Employees
1,497,840mid-March 2023
Avg. team
26.8employees per establishment
Metro areas
917with published counts
Hotels and motels in the United States
County Business Patterns counted 55,895 hotels and motels in the U.S. in 2023 (NAICS 721110, Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels). They employed 1,497,840 people in mid-March and paid $59.0 billion in annual payroll. The average establishment has 26.8 employees. That is 16.4 establishments for every 100,000 residents.
California has the most (6,020), followed by Texas (5,643), Florida (3,546), and New York (2,362). Relative to population, Wyoming leads with 65.2 per 100,000 residents, and Connecticut has the fewest at 9.4.
Hotels and motels in the U.S., 2023
Measure
United States
Establishments
55,895
Mid-March employees
1,497,840
Annual payroll
$58,976,358,000
Payroll per employee
$39,374
Employees per establishment
26.8
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for hotels and motels
Independent hotels take reservations, guest requests and group inquiries by phone, and the front desk is staffed around the clock. Calls that go unanswered may become bookings elsewhere.
Calls hotels and motels commonly handle:
A traveler calls to ask about availability this weekend.
A guest calls the front desk for extra towels.
An event planner calls about a room block.
The hotel calls a guest to confirm a late arrival.
A vendor calls about a delivery.
Texting and after-hours calls
Hotels text check-in details and guest service updates.
Hotels operate 24 hours, so calls must ring the front desk at any time.
How big hotels and motels are
30.9% of U.S. hotels and motels with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023. 45.8% had fewer than ten. Most phone decisions in this industry are made for small teams, where one shared number and sensible routing matter more than a desk phone per person.
U.S. hotels and motels by employment size, 2023
Employment size
Establishments
Share
1–4 employees
17,262
30.9%
5–9 employees
8,340
14.9%
10–19 employees
12,120
21.7%
20–49 employees
12,907
23.1%
50 or more employees
5,266
9.4%
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Hotels and motels by state
Establishment counts for the 51 states (and DC) where Census published a figure, with the rate per 100,000 residents.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for hotels and motels in the U.S.
The average U.S. hotel has 26.8 employees, so the comparison uses a 27-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 27 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $810.00 a month and 27 on Ooma Office Pro cost $673.65. On Callata the same 27 people cost $539.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,252. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
Monthly list price for a 27-person hotel
Provider (plan)
Pricing basis
Per month
Per year
Callata (Callata Office)
$99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user
$539.00
$6,468.00
Quo (Starter)
$19.00 per user
$513.00
$6,156.00
Nextiva (Core)
$23.00 per user
$621.00
$7,452.00
Ooma (Office Pro)
$24.95 per user
$673.65
$8,083.80
Dialpad (Standard)
$27.00 per user
$729.00
$8,748.00
RingCentral (RingEX Core)
$30.00 per user
$810.00
$9,720.00
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
How Callata works for hotels and motels
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Existing numbers can be ported at no charge, and team texting turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many hotels and motels are in the U.S.?
55,895 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 721110).
What does a phone system cost a 27-person hotel?
$810.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $673.65 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $539.00 a month on Callata, where $99 covers the first 5 users.
Can hotels and motels keep their existing number?
Yes. Porting an existing number to Callata is free.
Can an AI agent answer calls for a hotel?
Callata's optional AI receptionist, sales, support and scheduler agents can answer calls, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They identify themselves as AI and use prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.
CallataGuides