CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for hotels and motels in Lakeland, FL
Hotels and motels in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area: 88 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 16-person team.
- Establishments
- 88CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,407mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.3U.S. 16.4
- Rank
- 114th of 917areas by count
How many hotels and motels are in Lakeland, FL?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 88 establishments classified as Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (NAICS 721110) in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area. Together they reported 1,407 mid-March employees and $34.4 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 114th of the 917 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 853,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 10.3 hotels and motels per 100,000 people, 37.2% below the national rate of 16.4. Establishments average 16.0 employees, 40.3% below the U.S. average of 26.8. Payroll per employee comes to $24,438, 37.9% below the national $39,374.
| Measure | Lakeland, FL | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 88 | 3,546 | 55,895 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,407 (moderate noise) | 162,576 | 1,497,840 |
| Annual payroll | $34,384,000 (moderate noise) | $6,967,881,000 | $58,976,358,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 16.0 | 45.8 | 26.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $24,438 | $42,859 | $39,374 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.3 | 15.2 | 16.4 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at hotels and motels in Lakeland, FL
Of the hotels and motels in Lakeland, FL that had employees in March 2023, 41.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 30.9%). 57.5% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 36 | 41.4% | 30.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 14 | 16.1% | 14.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 13 | 14.9% | 21.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 24 | 27.6% | 23.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 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.
What hotels and motels in Lakeland, FL use the phone for
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for hotels and motels in Lakeland, FL:
- An event planner calls about a room block.
- A guest calls the front desk for extra towels.
- The hotel calls a guest to confirm a late arrival.
Calls after closing time
Hotels operate 24 hours, so calls must ring the front desk at any time.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
What a phone system costs a hotel in Lakeland, FL
The average hotel in Lakeland, FL has 16.0 employees, so a 16-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $399.20 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $480.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 16 people cost $319.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,932. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $319.00 | $3,828.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $304.00 | $3,648.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $368.00 | $4,416.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $399.20 | $4,790.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $432.00 | $5,184.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $480.00 | $5,760.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Lakeland, FL
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 863 (301 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your guests recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 863 | 301 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What hotels and motels in Lakeland, FL get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Lakeland, FL, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
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 there in Lakeland, FL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 88 hotels and motels in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area in 2023. They employed 1,407 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 16-person hotel?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 16 users cost $480.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $399.20 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $319.00.
What area code should a hotel in Lakeland, FL use?
Area code 863 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a hotel?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.