Business phone system for hotels and motels in Nebraska
434 hotels and motels operated in Nebraska in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 434CBP 2023
- Employees
- 7,264mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 21.6U.S. 16.4
- State rank
- 38th of 51by count
The hotel industry in Nebraska
County Business Patterns counts 434 establishments in Nebraska classified as Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (NAICS 721110) for 2023. They employed 7,264 people in mid-March and reported $188.6 million in annual payroll. That is the 38th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Hotels and motels make up 0.77% of the 56,503 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Nebraska has 21.6 hotels and motels, 31.7% above the national rate of 16.4. The average establishment has 16.7 employees against 26.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $25,970, 34.0% below the U.S. figure of $39,374.
| Measure | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 434 | 55,895 |
| Mid-March employees | 7,264 | 1,497,840 |
| Annual payroll | $188,648,000 | $58,976,358,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 16.7 | 26.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $25,970 | $39,374 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 21.6 | 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.
Where hotels and motels in Nebraska are concentrated
Census published hotel counts for 13 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Nebraska. The largest is Omaha, NE-IA, with 139 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 47% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | 139 | 3,252 | 13.9 |
| Lincoln, NE | 67 | 1,363 | 19.1 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 36 | 627 | 24.7 |
| Kearney, NE | 24 | 490 | 41.4 |
| Grand Island, NE | 23 | 322 | 29.8 |
| North Platte, NE | 21 | 339 | 61.7 |
| Lexington, NE | 13 | 110 | 49.3 |
| Columbus, NE | 11 | 149 | 23.7 |
| Hastings, NE | 11 | 89 | 27.1 |
| Norfolk, NE | 10 | 121 | 20.5 |
| Scottsbluff, NE | 10 | 165 | 27.5 |
| Beatrice, NE | 9 | 78 | 41.5 |
| Fremont, NE | 5 | 83 | 13.2 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at hotels and motels in Nebraska
31.9% of Nebraska's hotels and motels with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 30.9% nationally. 46.4% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 138 | 31.9% | 30.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 63 | 14.5% | 14.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 114 | 26.3% | 21.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 97 | 22.4% | 23.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 21 | 4.8% | 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.
Why the phone matters for hotels and motels in Nebraska
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.
A few of the calls that come in to hotels and motels in Nebraska:
- A vendor calls about a delivery.
- The hotel calls a guest to confirm a late arrival.
- A traveler calls to ask about availability this weekend.
When nobody can pick up
Hotels operate 24 hours, so calls must ring the front desk at any time.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for hotels and motels in Nebraska
Hotels and motels in Nebraska average 16.7 employees, so the comparison uses a 17-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $424.15 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $510.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 17 people cost $339.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,052. 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 | $339.00 | $4,068.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $323.00 | $3,876.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $391.00 | $4,692.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $424.15 | $5,089.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $510.00 | $6,120.00 |
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.
Area codes in Nebraska
Nebraska has 3 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your guests know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 402 | 782 | Central | 1947 | 531 |
| 308 | 463 | Central and Mountain | 1955 | none |
| 531 | 265 | Central | 2011 | 402 |
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.
How Callata works for hotels and motels in Nebraska
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Nebraska, 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 in Nebraska?
434 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 7,264 people in mid-March.
Which Nebraska metro area has the most hotels and motels?
Omaha, NE-IA, with 139 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 17-person hotel?
$510.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $424.15 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $339.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Nebraska number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.