CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for hotels and motels in Rhode Island
158 hotels and motels operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 158CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,427mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 14.2U.S. 16.4
- State rank
- 50th of 51by count
Hotels and motels in Rhode Island by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 158 establishments in Rhode Island classified as Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (NAICS 721110) for 2023. They employed 4,427 people in mid-March and reported $229.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 50th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Hotels and motels make up 0.54% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 14.2 hotels and motels, 13.6% below the national rate of 16.4. The average establishment has 28.0 employees against 26.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $51,911, 31.8% above the U.S. figure of $39,374.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 158 | 55,895 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,427 | 1,497,840 |
| Annual payroll | $229,808,000 | $58,976,358,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 28.0 | 26.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $51,911 | $39,374 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 14.2 | 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.
Where hotels and motels in Rhode Island are concentrated
Census published hotel counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 208 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 208 | 5,317 | 12.2 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at hotels and motels in Rhode Island
27.8% of Rhode Island's hotels and motels with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 30.9% nationally. 39.2% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 44 | 27.8% | 30.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 18 | 11.4% | 14.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 30 | 19.0% | 21.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 44 | 27.8% | 23.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 22 | 13.9% | 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.
Calls a hotel in Rhode Island has to catch
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. That holds for hotels and motels in Rhode Island as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to hotels and motels in Rhode Island:
- A guest calls the front desk for extra towels.
- The hotel calls a guest to confirm a late arrival.
- An event planner calls about a room block.
What hotels and motels text about
Hotels text check-in details and guest service updates.
Texting from a local number in Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for hotels and motels in Rhode Island
Hotels and motels in Rhode Island average 28.0 employees, so the comparison uses a 28-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 28 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $840.00 a month and 28 on Ooma Office Pro cost $698.60. Callata comes to $559.00 a month for 28 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $3,372 less than RingCentral for a hotel in Rhode Island of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $559.00 | $6,708.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $532.00 | $6,384.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $644.00 | $7,728.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $698.60 | $8,383.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $756.00 | $9,072.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $840.00 | $10,080.00 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a hotel can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | Eastern | 1947 | 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.
How Callata works for hotels and motels in Rhode Island
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.
Porting a number you already use in Rhode Island is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many hotels and motels are in Rhode Island?
158 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,427 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most hotels and motels?
Providence, RI-MA, with 208 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 28-person hotel?
$840.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $698.60 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $559.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Rhode Island 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.