CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for hotels and motels in Santa Maria, CA
Hotels and motels in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area: 136 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 38-person team.
- Establishments
- 136CBP 2023
- Employees
- 5,222mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 30.6U.S. 16.4
- Rank
- 78th of 917areas by count
How many hotels and motels are in Santa Maria, CA?
There were 136 hotels and motels in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 721110, Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels). Together they reported 5,222 mid-March employees and $249.0 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 78th of the 917 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 445,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 30.6 hotels and motels per 100,000 people, 86.2% above the national rate of 16.4. Establishments average 38.4 employees, 43.3% above the U.S. average of 26.8. Payroll per employee comes to $47,685, 21.1% above the national $39,374.
| Measure | Santa Maria, CA | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 136 | 6,020 | 55,895 |
| Mid-March employees | 5,222 | 207,713 | 1,497,840 |
| Annual payroll | $249,013,000 | $9,926,066,000 | $58,976,358,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 38.4 | 34.5 | 26.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $47,685 | $47,787 | $39,374 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 30.6 | 15.3 | 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.
Establishment size: hotels and motels in Santa Maria, CA
Of the hotels and motels in Santa Maria, CA that had employees in March 2023, 18.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 30.9%). 31.9% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 25 | 18.5% | 30.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 18 | 13.3% | 14.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 34 | 25.2% | 21.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 38 | 28.1% | 23.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 20 | 14.8% | 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.
What hotels and motels in Santa Maria, CA 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 Santa Maria, CA:
- A guest calls the front desk for extra towels.
- A vendor calls about a delivery.
- The hotel calls a guest to confirm a late arrival.
When nobody can pick up
Hotels operate 24 hours, so calls must ring the front desk at any time.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a hotel in Santa Maria, CA
The average hotel in Santa Maria, CA has 38.4 employees, so a 38-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 38 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $1,140.00 a month and 38 on Ooma Office Pro cost $948.10. On Callata the same 38 people cost $759.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $4,572. 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 | $759.00 | $9,108.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $722.00 | $8,664.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $874.00 | $10,488.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $948.10 | $11,377.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,026.00 | $12,312.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,140.00 | $13,680.00 |
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 Santa Maria, CA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 805 has the most, with 170 of 189 exchanges (90%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 805 | 170 | Pacific | 1957 | 820 |
| 820 | 19 | Pacific | 2018 | 805 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a hotel in Santa Maria, CA
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 Santa Maria, CA, 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 Santa Maria, CA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 136 hotels and motels in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area in 2023. They employed 5,222 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 38-person hotel?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 38 users cost $1,140.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $948.10 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $759.00.
What area code should a hotel in Santa Maria, CA use?
Area code 805 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 820. 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.