Business phone system for hotels and motels in Tennessee
1,454 hotels and motels operated in Tennessee in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,454CBP 2023
- Employees
- 33,348mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 20.1U.S. 16.4
- State rank
- 10th of 51by count
How many hotels and motels operate in Tennessee
Tennessee had 1,454 hotels and motels in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 721110, Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels). They employed 33,348 people in mid-March and reported $1.2 billion in annual payroll. That is the 10th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Hotels and motels make up 0.97% of the 150,129 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Tennessee has 20.1 hotels and motels, 22.4% above the national rate of 16.4. The average establishment has 22.9 employees against 26.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $36,453, 7.4% below the U.S. figure of $39,374.
| Measure | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,454 | 55,895 |
| Mid-March employees | 33,348 | 1,497,840 |
| Annual payroll | $1,215,618,000 | $58,976,358,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 22.9 | 26.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $36,453 | $39,374 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 20.1 | 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.
Hotels and motels by metro area in Tennessee
Census published hotel counts for 27 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Tennessee. The largest is Nashville, TN, with 423 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 69% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 423 | 13,873 | 19.7 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 284 | 5,003 | 21.2 |
| Sevierville, TN | 182 | 4,977 | 181.7 |
| Knoxville, TN | 145 | 3,285 | 15.1 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 129 | 2,286 | 21.9 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 58 | 1,384 | 16.8 |
| Kingsport, TN-VA | 52 | 943 | 16.6 |
| Jackson, TN | 37 | 407 | 20.1 |
| Cleveland, TN | 28 | 277 | 21.2 |
| Cookeville, TN | 27 | 380 | 18.0 |
| Johnson City, TN | 26 | 756 | 12.1 |
| Morristown, TN | 22 | 231 | 17.3 |
| Tullahoma, TN | 18 | 153 | 26.4 |
| Athens, TN | 12 | 120 | 17.0 |
| Union City, TN | 12 | 83 | 39.7 |
| Greeneville, TN | 9 | 112 | 12.3 |
| Newport, TN | 9 | 95 | 23.9 |
| Shelbyville, TN | 8 | 37 | 14.8 |
| Dyersburg, TN | 8 | 84 | 22.0 |
| Lawrenceburg, TN | 7 | 49 | 15.1 |
| Paris, TN | 7 | 43 | 21.3 |
| Crossville, TN | 6 | 184 | 9.1 |
| Lewisburg, TN | 5 | 22 | 13.2 |
| Martin, TN | 5 | — | 15.1 |
| Winchester, TN | 4 | — | 8.9 |
Top 25 of 27 areas by establishments. Source: Census CBP 2023.
Team sizes at hotels and motels in Tennessee
28.7% of Tennessee's hotels and motels with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 30.9% nationally. 48.3% 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 | 417 | 28.7% | 30.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 285 | 19.6% | 14.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 323 | 22.2% | 21.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 321 | 22.1% | 23.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 107 | 7.4% | 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 Tennessee 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.
A few of the calls that come in to hotels and motels in Tennessee:
- 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.
Texting guests
Hotels text check-in details and guest service updates.
Texting from a local number in Tennessee requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for hotels and motels in Tennessee
Hotels and motels in Tennessee average 22.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 23-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $573.85 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $690.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $459.00 a month for 23 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,772 less than RingCentral for a hotel in Tennessee 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 | $459.00 | $5,508.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $529.00 | $6,348.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $573.85 | $6,886.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $621.00 | $7,452.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $690.00 | $8,280.00 |
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 Tennessee
Tennessee has 8 geographic area codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 615 | 781 | Central | 1954 | 629 |
| 423 | 764 | Eastern and Central | 1995 | 729 |
| 901 | 616 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 931 | 538 | Eastern and Central | 1997 | none |
| 865 | 506 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 731 | 395 | Central | 2001 | none |
| 629 | 197 | Central | 2015 | 615 |
| 729 | 0 | Eastern and Central | 2025 | 423 |
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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
1,454 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 33,348 people in mid-March.
Which Tennessee metro area has the most hotels and motels?
Nashville, TN, with 423 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 23-person hotel?
$690.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $573.85 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $459.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Tennessee 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.