Average lead time for U.S. hotel bookings in November shrank by 0.25 percent year over year to 25.4 days, according to a new report by Kalibri Labs. Year to date, average lead time declined 0.9 percent over the previous year's total to 24.7 days. Average length of stay also dropped in November by 3.2 percent and year to date by 1.8 percent, each to about 1.8 days. The company also reported guest-paid revenue per available room increased 1.9 percent in November and 1.33 percent year to date.
Hotel bookings through brand.com websites accounted for 24.6 percent of all bookings in November, while those through online travel agencies accounted for 16.3 percent. Year-to-date year-over-year growth for brand.com bookings outpaced OTAs, 7.5 percent to 7.3 percent, respectively. The contribution of loyalty bookings in November rose 29 basis points year over year to 57.5 percent, and 39 basis points to 56 percent year to date. "When the book direct campaigns began in 2016, total year-end U.S. loyalty contribution was 47.9 percent," according to the report, referring to major hotel chains' initiatives to encourage guests to book through their own channels.