Product Tiers and ADR Clusters: Integrating Two Methods for Determining Hotel Competitive Sets

Kim, Jin-Young; Canina, Linda

Product Tiers and ADR Clusters: Integrating Two Methods for Determining Hotel Competitive Sets

Abstract

Despite the importance of accurately identifying a hotel’s competitors, determining those competitors is not a simple task. A common and easily implemented approach is to categorize products in terms of product type, but competition may occur across different types of products depending on how consumers perceive goods as substitutes. As an alternative, we identify the competitive set using cluster analysis based on hotels’ average daily rate (ADR). A cluster analysis of the ADR of 49 hotels in one urban tract in the U.S. found five competitive clusters, in which upscale properties were in some cases competing directly with economy hotels. This analysis indicates that some properties have a discrepancy between their intended product type and their perceived competitive position, based on ADR. By integrating and comparing the results of the two methods for the purpose of performance evaluation, managers, owners, analysts, and investors can ascertain the market position of a hotel as determined by its guests, and make inferences regarding the hotel’s value proposition, property condition, service offerings, and management acumen. In particular, the analysis points out performance benchmarks for hotels that are underperforming their competitive set and those that are outperforming their competitors.

Date Issued

2009-09-01

Keywords

hotels; competitors; average daily rate (ADR); performance benchmarking

Rights

Required Publisher Statement: © Cornell University. This report may not be reproduced or distributed without the express permission of the publisher

Types

article