RevPAR: Revenue Per Available Room Explained

What is RevPAR?

RevPAR = Revenue Per Available Room

The most important metric in hotel revenue management. It measures how well you're filling rooms AND at what price.

RevPAR Formula

There are two ways to calculate RevPAR:

RevPAR = Total Room Revenue ÷ Total Available Rooms

Or alternatively:

RevPAR = ADR × Occupancy Rate

Both formulas give you the same result. Use whichever is easier based on the data you have.

RevPAR Calculation Example

Example: 50-Room Hotel in Jaipur

Total Rooms50
Rooms Sold Tonight35
ADR (Average Rate)₹4,000
Total Room Revenue₹1,40,000
Occupancy70%
RevPAR₹2,800

Calculation: ₹1,40,000 ÷ 50 rooms = ₹2,800 RevPAR

Or: ₹4,000 ADR × 70% occupancy = ₹2,800 RevPAR

Why RevPAR Matters

RevPAR is better than looking at occupancy or ADR alone because:

  • High occupancy at low rates = Low RevPAR (not good)
  • High rates with low occupancy = Low RevPAR (not good)
  • Balanced occupancy and rates = High RevPAR (ideal)
Key Insight: A hotel with 60% occupancy at ₹5,000 ADR (RevPAR ₹3,000) performs better than a hotel with 90% occupancy at ₹3,000 ADR (RevPAR ₹2,700).

Where RevPAR is Used

Use Case How RevPAR Helps
Performance Tracking Compare today vs last month, or this year vs last year
Competitor Analysis Benchmark against similar hotels in your market
Pricing Decisions See if rate changes are improving overall revenue
Investor Reports Standard metric that investors and owners expect
Staff Incentives Tie bonuses to RevPAR growth, not just occupancy

RevPAR vs Other Metrics

Metric What It Measures Limitation
RevPAR Revenue efficiency per available room Doesn't include non-room revenue
ADR Average rate of sold rooms only Ignores unsold rooms
Occupancy Percentage of rooms sold Ignores pricing
TRevPAR Total revenue per available room More complex to calculate

How to Improve RevPAR

  1. Dynamic Pricing: Raise rates during high demand, lower during low demand
  2. Length of Stay Controls: Use MLOS during peak periods
  3. Channel Mix: Reduce OTA dependency, increase direct bookings
  4. Upselling: Upgrade guests to higher room categories
  5. Demand Forecasting: Predict busy periods and price accordingly
Pro Tip: Track RevPAR daily, weekly, and monthly. Compare same day last week, same day last year. Look for patterns to optimize your pricing strategy.

Good RevPAR Benchmarks (India)

Hotel Type Typical RevPAR Range
Budget Hotels ₹800 - ₹1,500
Mid-Scale Hotels ₹1,500 - ₹3,500
Upscale Hotels ₹3,500 - ₹7,000
Luxury Hotels ₹7,000 - ₹15,000+

Note: RevPAR varies significantly by location, season, and market conditions.