STR Lodging Census Database Definitions and Designations
Type Definitions
All-Inclusive
These establishments include a minimum of three meals daily, soft drinks (may include alcoholic
beverages), gratuities and possibly other services in the price. Many also offer sports and other
activities included in the price as well.
All-Suite
All guest rental units consist of one or more bedrooms and may include a separate living area.
Many suites contain kitchenettes or mini-refrigerators. Suite properties often have no
integrated dining facilities available; however, many offer complimentary breakfast.
B&B/Inn:
These establishments are independently owned and operated; most include breakfast in the
room rate, have 20 rooms or less and have a resident/owner innkeeper.
Boutique
These are hotels that appeal to their guests because of their unusual amenity and room
configurations. They are normally independent, smaller than 200 rooms, have a high average
rate and offer high levels of service. Boutique hotels often provide authentic cultural or historic
experiences and interesting services to guests. There are select chains considered “Boutique” in
the STR database, they are the Autograph Collection (Marriott International), Dream Hotel
(Wyndham Worldwide), Exclusive Hotels, Joie De Vivre, Kimpton Hotels, Melia Boutique (Grupo
Sol Melia), Rosewood, and W Hotel (Starwood Hotels & Resorts).
Condo
A condominium is a property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually
owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating
system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights associated with the individual
ownership and controlled by the association of owners that jointly represent ownership of the
whole piece.
Conference Center
Hotels with a major focus on conference facilities. These establishments must meet guidelines
of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC).
Convention Center
Hotels with a minimum of 300 rooms and large meeting facilities (minimum of 20,000 Square
feet) and not part of the Conference Center Group.
Corporate Housing
The options can vary in size, for instance, from a studio to an apartment with two or more
bedrooms. They also can be short-term or long-term rentals, and many are furnished and have
additional amenities. The type of corporate housing normally determines what kinds of
amenities are included in the rental. For example, housekeeping services are common; they
might be offered daily or weekly. Providing linens and a stocked kitchen is a standard practice in
many, along with furniture such as a bed, desk, and other basics. Many corporate housing
options also provide occupants with access to additional amenities such as swimming pools,
exercise rooms and tennis courts.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle hotels tend to be small to medium sized hotels (100-180 rooms) that provide highly
personalized ancillary services that appeal to a particular demographic. They have unique
design, amenities, configuration and functionality that better serves the target demographic.
Brands that are always included in the “Lifestyle” category are aloft Hotels (Starwood Hotels &
Resorts), Edition (Marriott), Hotel Indigo (InterContinental Hotels), element (Starwood Hotels &
Resorts), NYLO and venu (Jumeirah).
Timeshare
A timeshare is a form of ownership or right to the use of a property, or the term used to
describe such properties. These properties are typically resort condominium units, in which
multiple parties hold rights to use the property, and each sharer is allotted a period of time
(typically one week, and almost always the same time every year) in which they may use the
property. Units may be on a part-ownership or lease/"right to use" basis, in which the sharer
holds no claim to ownership of the property.
Amenities
There are many hotel amenities tracked in the STR lodging census database. They include:
Bar/Lounge, Beach (frontage), Business Center, Casino, Exercise Room, Gift Shop, Golf, LEED
Certified, Marina, Parking Garage, Swimming Pool, Retail Space, Restaurant, Shuttle, Ski, Spa,
and Water Park.
Operation Codes
Chain Owned/Operated – 1
Properties with this operation code are all branded and may be either owned or managed by
the chain or both owned and managed by the chain.
Franchised – 2
All properties with this operation code are branded. The property pays franchise fees or
royalties to a parent company for the use of brand name, marketing and reservation services,
etc. Examples of franchising companies/brands are Golden Chain (Australia), America’s Best
Franchising Inc. (U.S.), Choice Hotels (Global), Flair Hotels (Germany), and Wyndham Worldwide
(Global).
Independent – 3
Properties are independently owned and operated. Includes all non-branded hotels and select
brands which are membership based such as Americas Best Value Inn (U.S.), Best Western
(Global), and Budget Host Intl (U.S.).
Location
Urban
A densely populated area in a large metropolitan area. (E.g. Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco,
London, Tokyo.).
Suburban
Suburbs of metropolitan markets. Examples are Sags Harbor and White Plains, New York, near
New York City, USA and Croydon and Wimbledon near London, UK. Distance from center city
varies based on population and market orientation.
Airport
Hotels in close proximity of an airport that primarily serve demand from airport traffic. Distance
may vary.
Interstate
Hotels in close proximity of major highways, motorways or other major roads whose primary
source of business is through passerby travel. Hotels located in suburban areas have the
suburban classification.
Resort
Any hotel located in a resort area or market where a significant source of business is derived
from leisure/destination travel. Examples are: Orlando, Lake Tahoe, Daytona Beach, Hilton Head
Island, Virginia Beach.
Small Metro/Town
Areas with either smaller population or limited services, in remote locations. Size can vary
dependent on market orientation. Suburban locations do not exist in proximity to these areas.
In North America, metropolitan small town areas are populated with less than 150,000 people.
Destination Resorts
These are hotels that appeal to the leisure traveler, are located in resort markets and are
considered a destination in themselves. They have extensive amenities, multiple pools, multiple
restaurants and a normally a beautiful physical property. If a hotel has the word “resort’ in its
name and is part of a luxury or upper-upscale chain it is automatically considered a Destination
Resort
Geographic Designations
World Regions
There are four World Regions (called Continents in the STR database) which are divided into 15
Sub-Regions (called Sub-Continents) as follows:
Americas (North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean)
Asia Pacific (Central & South Asia, Northeastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Australia & Oceania)
Europe (Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Europe)
Middle East/Africa (Middle East, Northern Africa, Southern Africa)
Country
The country/nation in which the physical property is located.
Regions
There are nine which divide the U.S.:
1. New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island)
2. Middle Atlantic (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey)
3. South Atlantic (Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Washington DC)
4. East North Central (Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio)
5. East South Central (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi)
6. West North Central (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri,
Kansas)
7. West South Central (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana)
8. Mountain (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico)
9. Pacific (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii)
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
A Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population
density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are not legally
incorporated as a city or town, nor are they legal administrative divisions like counties or
sovereign entities like states. A typical metropolitan area is centered on a single large city that
wields substantial influence over the region (e.g. Chicago). However, some metropolitan areas
contain more than one large city with no single municipality holding a substantially dominant
position (e.g. Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex or Minneapolis – Saint Paul).
MSAs are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget only, and used by the U.S.
Census Bureau and other U.S. government agencies for statistical purposes.
Market
A geographic area composed of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (i.e. Atlanta, GA), a group of
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (i.e. South Central Pennsylvania) or a group of counties (i.e. Texas
North). A market must contain a sufficient number of hotels to permit further subdivision into
sub-markets and price segments. There are currently 162 U.S. STR markets.
Sub-Market
A geographic area that is a sub area of an STR market. If a sub-market is a subset of an MSA
defined market; counties and/or zip codes are used to define the sub-market boundaries. If a
sub-market is a subset of a county defined market, zip codes are used to define the sub-market
boundaries. There are currently 613 U.S. sub-markets.
County
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state (or federal territory).
Latitude/Longitude
Latitude and longitude are angles that uniquely define points on a sphere. Together, the angles
comprise a coordinate scheme that can locate or identify geographic positions on the surfaces
of planets such as the earth. STR obtains coordinates using the Google Map API.
Scale, Class or Price Designations
Chain Scale
The chain scale segments are based primarily on the actual, system-wide average room rates
of the major chains (independent hotels are included as a separate category).
The chain scale segments are: Luxury, Upper Upscale, Upscale, Upper Midscale, Midscale, and
Economy. Independent is considered a seventh Scale.
Sub-Market Scale
This segment is similar to market scale with the following exceptions: Luxury, Upper
Upscale and Upscale are combined to form Upscale, Upper Midscale and Midscale is combined
to form Midscale. Economy includes only Economy. The sub-market scales are: Upscale,
Midscale, and Economy
Class
Class is an industry categorization which includes chain-affiliated and independent hotels. The
class for a chain-affiliated hotel is the same as its chain scale. An independent hotel is assigned a
class based on its ADR, relative to that of the chain hotels in their geographic proximity.
The class segments are: Luxury, Upper Upscale, Upscale, Upper Midscale, Midscale, and
Economy
Market Class Combined (or Collapsed)
If a single class segment is insufficient for reporting, classes are combined. There are three
combined class segments: Luxury and Upper Upscale, Upscale and Upper Midscale, and
Midscale and Economy.
Market Price Segments (U.S. Only)
The five categories of a metro STR market which are defined by actual or estimated average
room rate. The five price categories are shown below:
Luxury - top 15% average room rates
Upscale - next 15% average room rates
Mid-Price - middle 30% average room rates
Economy - next 20% average room rates
Budget - lowest 20% average room rates
In rural or non-metro STR markets, the luxury and upscale segments collapse into the upscale
and form four price segment categories:
Upscale - top 30% average room rates
Mid-Price - next 30% average room rates
Economy - next 20% average room rates
Budget - lowest 20% average room rates
Price Tier
The three categories of a state, STR market or submarket which are defined by actual average
daily room rate or average published rate. The three categories are:
Upper Tier - top 33% room rates
Middle Tier - middle 33% room rates
Lower Tier - lowest 33% room rates
Management, Ownership or Membership Designations
Affiliation
A nationally recognized brand or chain. Generally STR will create or designate an affiliation once
the company has a minimum of eight properties in its portfolio.
Parent Company
A parent company is one that has multiple brands in its portfolio. Examples include Accor,
Choice Hotels International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Starwood
Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Worldwide.
Owner Company
A company which primarily owns rather than franchises or manages lodging properties. To be
coded as “the” owner in the STR database a company must have majority (51% or more)
ownership in the property.
Management Company
A company that manages hotels for owners typically in return for fees and/or a share of
revenues. A management company may or may not have any of its own funds invested in a
hotel that it manages.
Asset Management Company
Hotel asset management is the fiduciary responsibility of managing the lodging investment to
meet the specific objectives of ownership. The asset manager’s role in building value is analyzed
at both the portfolio and property levels.
Membership Company
A company whereby independently owned and operated lodging properties operate under a
single membership affiliation while taking advantage of a global reservations system, marketing,
advertising, purchasing, training and quality standards. There are usually fewer constraints than
a traditional franchise company and each member has a voice in the operation of the company.
Size
Based on total physical room count of the property. Only properties with 15 or more rooms are
considered for entry in the U.S. lodging census database.
• Less than 75 Rooms
• 75 – 149 Rooms
• 150 – 299 Rooms
• 300 – 500 Rooms
• More than 500 Rooms
Extended Stay Tiers
Category comprised of properties that focus on attracting hotel guest for extended periods of
time. These properties quote weekly rates, and their typical guest may stay 4-7 nights.
• Upper Tier Extended Stay
• Lower Tier Extended Stay
Additional Information
Average Daily Rate (ADR)
Room Revenue divided by rooms sold. This information is not provided to 3rd parties.
Average Published Rate (APR)
The average of single low, single high, double low and double high published room rates. When
hotels in U.S. Lodging Census do not report data to STR, an estimate of actual ADR is derived
using published rates to stratify non-reporters in various applications. Average published rates
for non-reporters are factored down based on a regression equation which determines the
relationship between average published rates and actual average daily rates for properties
which do report data to STR.
# Floors
The number of floors or stories in the establishment.
Interior/Exterior Corridor
Denotes whether the property has interior or exterior corridors.
Open Date (YYYYMM)
Year and month the property opened as a lodging establishment.
Affiliation Date (YYYYMM)
The year and month the property became affiliated with its current brand or chain.
Seasonal Closure
When a property is closed for at least a month or longer the same time each year. For example,
ski lodge would be closed during the summer or a beach resort may be closed during the winter.
Meeting Rooms Sq Ft
Enter the total square footage of available meeting space. If the hotel is built next to the city
convention center they may add the convention center space to their own meeting space, but
we are not counting this. The meeting space has to be physically located on the property
Largest room Sq Ft
This is the field for the largest room, normally the ball room.