Little Hotelier, the all-in-one hotel management software purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier, has released its Italian Local Booking Insights report — a four-year trend analysis of Italy’s small accommodation industry.

Below is a snapshot of the report’s key findings:

  • Room rate increases have been more significant among Italy’s 1-20 room properties, compared to larger ones. Between 2019 and 2022, the average cost of a room at a small Italian property increased by 33%. This compares to a 26% increase among all Italian properties.
  • There is a growing seasonal price gap emerging within Italy’s accommodation sector. Little Hotelier’s data shows that rooms in June 2019, the year’s most expensive month, were 79% more costly than in January, when Italian accommodation was cheapest. This compares to September 2022, the year’s most expensive month, which was 90% more expensive than January, again when accommodation was cheapest.
  • The length of time between booking and check-in grew by over 60% among Italy’s small properties in 2022. In 2021, the average lead time was 21 days, jumping to 34 days last year, as confidence and international travel volumes grew. 
  • Cancellation rates have progressively decreased among small Italian properties over the last three years. They’ve dropped from 39% in 2020, to 25% in 2021, to 24% last year.
  • Bookings made directly to a property’s website were a more important source of revenue for smaller Italian properties in 2022, compared to larger ones. Hotel website bookings were the second highest revenue-generating channel among 1-20 room Italian properties in 2022, and third for all Italian properties.
  • For the country’s B&Bs, villas and farmhouses, Booking.com was the channel that generated the highest revenue in 2022.

Little Hotelier’s data comes amidst growing demand for smaller accommodation options globally. According to Little Hotelier’s Changing Traveller Report 2022, the percentage of travellers opting to stay in a B&B or vacation rental for their next trip increased from 23% to 28% in the last year. Among Italian travellers, the demand for these accommodation types is higher still. Forty percent of Italian travellers will opt for either a B&B or vacation rental on their next trip.

Simone Portaluri, Regional Manager of Little Hotelier in Italy, says, “In a climate of rising prices and evolving behaviours, this report highlights the growing need for Italy’s small properties to be using technology to operate with efficiency and price their rooms with clarity. As summer approaches, understanding how their room rates position them against competitors, and to have full visibility over how their rooms are being sold online, will provide a significant advantage to savvy Italian operators.”


Media enquiries

Maria Cricchiola
[email protected]

About Little Hotelier

Little Hotelier is award winning hotel management software, purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Helping thousands of properties worldwide, the all-in-one solution has everything a small hotelier needs to reduce admin, streamline operations and maximise profit. Little Hotelier is powered by SiteMinder, the world’s leading open hotel commerce platform.

By Luke McCabe