What it means
Length of stay, or LOS, counts nights between arrival and departure. Average length of stay, ALOS, divides stay nights by the number of stays in the same set. Multi-unit bookings need an explicit rule: reservation duration and unit-nights are different measures.
Why it matters
Two weeks with equal occupancy can require very different numbers of cleans and messages. Short stays create more turnovers per occupied night. Long stays may require their own interim cleaning, replenishment and follow-up.
An example in practice
Three single-unit stays last two, three and seven nights. They total 12 nights, giving an average of four nights per stay. The seven-night stay does not imply seven check-ins. Departure cleaning involves three turnovers plus any agreed interim service.
12 ÷ 3 = 4 nights
Complete stay nights / completed stays in the same set.
A mistake to avoid
Averages alone hide gaps and extremes. Do not confuse minimum stay with actual duration: allowing bookings from two nights does not make every booking two nights long. Exclude cancellations from completed-stay analysis or show them separately.
Put it into practice
- Define whether you are analyzing future bookings or completed stays.
- Keep the distribution by duration and unit type.
- Connect nights with turnovers, costs and promised services.
A common question
How do I handle a stay crossing month-end?
For monthly revenue and occupancy, allocate each night to its date. For a per-stay average, use a consistent cohort, such as stays departing that month, and retain their full duration. Do not mix the two methods without labeling them.