Hotel Competitive Set (Comp Set)
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In short
A competitive set (comp set) is the small group of hotels that a property uses for benchmarking performance — typically 4-6 hotels in the same market, segment, and price tier. The comp set defines the denominator of RGI and other competitive metrics.
Hotel Competitive Set (Comp Set)
Choosing a comp set is the most under-discussed decision in revenue management. Too narrow and your RGI swings wildly with one competitor's renovation or rebrand; too broad and the comparison becomes meaningless. The standard test: would a guest considering your hotel realistically consider this competitor as an alternative? Same neighbourhood, similar size class, similar segment positioning, similar price tier. STR will help you build a comp set when you sign up for their benchmarking service, and they enforce minimum participant counts so individual hotels cannot reverse-engineer competitor data. Review the comp set annually — markets shift, properties renovate, segments evolve.
Why it matters
A poorly chosen comp set produces RGI numbers that bear no relation to your actual competitive position. Time spent picking the right 4-6 hotels pays off in every subsequent benchmark report.
Frequently asked questions
4-6 is standard. Below 4, individual property anomalies dominate; above 8, the average loses comparability with your specific competitive position.
Generally no. Mixing segments produces an average that doesn't represent any real comparison. Stay within your segment and adjacent price tier.
Annually as a minimum. After major market events (new hotel openings, conference centre closures, brand rebrands) review immediately.
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Written by
Maciej Dudziak
Co-founder
.NET developer with 10+ years of experience building scalable back-end systems. Specializes in .NET, Azure, and modern databases.
Published: May 16, 2026