Do EV Chargers Help Hotels Win Bookings? What Guest Surveys Actually Show

Can EV charging help a hotel attract guests, win bookings or improve revenue? There is encouraging evidence that EV drivers care about charging at their accommodation. But guest-preference surveys and website booking-filter behavior should not be confused with a measured revenue increase caused by installing a charger.

Finding 1: EV travelers often prioritize accommodation with charging

In its November 2024 Traveling with an EV survey, Plug In America reported that 73.2% of respondents prioritized staying at hotels or other accommodation with EV chargers. In the same survey, 63.2% reported finding charging-equipped accommodation difficult or very difficult to find.

Methodology matters: the survey was completed online between May 31 and June 21, 2024, with 932 respondents, 857 of whom had traveled in an EV. It is a relevant perspective from EV travelers, not a representative survey of all hotel guests.

Finding 2: Hilton sees booking-filter behavior tied to charging

Hilton's 2023 technology report stated that more than 30% of users of its EV-charging amenity filter completed a booking during 2022. A separate July 2025 Skift report quoted Hilton's sustainability leadership describing EV-charging as its highest-converting amenity filter, ahead of categories including pools and free breakfast.

This is meaningful evidence about guests actively searching for charging. It is not evidence that adding a charger automatically raises occupancy by 30%, or that hotels with chargers earn 30% more revenue. People using the filter are a self-selecting group with an EV charging need.

Finding 3: Boutique EV travelers report willingness to pay more

An April 2025 survey sponsored by the Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association and El-Monde surveyed 300 U.S. EV drivers. It reported that 91% were more likely to stay at boutique lodging offering EV charging and that nearly three-quarters expressed willingness to pay a premium. These were stated preferences from a sponsored EV-driver sample, not actual purchase behavior or a causal revenue estimate.

What can hotel owners realistically gain?

• Visibility: Display the charging amenity accurately on booking channels and property listings.
• Better guest fit: Travelers who need overnight charging can filter for properties that provide it.
• Less friction: Functional chargers reduce uncertainty and unnecessary offsite charging trips.
• Operational insight: Usage, guest feedback and charging-related booking inquiries reveal whether the amenity matters at your location.

How to measure your own results

Record utilization, charging sessions per week, guest-stay length, charger uptime, complaints, and the number of reservations associated with an EV-charging search or inquiry. If you choose to charge for sessions, include electricity, platform fees, maintenance and merchant fees in the cost model. Compare periods carefully to avoid confusing seasonality or general occupancy changes with the charging amenity.

Keep the equipment functioning

Marketing EV charging only works when guests can rely on it. A property with existing Tesla Gen 2 Destination Chargers can often evaluate compatible same-generation replacement hardware rather than redesigning the entire area. Find a Tesla Gen 2 replacement or explore our hotel and casino EV charging guide.

Planning hotel charging? Contact info@primecom.tech or call (408) 598-3300. Primecom.Tech is an independent EV charging equipment supplier and does not guarantee hotel booking or revenue gains.