Electric vehicle ownership in the UK has grown rapidly over recent years, and it’s now directly shaping how travellers plan and book accommodation. By the end of 2024, there were 1.36 million fully electric vehicles on UK roads, with almost 40% of new car registrations being electric or plug-in hybrid models (UKHospitality).
For the hospitality sector, this signals a major shift: EV charging for hotels is no longer a niche amenity but a key part of delivering a modern, competitive guest experience.
As relatively few hotels currently provide charging points, those that do are gaining a clear strategic advantage.
Guests Are Choosing Hotels Based on Charging Availability
Most EV drivers plan their journeys around where they can access electric vehicle charging. A recent UK survey found:
67% of EV drivers factor charging availability into their hotel choice
48% won’t stay at a hotel without it.
Despite this demand, as of June 2024, just 6% of UK hotels in major cities had on-site EV chargers installed.
This gap between demand and supply presents a major opportunity. When choosing between similar properties, the hotel that can offer EV charging reliably and conveniently almost always wins.
“We didn’t expect EV charging to influence bookings as much as it has. But guests genuinely appreciate it, it’s made us their go-to hotel when they’re in the area.” - General Manager, UK boutique hotel (illustrative quote)
Why EV Charging for Hotels Enhances the Guest Experience
Taking a wider view of the guest journey shows why charging at hotels has become such a valuable differentiator. It reduces friction, increases dwell time, and supports premium positioning.
1. Reduces travel friction
EV drivers typically need to plan their next charging station stop. When a hotel provides its own charging infrastructure, it removes the need to:
Search for public chargers
Queue
Leave the property mid-stay
Worry about next-day range
Guests can simply arrive, plug in, and relax, supported by hotel-managed electrical infrastructure in the car park.
2. Increases guest dwell time (and revenue)
Hotels providing reliable EV chargers see guests stay longer on-site while their vehicle charges. This often leads to increased use of:
Restaurants
Bars
Wellness facilities
Co-working spaces
Research from UKHospitality notes this uplift in dwell time as a meaningful revenue opportunity.
3. Attracts higher-value, sustainability-minded guests
More EV drivers fall into higher-income brackets and prioritise sustainable amenities. Hotels that install modern charging solutions position themselves as premium, forward-thinking alternatives. Once an EV driver finds a hotel with reliable charging stations, repeat bookings typically increase.
