Hotel Revenue Glossary · Forecasting
Wash Factor
The expected percentage of group block rooms that will go unused (not picked up by attendees). If a group blocks 100 rooms and historically 20% wash, the hotel expects only 80 actual arrivals from that block.
Why it matters: Wash factor is critical for accurate forecasting of group-heavy dates. Overestimating group pickup leads to turning away transient demand that could have filled those rooms. Underestimating leads to empty rooms and lost revenue.