“They don't know who they have in here”: Sense of community in budget hotels

Abstract The purpose of this study was to understand older residents descriptions of socio‐spatial guest interactions and sense of community in budget hotels. Due to financial vulnerability, some people move into budget hotels when other housing options are unavailable. Little is known about how older residents perceive other hotel guests who frequent the commercial establishment and how a mix of various consumer interactions can potentially influence health. Theoretically framing this inquiry with sense of community constructs, we conducted a secondary data analysis of 20 interviews with residents aged 50 and older. Through thematic analysis strategies, we identified temporal and socio‐spatial interactions of hotel guests, then discussed sense of community based on these insider/outsider relationships. We conclude with research, policy, and practice implications of our findings.