U.S. Hotel Forecast Assumptions – August 2026
STR and Tourism Economics raise 2026 U.S. RevPAR growth to +4.4%, boosted by World Cup premiums, with 2027 growth moderating to +2.1% amid macroeconomic normalization.
News
Diving deeper: Hidden insights from Travel Dreams 2026
Amadeus surveyed 6,000 travelers and 500 hoteliers for Travel Dreams 2026, uncovering key trends in AI adoption, loyalty program innovation, and user-generated content as a demand driver.
By Jesus Olivares Sanchez, SVP, Hospitality Portfolio Strategy & Product Marketing, Amadeus, Amadeus Hospitality
Volume reassures the rankings. Value transforms balance sheets.
As five hotel groups surpass one million rooms, the author argues that volume metrics obscure the real competition: per-key value creation, driven by management contracts, upscale positioning, and lifestyle brands.
By Vanguélis Panayotis, CEO MKG Consulting & Hospitality ON / MRICS, Hospitality ON
Guest Experience Benchmark Report Q2 2026 Overview
Global GRI hit a record 87.3% in Q2 2026, with 3-star hotels improving fastest, Asia leading regionally, and review response speed emerging as a core reputation driver.
How the 2026 FIFA World Cup Changed US Hotel Markets
A counterfactual analysis of all 11 U.S. host cities finds the 2026 World Cup generated $680M in incremental rooms revenue, driven by ADR gains in every market even as occupancy fell in seven.
By Thomas Hazinski, Managing Director of HVS Convention, Sports, & Entertainment Facilities Consulting in Chicago, HVS
U.S. hotel results for week ending 1 August
U.S. hotel RevPAR rose 7.3% year-over-year for the week ending 1 August 2026, with Philadelphia and St. Louis leading Top 25 Markets while Las Vegas posted the steepest declines.
CoStar, Tourism Economics upgrade U.S. hotel growth forecast
CoStar and Tourism Economics raised their 2026-27 U.S. hotel outlook at the Hotel Data Conference, lifting RevPAR by 1.6 ppts and ADR by 1.1 ppts, with GOPPAR forecast to rise 4% in 2026.
Over $1 Trillion Investment in Travel & Tourism Signals a Vote of Confidence in the Sector's Future
WTTC's 2025 EIR Global Trends Report finds Travel & Tourism investment surpassed $1 trillion, up 8.5% year-on-year, with the sector contributing a record $11.6 trillion to world GDP.
Middle East Travel & Tourism Faces Temporary Headwinds But Remains the World's Strongest Long-Term Growth Story
WTTC forecasts a 14.5% contraction in Middle East tourism GDP in 2026 due to conflict, but projects 6.3% annual growth through 2036, making it the world's fastest-growing tourism region.
LW Hospitality Advisors (LWHA) Q2/Midyear 2026 Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey & Lodging Sector Overview
LWHA's Q2 2026 survey tracked 107 U.S. hotel sales over $10M totaling $3.8B, showing a 20% year-over-year rise in trades while deal size and price per room compressed amid a K-shaped recovery favoring luxury.
By Daniel Lesser, President & CEO, LW Hospitality Advisors LLC (LWHA)
Global Business Travel Spending to Hit Record $1.71 Trillion in 2026, While Trips Reach 1.84 Billion, Says GBTA Forecast
GBTA's 2026 BTI report projects global business travel spending will hit $1.71 trillion, with trip volume growing just 1.3% versus 7.2% spending growth, reflecting rising transportation costs.
Hyatt Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
Hyatt Q2 2026 saw system-wide RevPAR rise 5.9%, gross fees up 7.8% to $324M, and Adjusted EBITDA of $297M, with full-year RevPAR growth guidance set at 3.5%–4.5%.
Greek Hospitality Industry Performance - 2nd Quarter 2026
Greek hotel revenue grew 10.1% in H1 2026 on just 0.6% volume growth, with pricing power intact but occupancy stabilising and risks rising from energy costs, source-market weakness, and airline capacity uncertainty.
U.S. hotel results for week ending 25 July
U.S. hotels posted RevPAR growth of 6.3% for the week of 19-25 July 2026, with NYC leading gains driven by the World Cup final and Las Vegas dragged down by tough year-ago comparisons.
What 224,000 Guest Reviews Reveal About Hotel Performance During the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Shiji's benchmark of 224,171 reviews across 1,819 hotels in 14 host cities finds GRI improved in both the US and Mexico, with Mexico outperforming on all key metrics and F&B scoring a 9.27-point gain.
HVS U.S. Market Pulse: July 2026
HVS forecasts 4.5% U.S. RevPAR growth for 2026, lifted by World Cup demand and revenge travel, with transaction cap rates averaging 7.7% in Q2 and sales volume up 9.1% over Q1.
By Rodney Clough, President - HVS Americas, Denver, HVS
Quality Pays: New Vrbo Research Finds Travelers Will Spend More on Vacation Rentals They Trust
Vrbo's 1,758-traveler global study finds 86% will pay more for higher-quality listings, with cleanliness, reliable amenities, and host responsiveness topping the list of trust drivers.
Half-Year 2026 Results Accor shows its agility in a challenging global environment
Accor reports H1 2026 RevPAR up 2.2% (4.6% ex-Middle East), recurring EBITDA up 6.5% to €563M, and free cash flow up 42%, with a €1,260-1,285M full-year EBITDA outlook.
Booking.com Travel Happiness Index: APAC travellers remain resilient, intentional and joy-led amid uncertainty
Booking.com's inaugural Travel Happiness Index, surveying 10,136 travellers across 10 APAC markets, finds 98% associate travel with positive emotions and 90% will adapt plans rather than cancel when disruptions occur.
H1 2026 Hungarian Hospitality Market: Strong Fundamentals Continue to Support Growth
Budapest led CEE-6 capitals in occupancy in H1 2026 with RevPAR near €90 (up 15% YoY), but rate growth lags peers, GOP growth is uneven, and investment activity is picking up post-elections.
By Zoltan Szabo and Nicolas Horky