U.S. Hotel Forecast Assumptions – February 2026
STR/Tourism Economics projects 0.6% RevPAR growth for 2026, driven by modest demand recovery and 2026 FIFA World Cup impact offsetting continued economic headwinds.
STR/Tourism Economics projects 0.6% RevPAR growth for 2026, driven by modest demand recovery and 2026 FIFA World Cup impact offsetting continued economic headwinds.
U.S. News ranked over 31,000 hotels across 400+ destinations, with Four Seasons dominating multiple regional categories for the second consecutive year.
The ETC survey shows 59% plan long-haul trips in 2026 (down 5%), with Europe interest at 42% as cost concerns drive preference for domestic travel.
The sector contributed $11.7 trillion to global GDP in 2025, with 1.5 billion international travelers marking the strongest year on record.
GBTA survey of 571 professionals shows 78% are concerned about proposed ESTA changes, with 43% more likely to hold meetings outside the U.S.
Overall U.S. performance shows occupancy down 4.3% and RevPAR down 4.0%, with Nashville seeing unusual gains due to Winter Storm Fern displacement bookings.
CoStar data shows February occupancy will hit 77.9%, the highest on record for Milan, with ADR jumping 48.1% year over year.
MMGY study of 4,000 travelers shows China and India planning 3.2-3.5 trips annually versus 1.9-2.3 for Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
International arrivals rose 4.6% to 37 million, but infrastructure strain and a 29.8% tax burden on gross room rates squeezed hotel profitability despite revenue growth.
WTTC survey of 4,563 travelers across nine ESTA-eligible countries shows 34% would be less likely to visit the U.S. if social media screening requirements are implemented.
CoStar data shows all key metrics declined year-over-year, with Minneapolis leading gains and Washington D.C. seeing steepest drops.
Trip.com Group reports double-digit booking growth for Lunar New Year 2026, with cross-border stays of 7+ nights up 40% and long-haul bookings surging over 50% year-on-year.
Weekly roundup covers major hotel transactions across Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea totaling over $2.5 billion in combined deal value.
The survey of 1,714 Americans found younger generations drive milestone travel, with 89% of Gen Z planning trips around celebrations versus 57% of Baby Boomers.
National hotel occupancy reached 66% with 70 million occupied rooms, while luxury properties led RevPAR growth at 8.7%.
Tripadvisor's 2026 report shows pet-friendly bookings surged 260% while extreme adventures grew 79%, highlighting the shift toward experience-driven travel planning.
Eastern and Southern Europe lead profit growth while Western and Northern regions face margin pressure from rising labour and operational costs.
AHLA projects $805 billion in guest spending and 30,000 new jobs in 2026, with GOPPAR still at 90% of pre-pandemic levels due to rising costs.
GBTA survey of 571 professionals across 40 countries finds 59% optimistic about 2026 despite concerns over affordability (70%) and visa/border requirements (65%).
Research reveals Top 10% of U.S. households will drive $544 billion in leisure travel by 2026, with trip frequency and spending surging since 2022.