The U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 5,390 hotels with 575,202 rooms, according to the February STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. This represents a 2.5-percent decrease in rooms from the development pipeline in January and an 11.4-percent drop from the development pipeline in February 2008. The total active pipeline data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages, but does not include projects in the Pre-Planning stage.

The chain-scale segments reported mixed year-over-year results in the number of rooms in the In Construction phase. The Midscale-without-Food-and-Beverage segment reported the largest increase of rooms in the In Construction phase, up 10.1 percent, with 61,682 rooms. Increasing 9.0 percent was the Upscale segment, ending the month with 50,959 rooms in the In Construction phase. With an 8.4-percent increase, the Luxury segment ended the month with 8,176 rooms in the In Construction phase. The Upper Upscale segment and the Unaffiliated segments reported double-digit decreases. Upper Upscale segment was down 40.5 percent to 15,989 rooms in the In Construction phase and the Unaffiliated segment was down 35.6 percent to 27,166 rooms in the In Construction phase.

U.S. pipeline by chain-scale segment
(number of rooms and percent change February 2009 vs. February 2008):

Chain Scale Existing Supply % Change In Construction %
Change		 Total Active Pipeline % Change
Luxury 99,068 +8.9% 8,176 +8.4% 15,658 +16.3%
Upper Upscale 586,048 +5.9% 15,989 -40.5% 36,179 -36.1%
Upscale 466,609 +8.0% 50,959 +9.0% 142,226 +0.3%
Midscale w/F&B 507,890 -1.8% 9,146 -3.5% 30,186 -0.5%
Midscale w/o F&B 782,548 +6.8% 61,682 +10.1% 168,204 -0.9%
Economy 760,198 +1.5% 9,074 -3.3% 19,625 -37.4%
Unaffiliated 1,515,125 +1.6% 27,166 -35.6% 163,124 -20.7%
Total 4,717,486 +3.3% 182,192 -8.1% 575,202 -11.4%

About STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report: The Pipeline Report is co-produced by Torto Wheaton Research, Dodge Construction, and dedicated pipeline team at STR. Available as an annual subscription or a local Market Supply Report, the Pipeline Report is a comprehensive look at new hotel development and existing supply in the U.S. and Canada.

About STR & STR Global: For more than 20 years, Smith Travel Research has been the recognized leader for lodging industry benchmarking and research. Smith Travel Research and STR Global offer monthly, weekly, and daily STAR benchmarking reports to more than 36,000 hotel clients, representing nearly 5 million rooms worldwide. STR is headquartered in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and STR Global is based in London. For more information, visit .

Jeff Higley (STR)
VP, Digital Media & Communications
+1 (615) 824-8664 ext. 3318
STR