HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee – The total active U.S. hotel development pipeline includes 4,218 projects with 450,899 rooms, according to the September 2009 STR/TWR/Dodge Construction Pipeline Report released this week. This represents a 31.1-percent decrease in the number of rooms in the total active pipeline compared to September 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.

All seven Chain-Scale segments reported declines in the number of rooms in the In Construction phase for the month. The Midscale with Food and Beverage segment reported the smallest decrease, down 19.1 percent to 7,879 rooms. The Economy segment posted the largest drop in rooms in the In-Construction phase, falling 60.0 percent to 5,240 rooms, followed by the Unaffiliated segment (-45.2 percent to 19,942 rooms) and the Upscale segment (39.0 percent decrease to 31,116 rooms).

U.S. pipeline by Chain-Scale segment (number of rooms and percent change September 2009 vs. September 2008):

Chain Scale

Existing Supply

% Change

In Construction

% Change

Total Active Pipeline

% Change

Luxury

104,735

+7.7%

4,776

-33.0%

8,971

-35.2%

Upper Upscale

593,695

+4.5%

12,555

-34.8%

25,932

-49.3%

Upscale

498,752

+10.6%

31,116

-39.0%

109,081

-30.2%

Midscale w/ F&B

510,475

-0.8%

7,879

-19.1%

25,905

-18.2%

Midscale w/o F&B

817,053

+7.3%

40,206

-32.0%

131,485

-25.3%

Economy

764,158

+1.2%

5,240

-60.0%

13,601

-53.5%

Unaffiliated

1,507,836

+0.5%

19,942

-45.2%

135,924

-30.8%

Total

4,796,704

+3.2%

121,714

-37.8%

450,899

-31.1%

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, Inc. (STR) has been the recognized leader for hotel industry benchmarking and research. STR and STR Global offer monthly, weekly and daily STAR benchmarking reports to more than 38,000 hotel clients, representing over 5 million rooms worldwide. STR is headquartered in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and STR Global is based in London. For more information, visit or .

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