World Cup hotel bookings lag forecasts warns AHLA
The American Hotel & Lodging Association released the FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook, outlining challenges facing the hotel industry as the U.S. prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The market-by-market report, based on a survey of hoteliers across host cities, found anticipated demand has not translated into strong hotel bookings and domestic travelers are outpacing international visitors.
FIFA room block cancellations, international travel barriers and rising costs were identified as key factors softening demand.
Eighty percent of respondents reported hotel bookings are tracking below initial forecasts. Between 65 and 70 percent cited visa barriers and geopolitical concerns as significant constraints on international demand. The report also found FIFA room block overcommitment created an early demand signal that has since recalibrated, with roughly half of respondents reporting material room block releases. Only a limited subset of markets, representing about 25 to 30 percent of respondents, are seeing incremental uplift.
The report includes data from 11 host markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, with varying booking performance across cities.
The analysis also found last-minute state and local policies are increasing cost pressures during a key booking period, which may discourage consumers from making hotel reservations and impact overall booking rates.
by Swasti Sharma