Market Trends

📈 Luxury hotels in the U.S. saw RevPAR rise by 13.3% in H1 2026, driven by events like the FIFA World Cup, while economy hotels faced declines. The U.S. had a 69.6% occupancy rate, and ADR at $173.76. Hilton's LXR Hotels grew 12.9% in RevPAR, and Hyatt saw 5.7% system-wide growth. IHG's Atwell Suites led with 22.7%, and Marriott's W Hotels posted a 10.8% increase, with The Ritz-Carlton's ADR at $609.82.

🏟 Sports tourism, accounting for 10% of global tourism spending, was valued at £419bn in 2023 and is projected to reach £974bn by 2032. Major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics have diverse impacts on hotel demand, requiring strategic pricing and planning. Recurring events such as Wimbledon and Premier League matches offer stable returns. Hotels enhance guest experiences by integrating sports themes and utilising data-driven strategies to attract international sports tourists, who contribute significantly to local economies.

🛸 Josiah Mackenzie, founder of Hospitality Daily, shares insights from a coast-to-coast U.S. road trip during the summer. He highlights the reliability of limited-service hotels, evo Hotel's integration of hospitality in Salt Lake City, and opportunities for hotels at EV charging stops. A disrupted evening with his dad emphasized the importance of guest experiences. Listen to his reflections on the Hospitality Daily Podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

🏨 Hospitality and leisure businesses in the UK faced a 17.5% rise in critical financial distress in Q2 2026, totaling 4,481 businesses. Leisure and cultural activities saw a 27.1% increase, while hotels and accommodation rose by 26.6%. Licensed restaurants in significant distress reached 6,645, with public houses and bars at 5,438. Nationwide, businesses in distress increased 1% to 674,030. Job risks loom for 7,600 employees across 1,382 troubled businesses. Policy changes and rising costs continue to strain the sector.

🏕 Melbourne, Australia – 16 September 2026: RMS released its 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report. 66% of 1,500 surveyed campers plan to camp more next year, with online searches surpassing word-of-mouth at 64% for discovering sites. 85% prefer booking exact sites online, while AI aids 14% in trip planning. 88% prioritize sustainability. 67% notice campground tech upgrades, and 40% expect system updates. The report highlights the growing digital shift in camping experiences.

🏨 In the past two years, over 3 million sq ft of office space in London has been slated for hotel conversion, reflecting rising demand for unique accommodations. Last year, over 90% of luxury travelers sought historical immersion. Notable transformations include Hôtel-Dieu Lyon and Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall. Heritage designs, such as a 19th-century mansion in Marseille and a 1930s Berlin building, are gaining traction for their sustainable, heritage-rich appeal in the hospitality sector.

🏁 Abu Dhabi aims to counter a 14.2% drop in hotel guests to 3.2 million this year, partly due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, by boosting events in Q4 with Formula 1 and the Guggenheim opening. August saw a 5.2% year-on-year decrease to 512,000 guests. Abdulla Yousuf expects a strong rebound in corporate and MICE business in Q3 and Q4 as postponed events proceed, with domestic and regional travel supporting the tourism sector.

🛫 Sep 16, 2026, a guest arrived at a hotel late due to a 6-hour flight delay in Frankfurt. She booked a Connected Trip via Booking.com, expecting seamless service. However, she made two separate bookings, leading to service issues. Booking.com reported low double-digit percentage of connected transactions in Q2 2026. The lack of unified service falls on hotels, as travelers expect coordinated service, while hotels see no backend integration or alerts for connected trips.

💰 September 16, 2026, Amadeus launched a connectivity deal with HyperGuest, adding 15,000 independent properties to Value Hotels. The program offers over 750,000 properties with a net rate model, differing from GDS content's 120,000 hotels. Sellers decide the markup on prepaid bookings, while hotels lack visibility on rates. Multiple outdated documents show discrepancies in property numbers. Amadeus emphasizes seller autonomy over pricing, but hotels face challenges in tracing and valuing contracts.

📑 Sep 15, 2026, Europe: HOTREC's study shows Booking Holdings and Expedia dominate 85.4% of OTA bookings. Expedia's share increased to 16.6% from 14.4% in 2023. Booking Holdings fell to 68.8%. OTAs occupy 29.9% of hotel bookings, direct bookings are 51.3%. Expedia excels in larger, chain, and city hotels, capturing a third of OTA bookings there. Rate undercutting reports increased from 40% in 2023 to 51%. 1,882 hotels surveyed, mostly from Italy and Germany.