Market Trends

📅 May 22, 2026: Cvent's 2026 rankings highlight Orlando's 11-year streak as North America's top meetings destination. Nashville ascends to third, and NYC enters the top 10, showing urban appeal growth. In Europe, London leads for the fourth year, while Lisbon, Paris, and Vienna gain. Major convention hotels like JW Marriott Austin thrive. In Asia Pacific, Singapore and Dubai lead stable rankings. Fast RFP response boosts hotel rankings, emphasizing efficiency's role in securing meetings business.

📈 In 2025, Malaysia’s Lexis Hotel Group faced geopolitical disruptions and reduced cross-border travel, prompting a strategic shift. Aiming to enhance digital maturity and boost domestic demand, Lexis collaborated with Amadeus to improve direct booking through the iHotelier® Suite. They optimized guest engagement via refined email marketing and strengthened their brand.com experience with promotional tactics. Digital media campaigns, using first-party data, targeted local and regional markets to offset international demand declines.

📈 Q1 2026 saw U.S. hotels showing stronger demand, with occupancy up 1.5 percentage points to 64.3%. Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose 6.0% to $202.63, while RevPAR increased 8.7% to $129.46. Gross Operating Profit (GOP) margin improved by 4 percentage points to 41.8%. Luxury hotels led growth in RevPAR and TrevPAR. Economy hotels faced revenue pressures despite improved margins through cost control. Demand conversion and pricing management are key for profitability in 2026.

🏨 Coury Hospitality, based in Dallas, Texas, celebrates its 40th anniversary. Founded by CEO Paul Coury, the company now manages over 85 hotels and restaurants. In 2014, Coury partnered with Marriott to operate 16 Autograph and 7 Tribute hotels. Last year, the portfolio doubled to 42 properties. The company employs about 3,800 staff and boasts a 20% higher retention rate than the national average. Future plans include expanding the Vin Hotel Collection, with new openings in Arkansas and Texas.

📈 U.S. hotels saw a robust start in 2026 with a 6% rise in ADR to $202.63 compared to Q1 2025. RevPAR grew 8.7%, TrevPAR 9.4%, and occupancy increased to 64.3%. Luxury hotels led with a 9.4% RevPAR increase, while economy hotels struggled with a 9.7% ADR drop. TrevPAR highlighted a 35% revenue premium over rooms alone. Forecasts for Q2-Q4 2026 anticipate a 1.3% decline in RevPAR and a 2.6% drop in TrevPAR.

🏨 In revenue management system (RMS) evaluations, integration often causes frustration, as it is critical yet frequently overlooked in demos. Poor integration can lead to double bookings and manual reconciliation errors. Automation transparency is vital, as 42% of hotel staff find tech complex due to poor training. Effective support is essential but often under-evaluated. Vendors should offer strategic and technical support, with specific SLA commitments, to optimize system use and ensure usability by managers with limited revenue experience.

🏨 Donnington Grove Hotel and Country Club, near Newbury in Berkshire, is up for sale at £8 million. The 18th-century estate covers 283 acres, featuring a Grade II-listed manor and 40 en suite bedrooms. Planning permission exists for 26 additional aparthotel rooms. Operated by the current owners since 2005, the decision to sell follows the passing of two directors. The property is expected to attract buyers seeking premium hotel and golf opportunities within 90 minutes of London.

🗺 Global interest in domestic travel rose by 77%, with 45% of Britons keen on UK holidays. Destinations like Bishop's Stortford saw a 90% search uptick due to historic attractions. Scarborough and Nottinghamshire searches climbed 40% each. Hotel hopping is rising, driven by events like Harry Styles' London concerts from 12 June to 4 July. Melanie Fish from Expedia highlights the trend towards local escapes and economic destinations, reshaping summer travel in 2026.